PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1460, 21 October 1878, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

[By Telegraph.] [vbom the cobbeßpondent of the pbess.] police pay. At a cabinet meeting held yesterday the Government decided to increase the p*y of the police throughout the colony from the Ist January next. Tne terms of the increase will be made public in a few days. As yet outside the Cabinet there is no definite knowledge on the subject. BBIDGES DAMAGED BY FLOODS. On Monday Mr Wakefield will ask the Go-vernment-1. Whether they have any official information as to the extent of damage done by the recent floods at the Rangitata traffic bridge 1 J 2. Whether they are aware that the so called protective works constructed by the Government at enormous cost to the local bodies, though against their protests, proved perfectly useless, if not positively injurious? 3. What county is responsible for the expense of repairing or replacing the Bal lntha Bridge ? 4. Do the Government intend to afford any assistance towards the repairs of the Bilclutha Bridge ? PILES OK THE BANGITATA BRIDGE. Mr Tescheraaker is to ask the Government if they can inform this House whether the piles of the Rangitata Railway Bridge, recently inj ured by floods, had been driven in accordance with the terms of the contract. ADULTEBATED LHJTTORS. Mr Reeves will on Monday ask the Government if they will, during the recess, frame a Bill for the more effectual suppression of the sale of adulterated liquors and punishment of vendors of such liquors. EVIDENCE OF CRIMINALS. A few days ago, speaking in the Supreme Court, Mr Justice Richmond expressed himself in favour of an alteration in the law by which criminals on their trial might give evidence. Mr Curtis has given notice that on Tuesday he will ask the Attorney-General whether the Government will, during the recess, take into their consideration the expediency of such an amendment in the law. ME BAKTON AND THE JUDGES. Mr Barton's statement and the whole question of the accusations against the judges are causing con-iderablc conniption, a'l agreeing in saying that now that the matter has gone thus far the Government must grant a commission of inquiry; that there is no other course open to them. At the same time, it is the universal opinion that in case Mr Barton fails to prove his charges he should be visited with penalties. Mr Curtis has proposed that, in order to insure a perfectly impartial hearing of the evidence on both tides, tiio commission should consist of three gentlemen, to be appointed respectively by each or the Australian Governors out of their own colony. PROROGATION. The prorogation of Parliament will most probably be postponed from Saturday next till the Tuesday or Wednesday following. HARBOR BILL. The following is the complete form in which two important clauses of the Harbor Bill 137. The Board may, subject to this Act, let any lands vested in it or any part thereof, at such rents and upon such terms and conditions as the Board shall determine, so that such leases for rural or pastoral lands be for any term not excelling twenty-one year?, and for town lands or lauds used for building purposes not exceeding fifty years, to take effect in possession from the time of the execution thereof, and that an annual rent be reserved payable at such times or periods as the Board think fit. When any le iso is for a longer fcprm than twenty-one years, the annual vent shall 1)0 an advance of at least 50 per cent upon the annual rent payable under such lease during the last year of the oxpire,d twenty-one years, provided that on no lease shall any premium, fine, or forfeit be taken. Nothing herein contained

shall prejudice or affect any lease already granted or agreed to be granted under powers conferred upon any Board by any Act or Ordinance hereby repealed. 150. Whenever any land adjacent to any land under the jurisdiction or control of a local governing body has bean reclaimed from the sea, so much thereof as has bessn reclaimed shall bo and become subject to the jurisdiction of such body, who shall, if the land has been reclaimed for building purposes, have power at all times, and from time to time to take and lay out roads, streets, and drains on and through any part of the land so reclaimed without making any compensation to the Board in respect thereof ; provided always that the pssition of the r.mds, streets, and drains shall only ba fixed with the consent of tho Harbor Board, and in the event of the local governing body and Harbor Board disagreeing, then by the Minister ; provided farther that streets or roads shall not, without the consent of the Harbor Board, be more than 99ft. nor less than Gtift. in width, and provided further that no drainage works shall bo allowed that will interfere with any works carried on by any Harbor Board, and sanctioned by a Minister, without the consent of the Harbor Board or tho Minister.