PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP. (BY TELEGRAPH—OWN REPORTER.) BUILDING STONE FROM HIKURANGI. A FAVOURABLE REPORT.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 273, 16 June 1888, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP. (BY TELEGRAPH— OWN REPORTER.) BUILDING STONE FROM HIKURANGI. A FAVOURABLE REPORT.

Wklunotok, Juno 14. ! TiTh (Ecological Department in Wellington have reported very favourably as to the stone from Hikurangi which Mr llobbs sent for analysis, ''boiuir mottled reel and an excellent stone for building purposes, and should bo t-iod for marble." Mr Hobbs has arrang( d to ha\ca specimen sent cut into square blocks and polished.

I'UUII'UIU FOREST. Mr lTol)b.s intends to ask Government whether tlicy will appoint c\f)Oits to value Pulupuhi foicst as to the value of standing bush through which (he has passed, and thu value ol the block as a whole.

GOLDFiELDS TP.ACK. Mr Cadman has arianged with the Minis" tor lor Lands to continue tho tiack Iroin Phiii to Tahua, and he lias given in^tiuctious to Mr J'ctcy Smith, Absislant Surveyor General, to cvpond i-ho balunee of vote (C2QO) remaining from last year, it is considered that this will eonipletu the track as far as Taiuiu diggings.

Mil BE ETHAN'S AMENDMENT. Ftce tiaders admit, that Mr Boothani' 8 amendment it> not proposed at an oppoi" tune time, noi was it moved with any intention ot turning out the Go\etnmentTliey take up two ground", via., that as tioe tiadcis they must Justly onto: their emphatic protect against the imposition of a pioteetive thrill ; secondly, that it is (heir duty to try to cairy out tho pledge winch tho country demanded at the elections, that no fuither taxation should be pioposed till "here has been exhaustive letrcuchment.

THE TARIFF. The free traders have appointed Messrs Withy. Barron, Macarthur and Mcken/.ic (Clntha) to go thiough tlie taiitl and make ,i uporb on which the party will ba^o their line ol action. Tho bub-committee met today , and consider edthc duties thai, avecluu go able on dillerent kinds of cbapeiy and the dilliculty in definitely allocating some articles to their proper cid ralortm class.

THE TARIFF DEBATE. The debate still occupies the attention of tho House, and the general opinion i& that it i;-. being diatiged out to a weaiying length. Theie was nothing exceptional in the speeches delivered yesterday, although Mr Monk made a telling speech against tho property \aluationb. Mr Fisher \ indicated himself fiom the chaises of inconsistency. Mr John McKcn/,ie spoke --tiongly in comparing the present Govern - ment with bheir predecessors to the disad\antage of the present occupiers of ti)e Treasury benches. Good speeches were made by Me^sis Ormond, Moss, I /a rd and otheih. Tho quietness of the Premier and hi^ colleague* in this no-conhdonce debate is commented upon, although their silence and the languid tone ot the debate are attubuted to the lact that the leculb of dhision i^ regarded a^ a toiegone conclusion. Mr Oi mond made a forcible oxpie^sion oi: opinion in lavour of RichaulsonS Lund Act as again^o the land policy of the previous Government.

STRONG COMMENT. Severe strictures were parcel on the Rail' way Department last evening by Mi J McKen/ie (Waihenio),who said the Dcpnitment wab rotten to the eoie. It was a huge family concern, beingi-tnlled with member of the tamilio of officials all through the country, and he was hatched th.vt miM uf the complaint" made in lefetctico to it weie tho-,0 for which the head of the Department could in no way bo considered responsible

CO DUN MOTH BILL. The adjourned meeting ot members ol both Houses interested in the Codlin Moth 1 Jill was held this morning. Amongst racinl)eiM piencnt weie lions. Swanson, C'aptaiu Monis and Moat, and Me.s-.ih Jackson, llobbs, llamlin, Lawiy, R. Thompson and -J. B. Wh)te. T. Tliompson was absent on the Petitions Committee. The clauseof tho Bill weie considered, and finally the meeting agreed to rccoin mend that stone huit be struck out all claus.es between sto 20. Mi 1 llobbs suggested that the best course to pui.snc would be for the Council to lead the Bill a second time, and when in committee ob]cctiom\l clauses could be climinaied. Hon Mr Ste\ens, who hah charge of the Bill, had no objection to accept tho suggestion ot Mr Barnicoat to refei the Bill in duo cotu^e to a select committee oi the Council and this courfcc will in all probability be adopted.

'FRISCO MAIL SERVICE. One of the burning que^Mons of the session will be the 'bViseo Mail Service. Many of the southern membeis aie making a dead set against it, and ,ne agitating tor iis discontinuance. Peacock, who is wary in the matter, has ascertained that Government aie practically committed to a icnewal for another twelve months. In order that time may be given for consideration of new boattj if necessary proposals for new contract must be submitted beioie the close of the present .se.ssion, and it is then that the fus* is expected to take place. Mr Peacocko says an attempt will be made to bolster up the DirectSenioowith the aigulncnfc that letters now sent via, San Tfiancisco would go that way. lie is convinced on tho contrary.

MEETING OF OPPOSITION. At a meeting of tho Opposition held this forenoon, at which thiity members were present, Mr Lance presiding, a tacit understanding was arrived at that Government should be given a general support in carrying the fcarifl. Members are to be at liberty to oppose any item in the tariif they feel inclined to.

EXHIBITION COMMISSIONER. Government have appointed VI. D. Bell, Crown Vrosccutor jit Wellington, Honorary Commissioner in connection with tho Victorian Exhibition. Sir R. Stout and Hon. R. Oliver are also likely to be appointed.

RUMOURS OF RECONSTRUCTION. Tho feeling is growing among members that reconstruction of the Cabinet will bo forced on Ministers, and that one or two members from tho Opposition side of tho House will have to bo included in the Cabinet. Discussing matters this morning with a Minister, ho said that tho Premier was determined that himsolt and colleagues would stand or fall together. There seems to bo a set in the House against the Hon. Mr Fishor especially.

THE SHOP HOURS BILL. It is not intended by Mr Joyce that his mcasuro shall apply to all trades people. Confectioners, fruiterers and iishshops will be exempted, and tobacconist, say, up to 9 p.m. Tho Bill is specially intended to apply to those who aro employed in tho drapery and grocory^shop in, the four

contros of population. Outside ot those it ia proposed to give local option.

AN UNPOPULAR MEASURE. Tho Council, holding: that each different matter should be provided for by a different Act without intermixing 1 in one and the same law such things as have no proper relations to each other, will refuse to sanction any proposed legislation of tho nature of the Special Powers and Contract Act. A motion to the effect was moved by tho Hon. Mr Waterhouse yesterday afternoon, and was opposed by the AttorneyGeneral, who urged that a Special Powers and Contiaut Bill was an absolute necessity this session. The motion Avas, however, carried by 15 to 7. Thereupon Sir F. WhitaUer gave notice of introduction of tho Fulfilment of Contracts and Promises jjill.

NEW PETITIONS. Petitions from Auckland were presented \esteiday as follows ,-Leonaid Simpson, lur payment for certain surveys in Bay of Plenty District (Mr Kelly); Henry Gcraul, for relief for injury received while in (Government service (Mr Monk). The Committee lcpoi tod that 0. Williams, formerly station-keeper at Motuihi, has no claims ag.dnst the colony.

JOTTINGS. Mr O'Connor thinks that the ne x economy should ho the abolition of Kan&ar ' but the House did not take kindly to tteh c suggestion. •lohn McKcn/.ie says tin's Government will give concccsions to Mid'and Railway Company that the Stout-Vogel Government Mould no\er have consented to. Monk Fays the iiw^ht he has got into the position of tho colony leads him to regiet veiy much that he -voted for the loan. Tea and s.ilt arc duties which members seem dcteiminei shall not be imposed when the taiifi is under consideration. llcslop has intioduccd the Municipal Coi porations Bill. Ormond say& tho policy of the late Government was to stop a'l land settlement save pauper land settlement. Auckland Harbour Improvement Bill has been rcpoitod on by the Local Bills Committee with slight verbal amendments and the recommendation that it be allowed to proceed. Sir G. Grey is introducing a Bill to provide lor the granting of license.- to vine gioweis to distil spirits for fortifying wines.