PARLIAMENT. [FROM THE "STAR" SPECIAL REPORTER.] House of Representatives.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 121, 26 September 1885, Page 5

PARLIAMENT. [FROM THE "STAR" SPECIAL REPORTER.] House of Representatives.

Wellington, Septembor 17. The most prevalent rumour that has been in circulation of late is that during the recess the Premier will retire from the Ministry, and recommend that Sir Julius Vogel be entrusted with its re construction. This I entirely discredit, but shall not be surprised to find that shortly after the prorogation a re-construction is brought about by the retirement of the Treasurer and Colonial Secretary, these being tho unpopular rnenibsrsof the Cabinet. Their retirement would strengthen the hands of Mr Stout and his remaining colleagues. j j

Grant to Te Kootl. Mr Bryce, who has spoken very seldom this session, won a heavy round of applause yesterday afternoon for his eloquent appeal to the House to refuse assent to the provision in Special Powers and Contracts Bill handing over to Te Kooti the battlefield of Omkau, at Waikato. Here it was that the natives made their last brave stand against the British troops, led by a Britibh general, and he was sure that there would be a strong feeling if this sacred site was handed over to the author of tho Poverty Bay massacre. Mr Bryce also mentioned an interesting fact that Te Kooti had predicted that Orakau would some day pass into his hands.

Sir Julius Voxel's Petition. After all, the Petitions Committee intend roporting this session on Sir Julius Vogel's petition Sir \\ illiam Fitzherbert, Speaker of the Legislative Council, is to be examined to-day. " Save me from my friends" might well have been thought of the Premier after hearing the slanging the Ministry got last evening from Mr Seddon, whi'e the report of the conference on the Mine 3 Amendment Bill was under consideration. The member for Kumara attacked them for failing to fulfil their promise to give the mining industry that attention which it deserved.

Vote for Sir W. Pox. Major Atkinson's motion for the placing of a sum ot money on the Estimates as u recognition of Sir Wm. Fox's services to the colony is not likely to meet with much opposition. In ISSI, ho, in conjunction witii Sir Uillon Bell, undertook the settlement of land disputes between the natives and tho Government on the west coast of the North Island, a task which many authorities declared impossible. Shortly after the appointment of the Commission, Sir .Dillon Bell went home a3 Agent General, and Sir W. Fox performed the difficult business in a most satisfactory manner. The.labour connected ■v\ith the performance of this great public service was immense, and it was taken for granted that fair W. For had received the scanty remuneration which is usually given to royal commissioners. Such, however, was not the case. At the conclusion of his work, the Government offered him £2,000, but Sir William courteously declined it, and with rare disinterestedness assured the Government that hi 3 services had been freely rendered as a labour of love. Since then, Sir W. Fox has shared the losses of many colonists, and owing to tho severe depreciation of sundry elapses of property, has been placed in a position in which be cannot be allowed to forego the large sum which is justly due to him from a mere chivalrous desire to servo the colony gratis.

Auckland Petitions. Tho Petitions Committee report, at the request of Thomas Hancock and others, of Auckland, that the crossing at old Manukau Road and Newcastle-street be not closed, be referred to the Government. As to tho petition of Wilson and Company, manufacturers of patent hydraulic lime, it is recommended, as hydraulic lime of best quality is specified in all Government vorks, no necessity exists for any exclusive privilege being granted to petitioner for the use of his manufactured article. With respect to the petition of Thoa. Kennedy (late Crown grant draughtsman, Auckland Survey Department), they report that he has no claim against the colony for loss of service.

The Expected Prorogation, Captain Ruasell and Mr Bryce leave overland for home this morning. The Government are arranging for the Tarawera to proceed to Lyttelton with the Southern members immediately on her arrival from the North on Sunday morning, returning here on Monday to discharge cargo. Of course, this is subject to the prorogation taking place on Saturday.

Licensing Bill. In reply to Major Steward's question whether the Government would introduce a bill next session to amend the Licensing Act, the Premier yesterday said the present Act was working well, and the Government had no intention of changing it.

Goldfields Rewards. Tho Premier, replying to Mr Seddon, said the Government would issue regulations re the granting of rewards for the discovery of new goldfields.

Slaughter of the Innocents. The Premier yesterday announced the abandonment of the following bills; Criminal Code Bill, the .Railway Commissioners' Bill, the Magistrates' Courts Bill, the Prisoners' Probation Bill, and the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act Amendment Bill. The Government proposed to go on with the District Railways Purchasing Bill, the Special Powers and Contracts Bill, the Waimea Plains Railway Rating Bill, the Railways Authorisation Bill, the Property Tax Bill, and the Appropriation Bill.

Rotorua and Kaihu Railways. The powers under the District Railways Bill to purchase the Rotorua railway, and issue £50,000 worth of debentures to the Kaihu Valley railway, was opposed in Committee laat night, but both were carried by large majorities. The bill passed through Committee, the only important amendment being the striking out of tho Waimate railway.