PARLIAMENTARY. (From " Star " Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, October 20 to 27

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 226, 29 October 1887, Page 1

PARLIAMENTARY. (From " Star " Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, October 20 to 27

Nothing further lias been done with respect to the proposed alteration of tho North Island Railway route. It is intended to hold a meeting of Auckland and Taranaki members when they have all returned from their holiday trip, and probably it will take place about Monday next. It is not yet known what form the movement shall assume, but

Sir Goorgo Groy. is prepared to bring in a bill to effect the object in view. He says a" bill could not be introduced by private members to increase the taxation, but private members could introduce a bill the effect of which would be to reduce the taxation, and if the alteration suggested were made in the route, the effect would be to save a large amount in proposed expenditure. TheCabineb have not yet considered the matter, but will give it consideration when it is brought before them. Hon. Mr Mitchelbon has made ft promise to Mr Peacock that ho will not make any objection to the change in the route, although he still considers the central route is the best. Mr Mitchelson is of opinion that the whole work should be stopped until

Purchase of Land on both sides of tho lino has been effected, and this will probably be done. The reason is that very high prices are being and will bo asked for the land, and that an immense area still remain? to be bought. Whether the route is altered or not, I believe tha twelve miles already made ab Marton will prove very useful and profitable, as the country is already settled on for fourteen miles as a re&ult of this woik, and Mr Mitchelson considers that it would be settled upon for a distance of seventy miles if the lino were pushed on from this point. In connection with this subject, I may add that Ballance, who is one with Wellington district members, considers that the evidence taken before the Commission was valueless. He considei s that Mr Rochefort was too sanguine, and made light of the difficulties, which' were afterwards found to be very serious. He predicts that very great difficulties will be met with on the central route, and will be found very costly to overcome.

Law Practitioners Bill. Sir George Grey has made a very important alteration in his Law Practitioners Bill this session in hope of getting it through the two Houses. He has left out the clause giving power to appoint any person of good character to appear on behalf ot one of the parties to a suit. As the bill now stands, the general knowledge examination is done away with altogether, and ib is only necessary for a candidate to pass examination in law.

The 'Frisco Service In Danger. There is now no doubt that the statement in the "Post" that the San Francisco service would be done away with was simply a counter move against, the agitation in Auckland for a change of railway route. The Government have no intention whatevei; of interfering with tho vote for the service, but when the Estimates are brought down a determined attempt will be made by some of tho Southern members to have the vote struck out. Auckland members are alive to the danger, and Mr Peacock has the matter in hand at the piesent time.