PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2566, 11 June 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, June IQ, Mr Wilson gave notice to move for a return of all monies paid to Sir Julius Vogel by the colony. Captain Bailie was re-elected Chairman of Committees. The Married Women’s Property Act Amendment Bill (Mr Waterhouse) was read a first time. The Counpil adjourned at 3,1 Q p.ffl, HOUSE OF BE PRESENT ATI VES. Mr Hall, referring to the complaint made by Sir George Qrey yesterday that members of the House had to stand jq the Council Chamber duriug the opening ceremony, said the omission to provide seats was purely accidental. For himself, however, lie did not at all object to stand in the presence of Her Majesty’s representative. The Speaker read a memo from the Speaker of the Council, explaining that the omission was purely accidental, and instructions had been given tq ppeyent a recurrence. The following motion by Sir George Grey was agreed to without remark : —“ That all correspondence or telegrams be produced connected with the Patetcre block of land which may hare passed with Government since the date of correspondence on this subject which has been laid before Parliament; and also a return of all payments whiph may have been made to any newspapers in tfie colony showing lh"g name of such paper, the place and dates of publication, and dates and amount of any payments which may have been made to each.”

Tke House adjourned at 3.15 till Tuesday at 2.30.

A premeditated murder was committed near Jung Jung on May 29, Timothy Murphy, aged twenty-four years, being shot dead by a lad, Robert Bowen, aged seventeen years. The two were neighboring selec tors, and have been quarreling for some months past over the pasturage ot sheep upon an adjoining common. The two lads met on this Sunday afternoon, and high words ensued, Bowen was carrying a double-barrelled gun, and when within three yards of Murphy he fired the charge, riddling his lungs. Death was instantaneous. The murderer escaped into the bush.

We have received for review a copyo f a work entitled “ Engine Driving Life.” It is a railway entertaining produetion, and interesting to all. It would be particularly instructive to those engaged on railways. . It contains a great variety of incidents of travel by rail, and is a happy mixture of the narrative and the scientific. The author has fine graphic and descriptive power, and apart from the information conveyed, “Engine Driving Life” is really a pleasant and readable book. The work may be had of Messrs P. W. Button and Co., Timaru.

The body of a man named McGarry,who had been missing for a fortnight, has been found floating in Auckland harbor.

Texan Precocity.—According to the “ News,” the Galveston boy is progressive. He was standing in a crowd of boys on the sidewalk, when his mother called to him to go down town and bring her a demijohn of whiskey. The hoy was too busy to go, but he called outT-“ Send the old man ; I’ve got considerable confidence in him.” Lord Cloncurry, writing in reply to a memorial from his tenants requesting reductions of rent, says he cannot grant any reduction ; but that any tenant, excepting such as hold leases and occupy lauds adjoining G-len staff, who are desirons of purchasing the fee simple of their farms,can have the same by paying twenty-four years’ purchase on existing rental. If not, the alternative is that he will place the lands in the hands of Lis solicitor. “My dear,” said an affectionate husband, “ I’m surprised that you will consent to the degradation of wearing another woman’s hair on your head.” “Is that any worse than you wearing another sheep's wool on your back ?” retorted the equally affectionate wife. Mr James Platt writes a long letter in the Sydney Evening News ” on the reasons why so many accidents occur to steamers on the coasts of Australia and New Zealand. He ascribes it to the nsing of seamen unaccustomed to do the work. It is singular that “Zadkiel’s Almanac ” —much in favor with the housemaids —actually prophesid that danger and misfortune would happen to the Czar of Russia about the middle of March, Since the prophecy has been fulfilled the sale of the little almanac has been prodigious.