PARLIAMENTARY. (From "Star" Reporter.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 285, 28 July 1888, Page 3

PARL l AMENTARY. (From "Star " Reporter.)

Wellington, July 25. The Lower House at last night's sitting was occupied by a warm debate on the proposal by Mr Ormond to reduce the vote of £315,025 for public schools by £30,000, in order to test the feeling of the House on the question of raising the school age to sfx years. The totai saving by the acceptance of such a proposition would, he believed, be about £26.000. The siuplus of £6,ooowouldgo towards obviatingtho necessity for closing country schools. The Premier said that as one quarter of the year was gone it would be impobsiblcto save more than £14,000 even if Mr Ormond's calculations were correct. That gentleman had over - estimated the possible roduction, and Government thought that more than halt that amount he named could be saved. They did not think it advisable to make any reduction on the education vote this session, but they would look into the matter during the recess. Mr Ormond said he merely wished to take a test vote, and he accordingly reduced the amount named in his amendment to £10,000. The Minister for Education said that the number of children who would be turned away if the cigo were raised would be about 500. Though favourable to the raising of the age, the Minister asked Mr Ormond to withdraw his amendment and leave Government free to bring down their proposals next session. Though there were supposed to be onty six standards, it was not generally known that about £7,000 annually was being spent in educating children in what was called a seventh stan dard, and these too were not children of poor parents unable to pay school rates. The debate on the proposal was a protracted one, and many members spoke on it. Mr Seddon made a vigorous fight against the amendment before the question was put. Mr Fish said he would vote with Mr Ormond, and Sir H. Atkinson, in explaining the position, said he did so as a private member who felt strongly on this question, and Government were not bound in any way by his vote. The question was put immediately before one o'clock, when the amendment was negatived by 41 to 18. Mr Fisher was the only Minister who voted to raise the school age. Mr Loughrey said he had voted by mistake.

PROFITABLE MEAT EXPORT. DIVIDEND BONUS TO SHIPPERS AND REDUCTION OF CHARGES. I was last night shown an advance copy of the annual report of the Wellington Meat Export Company, which, in spite of general depression, is very satisfactory, and of some importance in connection with the meat industry. After writing off £2,291 for depreciation, there is a credit balance of £3,673. The directors propose a dividend of 8 per cent., absorbing £1,533, and that a bonus be paid L to shippei? during the past year, at the rate of 3d per head upon sheep, Hd per head upon lambs, and 3d per 100 b. upon beef. This will absorb a further sum of £1,350, leaving £769 to carry forward. The economy effected in working with new machinery is grreatei 1 chan was expected. During the past year 104,249 sheep and lambs, and beef equivalent to 660 head of cattle. were frozen at the works, as against 50,601 sheep and lambs during the previous year. O\ving to the satisfactory year's work it was decided fco reduce the freezing charge from Jd for mutton and gd for lamb to |jd for all, and this, with M on trcight already obtained, makes a sa\ ing to shippers of 2s 7d per sheep. A fuither reduction in freight i? also hoped for. The report states that prejudice against frozen meat in England is rapidly dying out.

NEW ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES. The Government have under considera tion the question of taking steps towards ascertaining the boundaries of the new electoral districts into which the colony is to be divided. Without giving a distinct pledge that it will be done, the Premier says the Government have in contemplation to do it.

PROTECTION Y. FREE TRADE. MrCadman is anxious that we should have data of our own on which to base protection and free trade debates. At his request the Premier has requested the RegistrarC4eneral to keep a record of increase or decrease in amount collected by Customs Department on articles which are partially manufactured in the colony. The Premier also promises to endeavour to obtain periodically from the Registrar-General returns by which the benefits accruing from the adoption of the present tariff may be ascertained.

MR PEACOCK AND EDUCATION. Strong exception was taken by Mr Seddon lasbnightto Mr Peacock'sremarkson retrenchment in education, and he accused that gentleman with being a traitor to the cause. How could the hon. gentleman, he asked, go back on the action of the former member for Newton and his three Auckland colleagues in 1879, when, by their famous compact, they secured that cardinal point that the education system should not be interfered with ? _ _ . . _„

NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY. Two Northern members are sbill moving in this matter. Mr Moat proposes that the land along the route should be set apart as reserves for the construction of the line, and that they should be gradually sold, and the proceeds applied to cover the cost of the railway at the same time. Mr R. Thompson is asking the Native Minister if he will, during the recess, endeavour to arrange with the natives North of Auckland for the purchase of blocks of land on each side of the proposed line of railway between Maungatapere and Lake Omapere.

AUCKLAND PETITIONS. Two petitions of Auckland interest were presented to the House yesterday. One is from residents of Hokianga Heads, asking for the construction of a wharf, and the other from Ephraim Brown for compensation for land at Woodhill taken over tor railway purposes.

VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS. Mr Peacock intends to ask the Minister of Lands whether he is satisfied with the working of the Village Homestead Settlement Scheme, and hopeful as to its ultimate success. Does he intend to take any special steps with a view to facilitate further settlement on the land, either on similar lines or any modification of them ? Has any communication been received recently from the corps of Commissioners in England with regard to land for pensioner settlements in New Zealand ? On the same subject, Mr R. Thompson is asking the Minister of Lands if he will cause to be .printed and published a detailed statement showing the total amount expended in connection with village settlements North of Auckland.

PRIVATE LANDS SURVEYED BY THE GOVERNMENT. Mr Goldie asked the Minister of Lands yesterday, upon whoso authority the estate of the late Hon. James Williamson, at Rukuhia, near Hamilton, Wai-

kato, was re-surveyed by the Survey Department, with a view to its being brought under the Land Transfer Act, free of cost to the applicant, and for what reason (if any) has this special privilege been granted ? The Minister of Lands made the l olio wing reply to the question: "In the year 18S3 the Hon. Mr Williamson applied to have his estate at Kukuhia, near Hamilton, brought under the Land Transfer Act, when it was found that the old survey was &o erroneous that a re-survey was necessary ab a cost of £150. To this Mr Williamson demurred, but the Assistant Surveyor-General was instructed only to undertake the re-snrvcy on the usual conditions in similar ca=es, namely, that the applicant pay in advanco half the estimated cose, on receipt ot which the Government would undertake to complete the re-survey for the land transfer title. The Hon. Mr Williamson declined (o agreo to these conditions, and appealed to the late Minister of Lands, Mr Ballance, who, on the case boing explained to him by Mr Percy Smith, diiccted that a survoy was. to bo made without cost to the Hon. Mr Williamson.

THE NATIVE OUTBREAK. The Cabinet is likely to consider to-day what action shall be takon relativo to the outbreak amongst Maoris at Whangarei. The belligerent parties are anxious that the Native Minister should go up and settle the dispute, but he cannot do bo till the close ot the session, when he will go if necessary. He, however. doc& not think the scsbion will be over before the end of August.

THE WITHY AMENDMENT. As was anticipated, the debate on Mi" Withy's amendment; collapsed yesterday afternoon, and a division being called for, it was defeated by 59 votes to 10. Those who voted in favour of the instruction that C4overnment should, if possible, further reduce the estimates by £100,000 during the recess, were : Messis Allen, Anderson, Barion, Beetham, Buchanan, Duncan, Hodgkinson, Mackenzie (Mount Ida), McKenzie (Moeraki) and Turnbull. The Premier's promise to continue his work of retrenchment was accepted by Mr Withy, who voted against his own amendment. During the discusbion an important statement was made by she Premier just befoie *;hc divi&ion was taken. He said that if the amendment were withdrawn or defeated ho ■would not feel himself at libeity to deal with salaries below £150 a -year. That was to say that his piomise of last session that no salaries u rider £150 should be touched would still hold good.

TEE VICTORIAN EXHIBITION. Lieut. -Col. Savgood, Executive VicePresident ot the Victorian Exhibition, has telegraphed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives as follows : — "The arrangements for the opening ceremony aie now being completed. Commisbion will feel obliged if you will consent to be in the official procession to accompany His> Excellency the Governor and the Governors of the other colonies up the grand avenue to the dais.'' Sir Maurice O'Rorke intends to reply thatheregiets his inability to be present at the opening: ot the Exhibition, as he, as an old Victorian, very much desired ; but as the New Zealand Parliament will still be in session he will be obliged to deny himself the pleasure of accepting the Vice-Preaident's invitation.

THE PARIS EXHIBITION. Information as to whether or not the Government intended that the colony shall be lepresented at the Paris Exhibition was sought yesterday by Mr Beetham, who said that fche French Consul had informed him that unless he learned before the next homeward mail was despatched, considerable inconvenience would result. The Premier said that the Government, did not think they would be justified in going; to expenditure for the purpose of exhibition, but they would appoint Commissioners to represent the colony.

AMERICAN DUTY ON WOOL. The Government weie questioned yesterday afternoon as to whether they had received any information regarding the probability of the removal of the import duty on wool by the United States Congress. The Premier said he had had no official communication on the subject, but he thought, from what he had learned from other sources, that the duty was not likely to be removed. The House ot Representatives was favourable to the proposal, but the Senate was. opposed to it. Of course what he had stated was merely an expression of opinion of his correspondent.

A STRANGE STEP. The climax of the peculiar proceedings which have attended the history of Mr Withy's retrenchment resolution was reached yesterday afternoon, when on the question being put JVJr Withy declined when asked by the Speaker to act as teller in favour of his own motion, and announced his intention to oppose it. Mr Goldie, who has been one of the warmest supporters of the resolution, also declined office, stating that he was voting "on the other side." The tellers were then named. After the division had been taken Mr Sheddon asked the Speaker whether it was competent for a member to vote against his own motion . The Speaker replied amidst laughter that if the mover was convinced by arguments against his motion, he was perfectly entitled to vote against it.

THE ESTIMATES. The House at last got into Committee of Supply on the estimatesyesterday afternoon, and bofore any progress was made it was agreed on the motion of the Premier to withdraw the Legislative estimates framed by the Government, and substitute those prepared by the Speakers of both Houses. The estimates of the Education Department which were in charge of Mr Fisher, were taken, but little or no progress was made.

EFFORTS FOR REDUCTION. Strenuous efforts to secure reduction in salarieb were made by the members of the Retrenchment Committee and others, but were without success. There was a long discussion on the motion by Mr R. Thompson to reduce the salary of the Secretary and Inspector- General from £600 to £500. The Minister remonstrated against the proposal, and said the Secretary was performing the duties of two officers who formerly got £600. Mr Thompson offered to withdraw hiB motion, but was refused, and the proposal was negatived on the voices An amendment by Dr. Hodgkinson to reduce the InspectorGeneral from £600 to £550 was negatived by 34 to 18.

CONTROL OF NATIVE SCHOOLS. Mr R. Thompson (Marsden) moved that the Inspector-General, clerk, and assistant native school inspector (£275) be struck out, as he understood that the native schools were likely to be placed under the control of Education Boards. Several members, including Sir George Grey iand Mr Ormond, strongly advocated placing native schools undei Education Boards. Sir George Grey urged that a resolution affirming the principle should be passed this session. The Minister for Education asked the House bo defer its decision till the special vote for native schools was reached. He pointed out that he had already made proposals which contained re-

serrations amounting to the same as Mr Ormond's suggestions. Tho proposal was negatived by 62 to 16, but, on the motion of Mr Seddon, the item was reduced by £1, as an indication of the desire of the House that native schools should be placed under Boards of Education. Consideration of the estimates continued after 1.30 a.m., despite protests of sorao members, Avho thought members were too jaded to go on. Hutchison moved ior a reduction by £4 to indicate the desire of the House for a return to tho working average system of calculating tho capitation, instead of the strict average. The amendment was opposed by the (Jovernmont on tho ground that it would involve an increased expenditure of £8,000. Lost on the voices. The vote ot C 315,025 for public schools pussed. The Premier promised to see what i eduction could be made during recess in the vote of £15,550 for native schools, and the House emphasisod the desiro for roIronchment in this vote by carrying by 24 to 21 a nominal reduction of £10. On the vote of €13,264 foi Industrial Schools, Dr. Newman moved reduction by £4, as an indication that a portion of the vote should be charged to Charitable Aid, and the proposal was carried on the voices. Class C, comprising Education Dcpaitment, passed, and progress was rcpoi ted at 2.20 a.m.

THE CARLTON CLUB. Yiolding to bho representations of Mr Goldie, the Colonial Secretary has given instructions to cancel the club charter of the Carl ton Club at Newmarket, which also ha& a. hotel license. By virtue of the club cliai tcr it could sell liquor all night.

THE KAURI TIMBER COMPANY. The Hon. I\. Phiuay.yn intends to move in the Legislative Council, " That in view of the groat destruction ot kauri forests which will piobably be caused by the operations of the recently • formed Kauri Timber Company (Limited), this Council is of opinion that no fre&h licenses should bo granted for cutting kauri timber until legislation has taken place dealing with the vsubjeet : and that the freehold of kauri forests now lot should be retained by the Ciovernment. "

PROGRESS OF BUSINESS. The Premier does nob consider that the House is ripe for the Estimates yet after the slow progress made lastnightand to-day. He proposes to go into Committee ot Supply in ordei to obtain imprest supply, but will not proceed further with the estimates yet. The Native Bills will probably be taken today.

AUCKLAND HARBOUR IMPROVE MENT BILL. Mr Peacock has been before the Legislative Council Committee this morning, relative to the Auckland Harbour Impiovemcnt Bill, and I learn from him that tho difficulties in the way of the measure have been oveicome. In order to make the Bill a public one, the land at St. Mary will be taken under the Public Works Act, and compensation will be in the form of land which was to have been exchanged for that taken. It is expected that the Bill will pass without dimcuity in this form.

VILLAGE SETTLEMENT ROADS. Mu Moat has been urging on the Govern" ment the claims of the Omaha village settlers to connection by road. Inquiries are »ow being made by the Department, and Mr Moat expects that as> a resulb of these, a vote for the work in question will appear on the estimates.

MIDLAND RAILWAY CONTRACT. No further news is to hand relative to tho Midland Railway contract. The principal point in the discussion between the Government and the Company relate 3 bo the running powers for the Company's trains over Government lines. The directors of the Company think it necessary to procure such powers in order to give them acce&fe to the ports of Lyttelton, Nelson and Greymouth. The Government are willing to afford them every facility, and the only matter in discussion is the question of terms. The directors of the Company, in common with all other persons in England who have to do with railways, lay great stress upon such questions. In England competition between various railway companies is so keen that some difficulty would very probably arise a& to arranging running powers over rival line's. I learn that Mr Wilson's duties in the colony will be to see to the completion of the necessary surveys, to let new contracts, and superintend for a time the running on sections completed. One section- that from Brunncr ton to Kaimata, a distance of about 9 miles - is already completed. Another, from Brun nerton to Nelson Cieek, a distance of 8 miles towards Reef ton, will be ready for traffic in August or September. These two sections form part of the contract of Messrs McKeone, liobinson and Avigdor, who have undertaken to construct the line from Teremakau, opposite Jackson's, to Nelson Crock a length ot 33 mileo. The point in dispute between the Government and the Midland Hailway Company is that the latter want mutual running rights conceded before they sign the contract. That means that though they have not constructed a mile of the railway between Christchurch and Hokitika theywould be at liberty to import railway plant and run on any Government line between Wellington and Bluff. The Cabinet decided that no such concession should be granted till the contract was signed and then an agreement should be drawn up giving mutual running rights,

PRIVILEGE. The Privilege Committee are likely to report to-morrow that a breach of privilege was occasioned by laying the letter from the Chief Judge of the Native Lands Court on the table ot the House.

MELBOURNE EXHIBITION, The Minister for Justice, who has been appointed Honorary Commissioner for the colony at the Melbourne Exhibition, leaves at the close of the session, and will be absent about a month. The Hon. G. MacLean who proceeds to Melbourne at the end of September will also likely be appointed a commissioner.

THE TOTALISATOR. In consequence of the previous question having been carried by the Legislative Council on the totalisator discussion, noaction is likely to bo taken by the Government during the recess and probabilities are therefore that no x-estricDive measure will be adopted with regard to the infernal machine.

AUCKLAND MEMBERS AND THE SCHOOL AGE. Auckland readers will be interested in th e votes given by their members on Mr Or* mond'ts proposal to raise the school age. The voting was : — For the proposal : Messrs Peacock, Monk, Taiwhanga, and Withy. Against : Messrs Fraser, Goldie, Jackson, Lawfy, T. Thompson, R. Thompson, Moat, Moss, O'Rorke, Hobbs, J. B. Whyte, Cadman, Kelly, and Mitchelson.

BONUS FOR TREATING, REFRACTORY ORES. The Minister of Mines has completed a i rough draft of conditions under which it is

proposed to offer bonuses for iihe improve ment ot processes for saving valuable [ metals on our goldtields. His proposals are twofold. No. 1 offers a bonus of £5,000 to any person who may erect the first metallurgical works in the colony for the extraction of metals, auriferous and argentiferous on conditions (a) that 35,000 tons be treated before whole of bonus is paid, but that progress payments will be paid at the rate of £1,000 per every 1,000 tons treated ; (6) that at least 90 per cent, of assay values be saved, at cost not exceeding 65s per ton ; (c) that value of melals extracted at end of each month shall be sufficient to cover co&t of treatment andleavo net proHt of at least 15s per ton. The second offer relating to low grade ores provides for XI, OOO bonus to anyone introducing a process to extract metal on following alternative conditions :—: — (a) 90 per cent, of assay value at cost not exceeding 10s pei ton ; {b) 80 por cent, at cost not exceeding 7t= 6d per ton ; (c) 75 per cent, at 5s per ton, provided that 7,000 tons be treated on either conditions of a, b, and c. A clear profit must be shown oi not less that 7s 6d per ton. (Government will in all cases appoint an assayer to give tost assays before the ore is treated. Messrs Cadman, Peacock and Allan have arranged to interview the Department today, and go more fully into the question with Mr Gordon before the proposals are finally completed. The Premier gave an absolute denial in the House to the statement cabled from Home that Vogel had been appointed by the Now Zealand Government to make inquirios in Germany regayding treatment of ores. The Agent-General ha& been instructed to mako inquiiies, but Vogel was not acting in any capacity on behalf of the New Zealand Government.

PUHOI SETTLEHJS BILL. The Puhoi settler.s will al last receive thoir long-promised Crown grants, the Bill to effoct that object having been read a third time yesterday by the Legislative Council, and finally passed.

NATIVE LANDS LEGISLATION. The Native Lands Fraud Prevention Bill originally contained a clause to the effect that sufficient land should be left for occupation and support ot natives interested in the land which is the subject of alienation. This provision has been struck out by the Local Bills Committee.

'FRISCO MAIL SERVICE. The "Post" is doing its utmost to counteract the increasing feeling in favour of the 'Frisco mail seivicc. It returns again to the subject last night, and says increased mail subsidies to the direct line would lead to a reduction of freights. It adds :— " If all the mails were sent by the direct steamers it is quite possible that a reduction in the freight on frozen meat and dairy produce might soon be found practicable. This would stimulate the industry throughout the colony and tend greatly to increase our national wealth."

NEW ROADS IN AUCKLAND. It will be found that the Public Works estimates contain a large number of votes for new roads to open lands for sale. The votes for roads on goldlields are also larger than ever before, and this fact will be gratifying to your rea,dei.s in mining districts. Some alterations were made in the Statement at a lengthy Cabinet meeting on Sunday, but it is now ready for delivery, and will very probably come down on Friday evening, but that depends on the progie&a of business.

JOTTINGS. The Minister of Public Works promises to consider during the recess whether to continue the Labour Bureau at Dunedin. Mr Seddotf is to get a return of the number of Chinese in the colony married to European women and their oftspring. The Premier will move to-day that Thursdays shall be taken for Government business. Sir Julius Vogel has no authority from the Government to act relative to the treatment of refractory ores, or in any other capacity, in England. Mr Mitchelson's Otago Dock Land Bill was lead a iir^t time yesterday. The probabilities are that the Government will send an official to repiesent the colony a< the Educational exposition in connection with the Melbourne Exhibition. There are ninety Bills on the Order Paper of the Lower House, and fully eighty of these will be dropped for the session. A return is to be prepared of the cost of survey and partial construction of uncompleted railways. No more smoking on tramcar platforms — tho Governor having given his as&ent to the new Tramways Act. The estimates will be under consideration this afternoon. No salaries under £150 are now to be touched : joy in the Civil Service in consequence. Mi Withy voted against his own amendment for further retrenchment to the tune of £100,000. The Mini&ter for Justice, who is suffering from a severe cold, was absent from the House yesterday. Mr Sedclon described Mr Withy's retrenchment amendment as " a dirty slimy thing." It is said that the present annual cost of educating native children is Cl 2 per head. The Council has finally passed the Regulation of Local Elections Act. Colonel Frasor wants a block of land reserved for homes for aged mineifa of Thames and Coromandel. The Wellington members are agitating for an extension of tho Master ton railway to their suburbs of Te Aro and Newtown. Taipuais asking the Government to prevent prospecting on native land wilhout authority. m __ m __ m __ mmmmm _____