LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 244, 11 August 1877, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[per press agency.] * PARLIAMENTARY. - o HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON. August 10. Shortly after the House resuming last night, Mr Fox proceeded to move the second reading of the Local Option Bill. He spoke for over an hour in vigorous, earnest speech, in support of the Bill, and ex plained its principle and leading details, contending for the people (adult males and females) having power to allow or disallow public houses in their district, by a majority of votes, not by a majority of two-thirds of residents ; that voting papers be left at each house by the State and also collected ; and that there should be no compensation to publicans.

The following speakers opposed the Bill mainly on the ground that it did not provide for compensation, and being such an extreme measure, must prove unworkable: —Wallis, Fisher, Manders, Bowen, Barff, Sutton, Harper) Gisborne, Richardson, and Hollcston.

Three Maori members supported the Bill ; also Wakefield, Thompson, and Fitzrov.

Debate adjourned at 12.40 to Wednesday, on motion of Taiaroa. House met at 2.30. The House was the whole afternoon occupied in discussing question of adjournment. The Native Land Court Bill coming ou, the Premier asked it to be postponed till Tuesday, when Government would state what they proposed to do with Mr Balance's amendment. After some opposition, this was agreed to, when cries of adjourn arose. Finally, Mr Ashley Brown moved an adjournment. The Premier then explained that the Bill was only a social one, and saw no reason why they should not proceed with other business. If a section of the House wished to treat the matter as a vital party question, it would be better to move a vote of want of confidence at once, when Government would readily lake up the challenge. A general discussion then ensued, which embraced many matters foreign to the point in dispute. Sir George Grey and Mr Pees made charges of financial falsification, and were answered by the Premier. The gist of argument in favour of adjournment was, that Government were in a precarious position ; that member’s minds were disquieted regarding Native Land Bill, and other matters affecting their opinion as to fitness of Ministers to administer ; and while in that state, they were not fit to approach the consideration of the Education BiJl.

Government and its supporters urged that the Opposition desired to force them into false position. It would be time enough to do that when amendment was carried. It came from their own side, and affected previous legislation so seriously that consideration was neccssuy. Debate interrupted at 5.30.

On resuming at 7.30, Mr Sheehan said they were prepared to give up question of adjournment, and listen to the Public Works Statement, which Mr Ormond thereupon proceeded to deliver. It is understood that the House will adjourn after. 'WELLINGTON. August 10. Government are calling for tenders for a four-weekly steam service between Fiji and Port Chalmers, by way of Auckland, Wellington, and Lyttelton, for a period of two years. Service to commence about sth October next. Bishop Pod wood writes to Times on behalf of claims of Catholics, in the matter of education. He wants, by supplementary legislation, to give Catholics Grants in aid, schools on principle of results and numbers. Last paragraph of letter says ; “ But it is argued if we give Catholics what they want, others will demand similar arrangements. The answer is plain and obvious. Either the majority is in favour of State system, or it is not. If the majority be in favor of it, then there is no fear of such a demand being made, and if it be not, then the Education Bill does not reflect the wishes of the community at large, and ought to be modified.”

Mr Thomas reports : —Flour, Adelaide, £23 to £24 ; colonial, £lB to £lB 10s ; oats, 4s 6d ; bran, Is Id ; pollard, 7s 6d ; wheat, 4s Gd ; hams, 9d ; bacon, 8d to Is 2d ; cheese, 8d ; potatoes, £3 10s to £3 15s ; maize, 4s 6d. * DUNEDIN. August 10. The Tablet to-day characterises the Education Bill as a most tyrannical measure, and says that it will have the effect of closing Catholic schools in Dunedin, unless “ exemption certificates” be procured from Education Board masters or inspectors, who are under no obligation to grant them. Mr Bradshaw reports : —Bans New Zealand shares, £22 5s ; Colonial Bank, £43 ; National Insurance, £1 18s ; Standard, £l7 ; South British, £BO ; New Zealand, £IOO ; Mosgiel, £65 ; Shipping Co., £7B- - number of shares applied for in the Union Insurance Co. up to date in Dunedin is 100,000. Produce quotations —Wheat, Gs 9d to 7s 6d ; prime quality oats, 3s 7d to 3s 9d ; barley, 3s to 4s fid ; bran, £4 15s ; flour, £lB ; oatmeal, £lB. CHRISTCHURCH. August 10. Wheat saleable at 7s 3d ; best milling oats, 3s 6d ; for feed, 3s 9d. For milling barley, dull, 3s 9d to 4s 9d. Potatoes, £3, stocks low. Flour, £l7 Is to £lB. Bran, £4 10s, Sharps, £5 10s, Cheese, 6|d, Butter, dull ; quotations nominal.

LAND TAX. The land tax question is thus humorously dealt with by <! Atticus’' in the Melbourne Leader ;—“ The Governor-in-Council has given one of the most unanswerable arguments that can be brought forward in support of a progressive land tax. Sharks in the Bay arc nuisances that must be abated. The larger they are, the more they require to be kept down ; and so a scale of payments is advertised for their capture, increasing gradually with the size of the fish, till a prohibitory limit is readied, beyond which a monster of the deep cannot live in anything like peace. Tim public simply desire to sec the same rule applied to land sharks that the Govornor-in-Couucil lias thought fit at this particular juncture to apply to sea sharks. Tax the small land shark gently—lie cannot do much harm. Put a good round sum on him when lie is big enough to swallow up the farms and selections in his neighborhood—he is then getting dangerous. But when lie becomes an overgrown monster that will suffer nothing to live within miles of him—burst him up!”