PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2302, 19 August 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[Br Tsmgeaph.] [PBOM THE OWN* COBBTZRPONDENT OF THE "PEESS.' ] WELLINGTON, August 18 The Volunteer Bill hiving passed the Upper House has been sent dov.-u to the House of Representatives for its concurrence. Some now clauses havo been introduced, the principal being those relating to the recovery of subscriptions or finos, and penalties for wrongful sale, &c , of public or corps property. Clau-io 1 provides that fines and subscriptions may bo recovored either in a summary way as provided by tbo Justices of the Peace Act, or b? n civil sotion at the suit of tbo commanding officer of the corpo. Another clauso provides that if any person designedly makes away with sells, pawns, wrongfully destroys, wrongfully damages or negligently loees anything issued to him as a volunteer, or wrongfully refuses or neglects to deliver up on demand anything issued to him as a volunteer, the value thereof shall bo recoverable from him with coßts, and ho shall for every suoh offenoe be liablo to q penalty not exceeding £5. Wrongful buying of arms, <fcc., from a volunteer is punishable by a penalty of not exceeding £2O for the first offence, and for a second offence a penalty of not less than £5, nor more thaa £2O, with or without imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months with hard labor. Wilful injury to butts or targets, or

searching for bullets without leave, is punishable by a penalty not exceeding £lO. Mr Pyke is to ask the Government tomorrow afternoon what arrangements have been made, or it is intended to propose Bhall bo made, for the payment of tho salarios of I heir Excellencies the Governor and Acting Governor during tho probably prolonged ab senco of the formor while engaged in the performance of his functions as High Commissioner for tho Western Pacific, and whether the salaries and expenses of both Governors or what proportion thereof, will be charged against the rovenue and defrayed by tho Treasury of the colony. Tho sole feature of to-day has been Mr Maoandrew'a notice of motion iu favor of quasi separation or dual provincialism. This has created much comment, and promises to form the subject of another lengthy debate next week.

In viow of tho fact that the general cstinmtos are now just touched, tho Public Works Estimates not even approached, the Representation Bill only on tho threshold of oommittee, the Railw.-.y Bill not oven road a second time, the Property Tax Amendment Bill and Customs Tariff Bill not yet introduced, while there are ninety-one Bills and twenty-two notices of motion on tho Order Paper, it does not look as if the prorogation would take place early next month, as hoped. There was some little excitement in tho House shortly before midnight, owing to a report being circulated that Mr Moorhouse, M.H.E., who has long been dangerously ill, "«i dead. His relatives, tho Hon. T. H. VTisilfly, M.L.0., and Mr Studholme, M.H R., were Middonly sent for, and this was feared to augur tho worst. Every minute tho Housu expected to roceivo the news of tho death of one of its members, and held itself in readineeß to adjourn immediately. Ultimately, however, intelligence was received that tho report was incorrect, although Mr Moorhouse is in a most critical condition, and the fatal termination it is feared can hardly be long delayed.