POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1106, 13 July 1883, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Through our Exchanges. Mr Pyke asked his repeatedly-adjourned question regarding the 0 : ago Central Railway. Ho mentioned incidentally that a maj rily ot the Or,ago members were in favor of the foffer that had been made hy •he ‘‘substantial firm” alluded to in his ((ties inn being accepted. The Minister for Public Works replied : Such corrospondenco as has taken place on the subject I would ask the permission of the House to lav on the table. The application of the firm in question does not bear on the face of it that it was proposed to construct this line under the Railways Construction and Land Act. It simply asked the Government whether they would be prepared to ‘‘accept an offer to construct the above line.” Jf there is any idea now on the part ot the country to proceed with the construction of tins lino under the Act then if ordinary application is made to the Government we “hall consider it. The Minister then laid on the table the correspondence referred to, which was ordered to be printed. It was a follows’;— “Dunedin. 25th April, 1883. “Sir, —We have the honor of addressing you on the subject of the Otago Central Railway. We are desirous of knowing whether the. Government are prepared to accept an offer from a private company td construct, the above fine from Plat Cap. Waiting your reply- We have, etc., “Gibbs, Bright, and Co. “Tho Minister for Public Works. ’ “ Wellington, 30th April, 18S3. “ Gentlemen, I am directed l>y the Minister for Public Wo ks to acknowie Ige tbe receipt ot your letter of the 25th April asking if the Government will accept an offer from a private company to construct the Otago Central Railway, and in reply to inform you that tbe matter has be n referred to the Cabinet for consideration.— I Lave, etc., C T. Benzovi, Acting Under-Secretary Public Work-. “Wellington, 3rd May, IBS 3 “ Gentlemen. Referring to my letter of tbe 30th ult, acknowledging the receipt of your letter relative to the Otigo Central Rdlway being constructed by a private company, I am now directed by the Min ister for Public Works to inform you that il is the intention of the Government to con struct that line themselves.—l have, etc, C. T. Benzosi. Amongst the petitions presented in favour of local option extension, was one from W. Parsons Jones and 90 others, of the Bannockburn. In reply to a question, the Colonial Secretary said-Whilst the G ■vernment fully recognised the merits of Mr Pyke’s handbook ot Local Government law, tney did not propose making a present of a copy of the work to each member of the Legislature. From the Government Pi inter’s report it is gleaned that the value of the work dene in the G 'Vernment Printing Office for the year ending 31st December, 1882, amounted to £23 422. whilst the cost of the establishment was £17,449. One of the most melancholy spectacles which are too common in Parliament, wav presented when| the Eight Hours Bill was in committee. A number of members who were silent on the second reading of the measure, and several of whom who supported the measure last session, attacked it in committee, and ridiculed Mr Green for introducing it. Mr Fergus, althouoii ho voted for it last session, attempted to be sarcastic, and sneered at the claims of the working men. He was taken to lank Dy members, who taunted him with giving exptes-ion to opinions in committee which he carefully concealed when speeches were reported in Hansard. Biiikuipts may, it seems, now hope that the disadvantages which they at present suffer from will disappear when the Bill before the House becomes law. Un the proposal being discussed for the classifying of certificates of discharge, Mr Barron pointed out that it contained the germs of vhat might some day become a great mark of social distinction lor which the highest in the laud would be found contending ; and the truly successful and most envied man would be he who had attained to the nreat pre-eminence of being the holder of a patent of nobility from the Court ot Bankruptcy, giving him the right to claim the title of a first class bankrupt ! A very important alteration has been made in tbe Bankruptcy Bill so far as it affects bills of sale. Clause 82, which provided mr the vi lence of bills of sale that had not been executed three months before bankruptcy, was, on the member for Caversham, amended so that bills of sale must now be executed and r gistered six months prior to the order of adjudication. Mr Tide’s Libel Bill provides that reports of public meetings are privileged, it accurate and fir the public good. No criminal prosecution shall be begun without the Hat of the Attorney General. If the Court think a jury would acquit, then it may dismiss the case. If a ease is trivial, an i accused consents, the Court may summarily convict. Mr Steward’s Coroners Act Amendment Bill provides for the payment of jurors at tho rate of 7s per day, or 3s 61 it the inquiry only lasts tlnee hon s. The number of a jury at an inquest is altered to six, and not less than five to agree to a verdict. Tlie dead house ot the hospital is to be the public morgue. A publican is not required to receive a dead body if a public morgue is situated within two miles of the place of inquest. Mr George moved the adjournment of the House in order to bring before the notice of the Speaker a paragraph in the Dunedin Temperance Herald, which alleged that some hon members eat and drank of the nest at Bellamy’s hut forgot t« pay their accounts. He denied the truth of the adegai ion, and said the only account that had been left unpaid was a sum of £6, owing by a member who had died dui ing the recess eight or nine years ago. Mr Pyke seconded the motion, and said the paragraph in question rtfiec! ad upon the whole Press ot the colony. The motion for adjournment was withdrawn. Journalists should refrain from making snch rash statements, as they have a tendency to lower the character of our Legislature. In the debate on Mr Montgomery's Local Government resolution the mover made a common sense speech, in which be exposed the weakness of the centralisation system. He demonstrated that the life blood of the colony was drained to support an overgrown Civil Service at Wellinton. Tho Treasurer replied in his usual browbeating style, speaking for an hour and a half. Sir G. Grey was the next speaker, and his attack on the Government was a piece of scathing invective. Other speakers followed, and the debate was adjourned. The debate will likely finish to-morrow (Thursday) and in my opinion the division will be a very close one. My tip is 48 to 46. It is doubtful which side will have the biggest number.