LATEST PARLIAMENTRY. PROPOSED INCREASE OF DUTIES.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 155, 22 May 1886, Page 3

LATEST PARLIAMENTRY. PROPOSED INCREASE OF DUTIES.

Wellington, 1.39 p.m. The "Times" is responsible for the statement that rumours are afloat of an intention on the part of the Government to increase the duties on tea and sugar, and that speculative clearance of such goods havo aheady commenced in Wellington. Anything on the subject of the intentions of the Government in this matter can, however, be only the merest conjecture.

The New Hebrides Questions. Sir George Gray is in receipt of a te'egraphic despatch statiog that the telegram in Monday's papers relative to the probable satisfactory settlement of the New Hebriif s "question, is not confirmed by a cablegram received by the Victorian Government from their Agent General

Intentions of the Opposition. I am told that the Opposition are disinclined to attack the Government until the matters of the Representation Act and rodistribution of seats on the basis of last census returns is settled. Tho Opposition speaker?, last night, endeavoured to make it distinctly understood that they were not criticising the Government policy.

ministerial Happy Family. The local papers are now giving publicity to the Stories respecting disputes in the Cabinet, which I telegraphed last week, and are evidently taking their cue from the accusations contained in Major Atkinson's

speech JA "Confidential" Question. The "Few Zealand Times'" charges Sir George Grey with passing the b ninds of propriety in demanding the production if contidsnti il communica tions lespecting the New Hebrides ques tion. I understand that tin regulations directed by the Homo Government to thf ir colonial Governors, and officers state that al'hough "confHentiil" despatches or communications may be w <itten or received, it i* distinctly to be understood that they will be produced should necessity arise for their production. In America there it a rule that the Senate have the right of access to •• confidential" communications at all time?.

The Debate on tho Address in Reply. Tin re were fifty members present when the House resumed yesterday afternoon. Arother Auckland member had turned up in tho person of Mr JJargaville. There was a fair attendance in the strangers' gallery, but only about a dozen representing the fair sex occupied the ladies' gallery. The House only sat about an hour, and the only matter of consequence which came forward was Sir Georgo Grey's resolution on the New Hebrides annexation. The Address-in-Keply made matters more lively at the evening sitting, when the galleries weie well filled, and a large number of members were present. Mr Bevan occupied half an hour in a remarkably eood speech in moving the address, and tbefloiid style of his oratory was heard to advantage, and the matter of his addrcs-3 was good The speech made by the etconder, Mr Taylor, was very disappointing, and wasted only a few minutes. It was crude in style, and the burden of his discourse was that he had coroe from the South for the purpose of miking a strenuous fight for the expenditure of as much money as possible in the Bjdenham district. eW* 5 Major Atkinson spoko incisively, and the Premier's reply was very good, but Mr W&kefield's speech was very disappointing, and gave the listener the idea that he was talking for talking's sake. Mr Moss made a vigorous speech, in the course of which he attacked the Govern ment for the purchase of Stark's eetato at twice it" actual value. The Buck lands were both severe on the (Government in the debate last night. r l he member for Waikomiti accused Mr Ballance of bibbling at Lawrence one day, and the next making impossible promises to the Maori King in the Korth. The member for Franklyn North asserted that the Government had gone hundreds of miles out of their way in order to damage the Auckland members in the eye 3 of their constituents They took the money for the 'runk Hie, and blamed the Auckland member?, and vent into every little bamlet saying, <c You would have been prosperous if it had not been for your members supporting Captain Russell's amendment. The debate was, taken altogether, very friendly, but none of the other speeches, excepting Mr Turnbull'e, were worthy of special mention. The general opinion in the lobbies is that the debate on the address in reply wa3 useless, and wholly ineffective Mr Stout complained of the Opposition tactics in de dining to debate the matter; bat, as a Wellington member remarked this morning, "It wrenches a man terribly to kick at nothing " Of last night's debate the ''New Zealand Times " says : "The debate was about the tamest, weakest, and most useless that has ever taken place in the New Zealand Parliament on such an occasion. No doubt the utterly colourless and non committal character of the speech from the throne had much to do with the blank character of the discussion.'' Auckland Petitions. Mr Moss has presented petitions from David Kenaly in connection with a land claim, and from James Young, late warden at Mount Eden Gaol. Sir George Grey yesterday presented a petition from Simon Frazer for a reward for discovering a goldfield ; from Andrew Maxwell and Brother, for an inquiry into the compensation of lands ; from Maria Wilton, for an allowance for the services of her husband ; and from Mary Fandy, for a email sum of money to enable her to settle twelve acres of land. Mr Hurst presented a petition from Dorothy McVane for compensation for the destruction of property by sparks from the railway engine. Mr W. F. Buckland presented a petition from the builders and contractors, asking that lees etringent conditions be imposed with respect to contracts under the Public Works Department. The only other Auckland petition was presented by Mr J. B Whyte on behalf of the Waikato settlers, who ask that a Corrimiteion may be appointed to inquire into and report upon the management of our railways. Representation Bill. Mr McArthur is to aek ths Government if they intend to introduce a Representation Bill this session. The Demand for Small Farms. Respecting the desire of settlers for the acquisition of lands, Mr Turnbull says that in his district there is a small block of 50 acres of land advertised for eale, the upset price jot which was £250, but for which no less than £1,000 was deposited in the Crown -Lands Office, so anxious are people to obtain really valuable lands.