LATEST PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP. ("STAR" PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER). Wellington, July 30.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 113, 1 August 1885, Page 4

LATEST PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP. (" STAR " PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER). Wellington, July 30.

The coal ineasureß at Awanui and Parengarenga in the far north are shortly to be inspected by the Government officers. In the House yesterday Mr Hobbs asked the Minister of Works if he would despatch a properly qualified officer to report on the indications of coal in their districts, with a view to assist those settlers in their endeavour to develop the coal industry. Mr Larnach in reply said many years ngo Dr Hector had inspected and reported ad] versely on these districts. However, as soon as an officer of the Department was to spare, another inspection of these seams would be made. During the debate on the Public Works Act Amendment Bill yesterday afternoon, the matter of taking a portion of Mr Kissling's property at Parnell for Fort Resolution was discussed. It appears that Mr Kissling's property has been much damaged by tne fortifications, and he has commenced an action in the Supreme Court. The Govornment, to meet thia, adopted rather a mean course, by inserting a clause making the power under the Act retrospective. It appears that some time ago Mr Moss, after conferring with the Government, advised Mr Kissling not to take proceedings against the Govern ment, as they " would not take advantage of him, and now, to Mr Moss's astonishment, the authorities are rushing a bill through the House with a retrospective clause to deprive Mr Kissling of his cause of action under the existing law. In opposing the Whitmoro Enabling Bill, Mr Hobbs boasted that he had been a soldier throughout the Maori War, and had marched to the front, but he fell short at saying how many men lie had killed. Mr Thompson, who followed him, said that the hon. member for the Bny of Islands had satisfied him that the Government had made a mistake in the appointment of Col. -Commandant, and that his (Mr Hobbs'e) name ought to havo been substituted for that of Sir George Whitmore, Mr Holmes also took a " rise " out of the warrior from the Bay of Islands. Mr Moss intends introducing the Newmarket Reserves Bill, vesting certain reserves at Newmarket in the borough. Mr Moss informs me that the Local Government proposals (•'retrenchment resolutions " he prefers to call them) will comfc on at the first opportunity, and unless something unforeseen occurs, will fc3 pretty well supported. Mr Moss thinks the amount of the proposed subsidy will be cut down in committee. Mr Bradshaw is making consideration of the lunacy laws a speciality, and is as greatly exercised over it as he is over the Employment of Females question. Last night he gave notice to ask the Government if it was their intention to amend the Lunacy Act this session with a view of putting a check on the system which obtains, especially in Wellington and Napier, of sending persons to a Lunatic Asylum to be confined there amongst lunatics for several days, during which time they receive no medical aid, and who are found, in the majority of cases, not to be insane when examined by medical men ? He also asks the Government if they have obtained from the Resident Magistrate of Wellington any report as to why he Bent two Bane persons from Wellington Hospital to the Lunatic Asylum before obtaining medical certificates of their insanity ; and if so, will they place on the table of the House the correspondence giving the reasons which induced the Resident Magistrate to commit this irregularity ? The Goldfields and Mines Committee reported, drawing attention to the^ recommendation made by the Committee last session relative to the periodical removal of wardens, and again repeating their recommendation. They also recommended that all expenses incidental to such removals be defrayed by Government. The Commissioner of Police has presented bis annual report to Parliament. On the 31st March last the police force showed a strength of 474, exclusive of native and district constables, being an increase of 9on the previous year, while the field force showed a decrease of 105. Tho criminal statistics show a decrease of minor offences in the North Island of 251, and in the South of 241, and with regard to drunkenness, increase in the Provinciel Districts of Wellington,* Auckland, Westland, and Nelson, 44, 63, 69 and 8 are noticeable, while Canterbury, Otago, Hawke's Bay, and Taranaki show a decrease to the extent of 320, 128, 140, 8, and 17 respectively. The general conduct of the police has been very satisfactory, as has also that of the field force. A return is given showing the proportion of police to population and the, cost per inhabitant, and the comparison U favourable to New Zealand. There is only pne policeman to every 1,203.0£ the population, the cost per in-

habitant being 38 o£d, Victoria has one constable to 774 of population, New South Wales i 1 to 609, South Australia 1 to 745, and Queensland 1 to 425, and the cost per inhabitant in Victoria is' ss lid j New South Wales, 6s Id; South Australia, 6s 6d; Queensland.., UslOid. According to a return just laid on the table of the House, the following are the amounts paid by the Colonial Treasurer to local bodies in each provincial district for rates under the Crown and Native Lands Rating Act, 1882, since that Act came into operation : — Auckland, £14,121 ; Hawke's Bay, £4,577 ; Taranaki, £7,356; Wellington, £11,672; Nelson, £19,539 ; Marlborough, £1,650 ; Westland, £17,580; Canterbury, £4,404; Ofcago, £7,815 ; Southland, £8,210 : Total, £96,980.

A "Joe Miller " Mining Statement. The Mining Statement delivered by Mr Larnach on Friday night has earned for him the title of "The Merry Minister of Mines." The " Press " says that on the Ministry taking office last session it was their professed determination to make the development of mining industry a specialty, and that on occasions since they have posed as the champions of miners and great resusci tatora of the mining industry. Yet the mining statement proved to be the joke of the Bession, and the Minister of Miues the prime humorist of the Cabinet and House. The peregrinations of the recess turned out have been a sort of pilgrimage of Comus, and the statement was neither more nor less than an hour and a half of light and airy banter on mines and mining. The House roared, and so contagious is wit that every other member set to work to write epigrams and comic verses. All agree fchab in all their experiences of politics they never heard anything to touch the statement of the Minister of Mines.