POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2608, 16 August 1882, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

fPBOM THB “ PBHBO.”] WELLINGTON, August 15. A return has been tabled showing the cost of the inspection of machinery in Canterbury for the last financial year to be £353. The revenue received therefrom was £547. The number of engines used for agricultural purposes was 140, with a horse power of 1082 The nnmber used for other purposes was 158,

the horsepower being 1246. Political matters have been very dull today. There is a total absence alike of news and gossip. The House was chiefly occupied with asking and answering the twenty-nine questions set down on the order paper. Then came the third reading of the Prisons (Consolidation) Bill and of the Railways Construction and Lands Act Amendment Bill. It was determined to recommit the Justices of the Peace (Consolidated) Bill, and then came the discussion on the committal of the North Island Main Trunk Bailway Loan Bill, which after wasting two hours resulted in a division of 45 against 24. The motion in favor of committing the New Zealand (three million) Loan Bill was just about to be put when Mr Hutchison rose and made one of his usual snarling attacks on the Government, garbling facts and misrepresenting statements in the most reckless way. Ho also made violent onslaught on the Bank of New Zealand. He speedily thinned the House, however, although Sir Q. Grey remained and preserved an attitude of intense and respectful attention, uttering every now and then his familiar exclamation, “ Heah, heah.” Mr Hutchison’s "just a few words " lasted nearly threequarters of an hoar, to the manifest impatience of the House, members evidently wanting their supper, and the usual adjournment being delayed for more than half an hoar by his tedious twaddling. The consideration of the Loan Bills in committee will probably occupy the House till well on in the small hours to-morrow morning.

When the Native Beserves Bill is committed, Mr Kelly is to move the following amendments:—(l) Instead of the word “Board” in clausa 2, to insert the words “ Waste Lands Board in the district in which the reserve is situate.” (2) To strike out the words “ the Public Trust Office Act, 1872,” and insert the “Land Act, 1877." (3) In section 8, after “ regulations ” to insert “ made under the authority of this Act.’ (4) In section 14, strike out the words “twenty-one yesrs,” and insert “fortytwo years”; also gto strike out the words “best improvable rent obtainable,” and insert “ the fair market value.” (5) To add the following new subsection, “it shall be a condition of every lease that fair market value be given to the tenant at the end of his lease for the improvements made on the reserve, such value to be ascertained by arbitration in the usual way.” In committee on the Leaseholders Qualification Bill Mr White is to move the following proviso to clause 2 “ Provided always that no elector shall under the authority of this or any other Act vote in respect of more than one electorate at any general or other election of members of the House of Representatives,

Mr Dick, on the recommittal of the Fisheries Bill, will move to exempt any person taking eels at any time of the year, and to prohibit the use of nets of any kind for taking fish within any waters set apart for the natural or artificial propagation of fisb, also taking fish on their migration to places for spawning. Mr Pyke alio is to move the following sew clause after clause 49 of the same Bill:—“ If any person shall take any fish or oyster* on any Sunday, Christmas Day, or Good Friday, he shall be liable for every such offence to a penalty of not more than £20." This is apparently one of the hon. member’s rather pro- ! bund j ekes. To-night’s Order Paper shows that there are still 125 Bills before the two Houses in varions stages. There are also 19 Notices of Motion in the Upper House, most of which will never be reached. Up to the present time no fewer than 434 petitions have been presented. It is still believed that the first or the second week of September will see the close of the session.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.I WELLINGTON, August 15,

Mr Shrimski has given notice of the following new clauses in the New Zealand Loan Bill :—“ When any railway or portion of a railway made under the provisions of this Act shall be opened for traffic, if the returns from suoh railway or portion of a railway after deducting working expenses and all costa for repair* of permanent way, rolling stock and plant be not sufficient to pay the interest upon the money expended in making such railway or portion of a railway, then the Governor-in-Oouncil shall raise an amount sufficient to pay such interest by imposing and levying a tax in suoh manner and at such differential rates as the Governor in-Council shall deem fit upon all land within fifteen miles from either end of suoh railway or portion of a railway.” Mr Hurathouse has also given notice of amendments to render districts liable for any deficiency as between working expenses and interest on cost.