PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 182, 3 August 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Thursday. Mr Macandrew will ask whether the colony is likely to lose Sir Julius Vogel's services. Mr O'Rorke will move for a subsidy to aid public libraries. Mr M'Lean told Mr Rees that ho was unaware of telegraph officials having altered any press telegrams, whereupon Mr Rees gave notice for a committee to inquire into the matter. Arrangements are being made for opening telegraph offices at all the principal railway stations. The Triennial Parliaments and Manhood j Suffrage Bills were read a first time. Mr Stout will more that in future the Governor of the colony be elected by the people. . ! The return of the cost of the Railway Commission was ordered. Messrs Burns, Reader Wood, and others commented in the strongest terms on what they considered the gross mismanagement of our railways, and a committee toenauire into the matter is to be moved for. A Select Committee is appointed to inquire into the necessity for the Weather Reporting and Storm Signalling Department being continued. It will also inquire into the working of the Hinemoa and Stella. Considerable discussion took place upon a motion for the return of the amount of fees illegally charged for inspection of plans at the Survey Office, Timaru, and severe comments were passed upon the unconstitutional action of the Government in levying taxes uot authorised by the House. The Government explained that certain fees had been charged through misunderstanding instructions, but the matter was immediately rectified. The return asked for was furnished. Mr Rees moved that after the decided J expression of opinion of the House last \ session regarding the Waka Maori, it was j highly reprehensible for the Government to I continue printing it, and that it was unconsti- J tutional to use the Government means and , influence in defending an action brought by ' one private individual against another. Mr Whitakcr was saying that now the matter was before a legal tribunal, it ought to be finally settled there before coming into the House, when 10.30 interrupted him.