PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2304, 23 August 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

(.Br Tblegeaph.] [fbom the own oobebspondbnt op the " PBESB."] WELLINGTON, August 22. Mr Pyke's motion —" That it is not within the power of the Speaker to omit or mutilate notices of motion, unless of an improper or offensive charaoter " —collapsed abruptly this evening. There was a largo attendance in the House and the galleries, in anticipation of a spicy debate, but, to the general disappointment, Mr Pyke merely said that he would not waste the time of the Houso in discussing the motion ; and explained that he was quite serious in both the motion omitted and amended by the Speaker, and did not intend them as a skit. Then came another collapse in regard to the Legislative Council's amendments in tho Gaming and Lotteries Bill. There was a brisk little debate, several members insisting on the rojeotion of the amendments, othors urging that they be assontod to. The House, however, soon tired of it, and called loudly for tho question to be put. On this being done, the Speaker said the Ayes had it ; but a division was called for. On the doors being locked, and the question again put with the same result, no division was demanded, and after all the motion for agreeing to the amendments was carried on the voices amid much laughter. Tho present position of the Order Paper is as follows :—Bills in various stages, 85; notices of motion, 31; petitions presented, 338 ; papers tablod, 154. Tho following is a return of tho Bums received in the various land districts during the vear 1880 (shillings and pence omitted) : Auckland, £l6 934; Hawks's Bay, £1635; Taranaki, £2704 ; Wcßt Coast, North Island, £32,878 j Wellington, £2250 ; Nelson, £1441; Marlborough, £1420 ; Canterbury, £46,535 ; Wwtltr.d, £722; Otago, £63,312; Southland, £15,197. Tho land taken up on deferred payments during the present year was 136,739 acres, and tho amount received for the same £12,170.

The Judicature Com mission has presented another interim report, to the effect that they were unable to finish the work by the time named, and purposed holding another meeting in November, when they would prepare their final report, to bo presented at the commencement of next sossion of Parliament. Apropos of this, I may mention that the Attorney-General's Court Procedure Bill, which was to embody the Commissioner'! recommendation! received, has now become a very brief measure, merely empowering Registrars to act instead of a Judge in certain stages of bankruptcy proceedings. I bear to-night that Mr Moorhouse, M.H.R., has taken a turn for tho better. There is a marked improvement to-day, and hopes are now entertained that if he can only rally from the severe weakness and prostration caused by his illness, he may yet recover