Parlimentary Jottings.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 229, 19 November 1887, Page 1

Parlimentary Jottings.

Reduction of Gold Duty. The West Coast and Otago goldfield members secured a victory last evening by carrying the second reading of Mr Seddon's bill, providing for the reduction of gold duty afc the rate of 6d per ounce, by 39 to 34 votes. The principal opposition was offei'ed by Auckland members, but the bill was not discussed. The bill contained a clause making the operation of the measure optional.

Thames Railway Bridge. Mr Cadman is urging the Government to give effect to the promise of the late Premier to provide sufficient temporary planking' to make the' Thames Railway Bridge over the Kaueranga River safe for foot traffic, and also provide a hand rail. He states the cost of the work would only amount to about £30, while the bridge would be used by 300 or 400Jpeople daily.

' L ■ 'ic&ool of Minds. The .authorities of tho Goi'omandel School of Mines have applied to the Government for the use of one of several available vacant allotments, on which to erect a suitable building: ; but a difficulty arises from the fact

that the school, not being a body corporate, cannot hold property. Mr Cadmare has written to the Government, suggesting" they should hand an allotment over to the* County Council to be held in trust, and that the School. of Mines should be allowed to occupy it until otherwise required.

The Midland Railway. The Midland Railway Committee completed their sitting yesterday morning. The following new clause has been inserted in the contract: — "Within three months after the expiration of one year after the completion of the said railway, an account shall be taken of all moneys theretofore received by and then owing to the Company as the proceeds of the land granted to and sold by them as the proceeds of their timber and coal, whether by way of purchase money or royalty, and a valuation shall be made either by agreement between the parties hereto or by arbitration as hereinafter provided of all the land, timber, and coal of the Company then unsold ; and if the aggregate of moneys so received and owing, together with the sum of such valuation, shall not amount to £1,250,000, the Company may within six months thereafter select further land out of the land then remaining unselected, and described as available for selection under Section 2 hereof, to the extent of such lands then remaining so available, but all such furthei lands shall be valued either by agreement or arbitration as aforesaid, or the Company shall not select any such further land to a value greater than the difference (if any) between the aggregate of the moneys so received and owing, together with the sum of such a aluation as aforesaid* and the said sum of £1,250,000.

Tax on Bachelors and Spinsters. Two novel propositions have been made to tho Government by Mr Joyce, with tho object of augmenting the revenue for education purposes, and avoiding the necessity for reductions in teachers' salaries or cost of ordinary administration. One is that exemptions under the property tax should be reduced from ,-€5OO to £100 for three years, and the proceeds devoted to the purpose referred to. The other is that an annual tax of £1 per head should be imposed for three years upon the adult male population of the colony. That the sum of £2 per head be levied on bachelors over thirty years of age, and -C 5 per head on all bachelors and spinsters over thirty years of age who are worth property of the value of £500 and upwards. The proceeds of those taxes would be devoted to the same object. The. Premier will give answer on Thursday.

Denominational Education. Mr Golclie is to ask the Minister of Edu cation if there is any truth in the statement made by the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, as reported in the Auckland Evening Star of the 10th inst., that the Government had made it known in Wellington that they were prepared to make considerable concessions to those who will ask for a transference of education to the religious bodies. If so, will the Government inform the House the nature of the concessions they propose to make, and when such concessions will be given oflect to ?

Dairy Produce in England. The Government have learned unofficially that there would be a considerable market for our dairy produce in Great Britain, provided fchab it was of superior uniform quality. They are of opinion that a dairy expert should bo asked to coma from England and report on the produce of tho colony. The Legislative Council have adopted, on Mr Mcnzies' motion, a resolution affirming the expediency of obtaining ami circulating information on the subject of dairy produce,

Jottings. The cosb to the colony of cablegrams connected with the Midland Railway was £998. Petitions praying for the legalisation of sweepstakes have been referred to the Government for consideration. A week's extonsion of time has been, granted the Midland Railway Committee to bring up their report. Eighty-nine members, including pairs, voted on the motion re, tariff revision. Those who abstained from voting were Messrs Brown, Buchanan, Hodginson, McArthur and Mills. Mr Joyce is urging the Government to compel clubs to pay an annual license fee. The Legislative Council has appointed a committee of ten members on the rabbit pest question. Mr Beetham is again asking the Government to impose a tax on tofcalisator tickets for charitable aid purposes. Serious charges against Dr, Bullei*, in. connection with the Owhaoko-Kaimanawa-claims, are made in a paper laid before the Legislative Council. The Government intend to devote thd balance of the 18S6 loan to the completion of the Greymouth-Hokitika railway. It is not the intention of the Government? to deal with the truck system this session, jj Mr Seddon intends to-day to question the ruling of the Speaker in calling Sir Julius Vogel to order. If time permits the Government will endeavour this session to give effect to those recommendations of the Municipal Conference of which they approve.

The "Financial Critic." There has been a great deal of newspaper controversy here relative to an article published by the " Post " prior fco the general elections, represented to be from the London "Financial Critic," and eulogising Sir Julius Vogel in a somewhat? extravagant manner. The " Press " denied that the paper existed, and both the " Post " and " Lyfctelton Times, "which published tho artiele,maintained that the article was a bo?ia Adt one. The t{ Press" last night/ returns to the attack, and asserts that nosuch paper is registered or known in London, and that tho whole thing was a disgraceful electioneering trick. It also said it was " very likely afew copiesof a brochure of some sort called the "Financial Critic" may have been published in July for electioneering purposes." I will simply add that I was last night shown a copy of the paper in question of last December's »date, and it ia undoubtedly a bona fide publication. Be- ' yond this* tho gentleman in whose possession it was has been a subscriber to' the paper since it was first issued. Star Correspondent.