PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1325, 5 July 1883, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

(From our own Correspondent.) The House of Representatives has been lit by electric light. In the Legislative Council, on Tuesday, the Gisborne Courts Proceedings Validation Bill passed through all its stages. The motion of Mr Holmes, m favor of terminating the present ’Frisco mail contract, and subsidising a direct line of steamers, was withdrawn, Mr Whitaker pointing out that contract could not be terminated. The question of a direct line of would be considered on its merits. In the House, on Tuesday, the report of the Examiner of Standing Orders on the HR New Zealand Native Land Conpany’s private Bill was to the effect that the Standing

Orders had not been compile! with in many respects, the chief being that no copy of the Bill had been deposited with ths Colonial Secretary and that the notices published insufficiently sot forth the objects of the Bill. The report was referred to the Standing Orders Committee. , Replying to questions, Ministers Seated Government thought the time was near when the Arms Act could be. altogether repealed. An Order-in-Council relaxing the provisions of the Act to a great extent would shortly be issued. Amongst new Bills introduced is the Cook County Rivers Bill by McDonald. The Bill was read a first time, A committee consisting of Messrs Grey, Montgomery, Macahdrewj Peacocks, V\ ynn. Williams, and Atkinson has been appointed to consider • the wvestion of the Pacific Islands annexation. ■ j The Bankruptcy Bill has been read r second time. Progress was reported an the Tenants’ Fixtures Bill. The Hom W. Johnston delivered the Public Works Statement on Tuesday night. In the debate on the Statement) Mr Seddon condemned the appointment o a Minister of Railways, and thought a Minister of Minister of Mines more necessary. Sir George Grey scorned the idea of the Statement that we are now giving people rights they had been robbed of, vis., that of sharing in the profits of ths Public Works expenditure. Tnose who had robbed the ; public of the soil remained in possession, and i were to receive 25 per cent, beyond its value 'if it was taken from them. He called on the I House to aid him in insisting on an appeal to i the country.

The House went into Committee on the Prisons Bill, and rose at 12.43.