PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2295, 11 August 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[_Br Tbleoeaph.] [feom thb own cobbbspondbnt op the “ P8858.”3 WELLINGTON, August 10. There was a warm scene in the Legislative Council last night over the Licensing Bill, Councillors being under the impression that the Attorney-General was pressing it on with undue haste and taking them by surprise. After much acrimonious talk, several Councillors precipitately left the Chamber, when the Bill was rushed through, only to encounter several notices of motion for recommittal to insert numerous fresh clauses.

The Prisons Act Amendment Bill, introduced by the Hon. T. Dick, contains only one operative clause, as follows :—“ Governor may by proclamation published in the “ Gazette,” declare that such police stations as he shall name therein shall be police gaols, and all the provisions of the Prisons Act, 1873, as to prisons shall apply to such police gaols so far as applicable, save that prisoners whose sentences shall exceed thirty days’ imprisonment may not be detained therein, except for such period as may elapse before they can be conveyed to a prison, and any constable may be appointed to be gaoler of any police gaol.” Mr Murray’s Duration of Parliament Bill repeals the Triennial Parliaments Act, and provides that Parliament may dissolve by resolution. Electors may petition against a sitting member. The petition must be advertised, and notice to the member given. If no counter petition is received with on equal number of signatures, the judge is to notify the time and place of holding an inquiry as to the authenticity of the petition. If the petition is sustained the seat is to be vacated, and a new election hold ; if the petition is dismissed, or if the counter petition is more numerously signed, the Judge to have the powers of the Supreme Court. The Act to some into operation on the dissolution of the present Parliament.

The following are the rates of interest on the cost of construction paid during the last inanoial year by the respective railways : Turunui-Bluff, £4 13s 4d; Qreymouth, 34 4s 9d ; Kawakawa, £3 7s sd; Napier, 32 17s Id; Auckland, £2 5s Id ; Wanganui, 32 Is 3d ; Nelson, £1 la 7d j Kaipara, 19s 2d : Wellington, 16s ; Pioton, 14s 8d ; Taranaki, 13s 6d ; Westport, nil. The jumber of railway employes in 1880 was 3525, md in 1881 3205, a decrease of 320. The »turn of railway accidents during the year ihows : —Three railway passengers killed and even injured, from causes beyond their own ontrol; seven killed and six injured, from heir own misconduct or carelessness ; two nilway servants killed and nine injured, from auses beyond their own control. The fol awing is the present proportion of population b the railways open :—Auckland, 715 per nile ; Taranaki, Wellington, Napier, 315 per aile; Marlborough, Nelson, Westland, 892 •er mile ; Canterbury, Otago, 310 per mile, 'or the whole colony the number is 381 per ailo of railway.