Parliamentary.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 969, 13 August 1881, Page 3

Parliamentary.

[from oub own correspondent]. Wellington, August 11. The Public Works Statement has given general satisfaction here. The Estimates will probably be laid on the table to-morrow evening. Questions have arisen re the payment by the Grey Government to Mr. Rees, the report brought up says that the money should be refunded, or Ministers should take steps to prosecute the members of the late Government for the recovery of the money. Mr. Sheehan said he would bring the question again before the House. An animated discussion ensued yesterday on the quarantine regulations. The Wakatipu arrived early in the morning in Wellington, and after being inspected by the Health Officers was brought alongside the wharf, and the mails and passengers landed. It was broadly insinuated in discussion on the matter that the new regulation was due to the pressure brought to bear by Mr. McLean, chairman of the Union s.s. Company ; when questioned Ministers declared they were unaware of the arrival of the vessel. Mr. Saunders’ resolution against further borrowing, and separating colonial from local finance, was debated, but before the question could be put, the dinner hour interrupted. Mr. Wright brought up a reporton the New Plymouth Harbor Board, which recommends that works now in progress be stopped, as the only beneficial result that would follow would be to permit vessels of the size of the Hawea to obtain shelter. Taranaki members were much exercised over the report, and eventually the discussion was adjourned until Friday week. Sir George Grey took advantage of many members being absent at the Premier’s ball, and got the House to suspend all notices of motion on the order paper until they reached the Law Practitioners Bill, which,[after much discussion, and opposition by the lawyers in the House passed through committee, and was read a third time. It.has transpired that Mr. Weston since he took his seat, in the House, obtained from the Government a refund of the 10 per cent, deducted from his salary while District Judge. The Post to-night urges members to support the Gisborne Harbor Bill. Friday, 9 p.m. In the House last evening Murray’s Bill re the duration of parliaments was thrown out by a large majority. The Representation Bill was circulated to-day, but without schedule. It provides for 91 members. I understand One member is to be assigned to Wairoa and Cook Counties, and one to Tauranga and Whakatane. As Nelson will lose three members, they will stonewall the Bill.. The Rating Bill is withdrawn by the Government. Bryce gave notice this afternoon to move when the House goes into Committee of Supply, a resolution to the effect that salaries by in the Estimates should be reduced £30,000. The Government has positively declined to cotnt the native population in the basis of representation for the North Island.