PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1394, 3 August 1878, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

«,. [By Telegbaph.] [FROM THE CORBESPONDKNT OF THE PBESB ] Wellington, August 2. TVAIMATE BtTBVET. In a telf gram sent you this morning, I told you that Government bad just received news of the favorable progress of the Waimate survey. This was announced this afternoon in the House, and it was stated that the lastremaining cause of disagreement between the Natives and the survey staff was that the latter were unwilling to give the Maoris a eufficiently high price for their pigs. PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE. The representatives got through their order paper in little less than half-an-hour this afternoon, and have adjourned till Tuesday. No business of any importance was transacted. SELLING WITES. Dr. Wallis gave notice that he would ask whether it is lawful in New Zealand, as in England, for a man to sell his wife or beat her in moderation or imprison her in his own house, and to what extent beating and imprisonment can be carried without breaking the law. This question was no doubt elicited from the rev. gentleman by a case of wife Belling which occurred here yesterday, and which I did not consider of sufficient interest to be telegraphed to you. A man named Roberts sold out all his claim and interest in his wife for £2 10s, the amount of marriage licenso fees, &c. IMPREST SUPPLY. The much looked for Imprest Supply Bill for £250,000 was brought in and read a first time, the second reading being fixed for Tuesday next. THE UNPAID CIVIL SEBVANTS. To some of the civil servants this continued delay in the issue of the month's cheques is causing inconvenience, and is looked upon by them as no slight addition to the just ground for complaint which they hold against the present G-ovemmont. GOVEBNMENT BILLS. Nothing is yet known with reference to the Electoral ;md Corrupt Practicps at Elections Bills, or Licensing Bill. They have not even yet been ordered to be printed, and can hardly be ready before Wednesday or Thursday. I have not been able to obtain any definite information as to their provisions. The Electoral Bill is very short, shorter than the Trades Union Act, and not nearly so long as the Licensing Bill. PBOCEEDINGS IN THE COUNCIL. In the Council the Sale of Food and Drugs Amendment Bill, Cruelty to Animals Bill, and Savings Bank Profit Bill were ordered to be committed on Tuesday and Wednesday next. Colonel Whitmore announced in committee that he had just received a telegram stating that the Hawea was then entering the Rangitoto Channel, Auckland. H.M.S. Nymphe wa3 on the point of leaving to search for her when the telegram arrived. SUMMARY OF BILL3. The Sale of Food and Drugs Amendment Bill was introduced by Colonel Whitmore. This is a short measure of three clauses to fix ♦he fees to be paid by the offender against the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1877. Power is given to the Governor to fix and alter fees to be paid in respect of analysis of a-ticles of food or drink by any colonial analyst, and when any person is convicted of an offence under the Act the Magistrate is to order that the fee 3 and expenses incidental to the analysis of the article in respect of which the conviction takes place, shall be paid by the person convicted. The Cruelty to Animals Bill was introduced by Colonel Whitmore. This Bill of twelve clauses repeals the provincial Acts of Nelson and Otago on the subject. It provides that " Any person ill-treating any animal shall for every such offence pay a penalty not exceeding £LO, and that any person slaughtering, branding, convoying, or carrying any animal in such manner or position as to subject such animal to unnecessary pain, shall be held to bo ill-treating such animal within the meaning of the Act." Persons causing damage by cruelty are to bo liable to the owner of the animal. Constables may take possession of animals cruelly treated, and detain vehicles as security for payment of a fine to be imposed. Bulldog and cock fighting are prohibited. Constables may arrest, on their own view, or on complaint, unless name and address be given. Actions must be brought within one month. Warrants may be issued where necessary, and magistrates are to have the power of ordering imprisonment with or without hard labor for any period not exceeding six months without the option of a fine. This measure, which was also introduced by Colonel Whitmore, gives to the trustees of any savings bank which has by investment of its' deposits reached a profit of over £IO,OOO, power to pay any portion over to any public hospital, benevolent society, or association for the relief of diseased, aged, incurable, or destitute persons, reading room, library, athameum, or mechanics' institute, from the management of which members derive no profit. The approval of the Governor in Council must, however, be first obtained, and the money so paid, unless the institution has special power to otherwise invest its funds, must bo invested in real pro* perty or Government securities, the proceeds being available as an endowment for general purposes. The provisions of the Post-office Savings Banks Amendment Act, 1869, are not to be affected by this Bill.