PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1443, 1 October 1878, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

[By Telegbaph.]

[PBOM THE CORRESPONDENT OB THE TRESS.] CONTEMPLATED RAID ON CANTERBURY PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS. It is reported here that the Government intend to defeat the existing pre-emptive rights in Canterbury by declaring them special value lands under the Waste Lands Act. THE BEER AND COMPANIES' TA-XES, I have the authority of the Colonial Treasurer and Attorney-General for stating that the Government' have no intention whatover of dropping the Joint Stock Companies Duty Bill, or the Beer Duty Bill, but will pi'ess them this session. Both Ministors aro very positive on these matters, aud strongly denied the rumour that the Government intend to drop these measures. THE BOYS AT BELLAMY'S. The result of the House committee's inquiry relative to the boys employed at Bellamy's is that the latter will receive two shillings a week extra, and cease to work after nine o'clock. MR O'ROUKE'S EDUCATION BILL. Mr O'ltorke has introduced a Bill for further encouraging the education of the youth of New Zealand. The Bill was read a first time, and the second reading fixed for "Wednesday. The object of the Bill is to respect the conscicatious scruples of Eomau Catholics in the matter of Education, and place them in jiho same position that they enjoy in Canada, both under colonial and Imperial legislation. Mr O'Eorke alleges that the amount of education, irrespective of religion, should be the test to entitle scholastic institutions, both for boys and girls, to participate in tho public fund-. HOSPITAL ENDOWMENTS. Mr Bowen gave notice of motion that the Government should make reserves in every district in the colony of public lands, for the purpose of endowing hospitals.