MATTERS BEFORE PARLIAMENT.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 120, 19 September 1885, Page 5

MATTERS BEFORE PARLIAMENT.

The full conference of members of both Houeoa regarding the Mines Act amendment has been unable to agree. Major Atkinson has given notice to move, on going into Committee of Supply, that the Government be requested to place a sum on the Estimates as a recognition to Sir William Fox for his services as Commissioner on the East Coast. Mr Buckland, of Franklin North, in a funny way yesterday asked the Premier whether the Government would consider the advisability of offering a premium of £100 for the best- devised scheme of local self-government. He said that friends, of his had written that they had pplendid schemes of local self-government. They were now without any scheme of local finance, and he thought it a gsod opportunity to give everybody a chance. Mr Stout, in reply, said that the hon. gentleman was pleased to be funny, and this was, no doubt, one of his mild jokes. The hon. gentleman's own known resource would, no doubt, enable him to bring down a bill dealing with the matter next session. Sir George Grey presented a petition from residents of Gisborne, asking the House to empower the Government to , cause the waste -lands between Wairoa and Hicks's Bay to be made available for special'settlement upon the cooperative principle of the

New Zealand Co-operative Land and Labour | Company, or other institution founded on a similar plan. ,;>-,•; The Waimea Plains Railway Rating Bill was considered in committee last, night, and progress was reported. I hear that the Waimea Railway Company and ratepayers have agreed to the Act being retrospeotive on the understanding that the coat of the railway be deemed to be £90,000.

Roads and Bridges Construction Aot Repealed. The feature of last night's sitting was the 1 repeal of that much-abused measure, " The, Ronda and Bridges Construction Aot, 1882." Major Atkinson and Mr Rolleston strongly defended their pet Aot, but the Committee on division carried its repeal by 40 to 22.

Supreme Court Reporting; Shelved. In moving the second reading of the Supreme Court Reporting Bill, the Minister of Juetioe said he hoped the inauguration of the system would not only tend to a great saving of time in the despatch of businees, but would also relieve judges of a good deal of their work. He hinted at the possibility of the teaohing of stenography shortly becoming jiart of the education system in the higher standards. Mr Downie Stewart cordially supported the proposal for employment of paid shorthand writers in the law courts, and said he looked forward to see when all judges and lawyers would write shorthand. The Attorney-General warmly advocated the proposed employment of steno- ! graphers. Mr Garrick scored a point in opposition to the measure when he stated that only one judge favoured the system, and that the residue were opposed to it. Messrs Samusl and Connolly also opposed the system, and finally an adjournment of the debate for a fortnight was carried. This of course, means the shelving of the proposal for this session.

Railways Authorised. The B ail way 8 Authorisation Bill was circulated last night It grants power to Governmentto enter into contracts for the following railways:— From Palmerston North by way ot Manawatu Gorge to Woodville j Forest Hill tramway from Winton to Hedgehope ; branch line from main line of Kaipara railway near Huntly to point in Auckland University College reserve, fronting Lake Kimihia, Parish of Taupiri ; a Biding from the Wellington-Masterton railway at Petone, length about a quarter of a mile. A clause provides that a branch line to Whau Whau Colliery is to be deemed a railway under the Public Works Act, 1882, the railway to be the property of a company.

A Storm in » Teapot. There was quite a storm in a teapot early this morning, brought about in quite an unexpected way. Mr Seddon read a letter which recently appeared in the "Lyttelton Times," signed "W. Christal," in which the writer stigmatised the people of the West Coast as "a kind of State paupers." Captain Sutter boldly admitted that he was the author of this letter, whereupon Mr Bevan said the member for Gladstone was deserving of the censure of the whole of the people ot New Zealand, and if it were possible for him to table a motion to that effect, he would consider it his duty to do so. He had come there to represent honest men, and not paupers. The hon. member was about to exploin what his early views on the duty of a legislator were, when Mr Hislop brought him to his seat by asking what the early history ot the hon. gentleman had to do with the question befoie the House. Major Atkinson also drew attention to the tact that " Hansard " was not reporting the member's eloquent speech, to which Mr Bevan replied that he was never ashamed of his utterances, that he did not make a practice of speaking at seven o'clock when the galleries were full, and that he did not care whether he was reported. Be repeated that he came here to represent honest men, and that in his opinion the member for Gladstone was deserving of the censure of every rightminded man in the colony. Mr Fergus said he did not believe that the settlers on the West Coast cared two straws for the opinions of the member for Gladstone, and he failed to understand the virtuous indignation of Messrs Seddon and Bevan. The matter ceased without further altercation, but at a later stage Mr Bevan again referred to the insulting and libellous statement made by Captain Sutter against tho honest and intelligent settlers on the W6st Coast.

Sir. Thos Russell's Claim. The Special Powers Contracts Bill is likely to attract some interest before the end of the session, owing to the sudden insertion of a new clause by the Waste Lands Committee to meet the long-standing grievance of Mr Kussell, C.M.G., against the colony. The story of the affair may be briefly summed. In 1863 Mr Russell agreed to purchase certain blocks of land on the Thames River from the native owners, for which land they were to obtain a title through the Native Land Court. After Mr Russell's negotiations had proceeded some length, the Government, desiring to acquire some of the land, induced him not to prosecute his purchases further, they undertaking to complete the purchase?, and grant him a portion they did not require. These portions comprised two blocks, containing altogether over 9,000 acres Subsequently the Lincolnshire delegates -Messrs Grant and Foster - applied to select a large block in the Thames district for a special settlement, including the area proposed to be granted to Mr Russell, an arrangement being entered into with Mr Kussell to grant him 6,000 acres on the opposite side of the Thames. The native title to the land was not extinguished till 1883, when a bill was introduced, called the • • Kussell Exchange of Lands Bill. " It was fiercely apposed in the House by Sir Geo. Grey and others, and only passed its first reading by three votes. It was then referred to the Waste Lands Committee, who reported that the bill should be allowed to proceed, though the engagement entered into was irregular, the report added that at tho date of the transaction such dealings were quite common, and were not viewed with so much condemnation as that which they now would evoke. The bill was dropped I after the second reading. The clause which was inserted in the bill yesterday proposes to give Mr Russell 7,000 acres at Waiharakeke East and Weßt on his paying the Government the cost price of the land. In the House yesterday, Sir George Grey asked the Government, without notice, if the clause had , been inserted with the approval of the Government. Mr Ballance, i» reply, said that 'the clause had been introduced that morning by ft member of the Committee with the approval of the Government Sir George Grey was proceeding to say that the proceeding wa|', most irregular, when he was oheoked by the Speaker, who ruled, the hon., member out of order, , !

The weekly returns of, the Bankof England show the total reserve in notes and bullion to be £13,900,000, a decrease, of £1,200,000 during the week. .The proportion of reserve to liabilities is 42perceut l) being 2 per oentt below, last tveek's report; T> „, ■ , t /t, luj Jal* _ vti" w!l w !l '