PARLIAMENTARY (From "Star" Reporter.) Wellington, July 28.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 286, 1 August 1888, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY (From "Star " Reporter.) Wellington, July 28.

BIBLE-READING IN SCHOOLS. Onct. more the Council, by a bare majority, has pronounced against Bible-reading in schoolfc. By 16 to 15 they yesterday defooted Ui\ Menzies's motion, " That in the opinion of this Council the reading of the Bible in public schools should no longer be prohibited."

ENTITLED TO PENSIONS. A r< turn was presented to the House last night, on the motion of Mr G oldie, giving the names of all persons who, in the event of retirement from the public service, would be entitled to receive pensions, with the amount each would be entitled to if his services were dispensed with during the piesent financial year. The principal sums are as follows :—: — Legislative Department : Major Campbell, Clerk of Parliament, £466 ; G Friend, Clerk's Assistant, £333 ; L. Stowe, Clerk to Legislative Council, £214. Colonial Secretary's Department : C. S. Cooper, Under-Secietarv, C 533. Audit — J. G. Anderson, Chief Clerk, Cl9B 4s 3d ; C. .J. Batkin, Assistant-Controller and Auditor-General, £533. Treusiuy Department : N. Livingstone, Local Auditoi, C 24 4; J. Ollivier, Local Auditor, C 250. Justice Department : A. S. Alan, Registrar of the Supreme Court, L"195 : H. MoCulloch, TUM.. C 255. Postal and Telegraph Deparlmcut : E. Cook, Timaru, £252 ; R. Kirton, Nelson, £265 : E. D. Butts, Dunedin, C 220. Customs and Marine Department : C. E. Cooper, Collector, £333 ; H. S. McKellar, Secretary and Collector, £433 ; \V. J. Rodgerson. Collector, £242 ; T. Hill, Collector, £400; J. D. Luudon, £180; J. T. Hart, Landing Surveyor, £176 ; C. M. Ward, Tide Surveyor, CIS 6; K. Johnson, Nautical Adviser, £176. Lands and Deeds Registry : A. H. King, District Registrar, Cl9B : F. G. Morgan, Dis'rict Registrar, £123. Minister of Lands Depai tment (geological and meteorological) : Sir J. Hector, directoi-, £361 ; W. Skey, analyst. £180 ; R. B. Gore, clerk and curator, £187. Ciown Lands Departments : H G. H. Elliott, Under Secretary, £292. Public Y\ orks : J. Blackett, Engineer-in Chief, £483; J. D. Steward, District Engineer, £300.

DUTY ON UMBRELLAS. Mr Moss, has received letters complaining that the duty on materials for covering umbiellas is 25 per cent., if less than 44 inches, while the duty on the umbrellas imported is only 20 pei cent. He lias represented this to the Premier, who thinks there will be no difficulty in remedying the matter by the regulations which the Tarift Bill gives Government the power to make in such matters, as the intention of the Tariff itself is clear.

BONDING WAX VESTAS. Messrs Howison, Hogg, and Nicol, of Dunedin, having written to Mr Ross asking that in view of the heavy duty on wax matches, viz., os 6d per gross, almost half their original cost, they be allowed to be bonded. The matter has been brought under the attention of the Government, and the Secretary of Customs hat? replied that this is a matter of law, since 1866, not of regulation ; but the Premier has instructed him to prepare a Bill to amend the law so as to give effect to the wishes of the applicants and others

THE ROSS COMPENSATION BILL This measuic has been introduced to give efi'ecb to a promise made to Mr Archibald H. Ross, an Opotiki settler, that certain land, 60 acres in extent, should be given to him as compensation for about 16 acres taken for a road from Opofciki to Waiotahi.

THE NATIONAL PARK. Nothing is being done afc the present time to complete the formation of the National Park, as a law suit is pending respecting certain of the lands concerned. The Government have, however, secured the summits of the mountains of Ruapehu, Ngaruhoe, and Tongariro, so that theie is no fear of competition from speculation.

NGARUAWAHIA CEMETERY RESERVE BILL. Major Jackson succeeded in getting this measure through all stages yesterday afternoon. He said the object was to lease a portion of the reserve in terms of 14 years, the proceeds being devoted to the improvement ot the other parts of the cemetery. The second reading was carried on bhe voices. The Bill passed through Committee without amendment, was read a third time, and passed.

WAIKATO MODEL FARM. The Bill introduced by the Colonial Secretary to vest certain lands at Kirikiriroa of a total area of 137 acres in the Waikato County Council for the purposes of a model farm, passed through all stages in the Lower House yesterday. The object of the farm is to impart knowledge in practical farming to the inhabitants of Waikato and adjacent counties. The Bill will be introduced in the Council to day.

INTERCOLONIAL RECIPROCITY. Mr Joyce continues to urge this matter on the attention of the Government. He is now moving that the Commissioner of Customs be requested to communicate with the Commissioner of Customs of Victoria and ascertain if the resolutions upon intercolonial free trade which appeared on the order paper of the Victorian Assembly of the 4th inst., had been considered, and if so w ith what result ?

DESTRUCTION OF FOKESTS. The necessity for precautions against the reckless destruction of our forests has engaged the attention of JVJr Monk for some time, and he is having a Bill prepared which will piobably be introduced by the Government next session, and will legislate fully in the direction desired. One clause will provide that gum-diggers may work without payment of license fees, but will be bound to take special care to prevent danger from fires during the four warmest summer months.

NOT A ROSY BILLET. Ifc would appear from an Auckland cartoon that is engaging attention here that an impression exists in Auckland that Mr T. Thompson is paid £100 as Chairman of the Public Petitions Committee. Such is not the case. Mr Thompson took office after the payment to the Chairman was stopped, and though the duties are very onerous, he does not- even receive a courteous thank you for his services, although a good deal of abuse falls to his lot.

VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS. MrT. Thompson is endeavouring to get his clause providing for the continuance of the village settlement scheme inserted in the Land Bill during its progress through the Legislative Council. He spoke to Mr Swanson yesterday concerning this intention, but that gentleman said he did not

sufficiently understand the matter to take it in hand. There has been a good deal of talk relative to the absence of so many Auckland members when the division on the village settlement clause took place early yesteiday morning. Some of them were present till a late hour, but stonewalling being; in progress they did not think Mr Thompson's amendment would come on, and went home, hi addition to the membeis already named, Mr R. Thompson had taken the precaution to pair i for the amendment. JM r Monk was pre&ent, but did not vote, his reason, I suppose, being that while he is not altogether in favour of this system, he respected the feeliiifr in Auckland in its favour and would not vote against it.

AUCKLAND LAND SETTLEMENT. Tjik Minister of Lands has given Mr Monk a promise that he will visit Auckland at the close of the present session for the purpose of viewing the land in that Provincial Distrct, with the object of effecting its better settlement. Mr Monk prefers Mr Richardson's land settlement»yst em to that of Mrßallance. Under the former, he says a man can take foi lOsan acre of land tha formerly was valued ai Cl, pay 5 per cc t. interest on it, and whenever he likes he can convert it into freehold. He considers that the pre&s should give greater prominence to the advantages of this system.

SURVEY 0I 1 THKHON. -I WILLIAMSONS ESTATE. Mr (Soldie bioiijiht betoie the House yesterday Dhe matter or the survey of the Hon. J. Williamsons estate at Rukuhia, near Hamilton, Waikato, at the cost of the Crown. It trans pi rod from the reply given by the Minister of Lands that the cost was not £150 as Mi Goldie was informed in the previous* answer, but £380. Sir Goldie's action in the matter has had this eft'ect, that the Minister said ho would require Mr Williamsons executor? to refund half the cost ot the survey (€190) before they would allow them to use the plans for private purposes.

FENCING OX THE RAILWAY LINE. Major Jackson brought under the notice of the Government yesterday the losses su&tained by the settlers on the Waikato railway line by rhe neglect to fence, and said more cuttle had been killed than would have paid for the fencing of the line. He said settlers pave land originally free of cost, and wcie entitled to btipulate tor its fencing, but they did not do so. Major Kamliu has again and again brought this matter under the notice of the Government.

PROPERTY TAX VALUATIONS. Some days ago I informed you that the (Jovernment had determined fco give the Commissioner discretionary power to take the respective borough valuations as the basib of assessment for property tax purposes. The Piemier yesterday afternoon stated that he had no doubt such Borough valuations would be accepted in many cases, and a saving of about five thousand pounds be thus effected.

DISQUALIFICATION OF COUNCILLORS. In the Legi&lative Council the AttorneyGeneral, replying to the Hon. G. N. Wilson, said that the question of the alleged disqualification of certain members of the Legislative Council had occupied the attention of the Cabinet, but nothing definite had been decided upon. However, he hoped before long to be in a position to announce the decision of the Government upon this subject.

CONSERVING KAURI FORESTS. In the Legislative Council yesterday, the Hon. R. Phai'azyn moved, " That in view of the great destruction of kauri foiests which will piobably be caused by the operations of the recently - formed Kauri Timber Company (Limited), this Council is of opinion that no fresh licenses should be granted for cutting kauri timber until legislation has taken place dealing with the suoject. That the freehold of kauri forests now let should be retained by the Government." The speaker said that during the last 43 years no less than 8,000,000 acres had been denuded of timber. Besides this, the clearing of the forests brought with it a change of climate and the inevitable de&truction of hitherto fertile country. The hon. member referred to the comparatively recent denudation of the Auckland kauri forests ; also to the proposed establishment of a gigantic Australian Company, which proposed to buy up the existing rights to cub down kauri forests. This monopoly, he considered, would have a most disastrous effect upon the future of the colony. The kauri, whilst being one of the most valuable trees in the world, was one of the slowest in growth, and, therefore, it behoved the Government to check the enormous destruction of these forests. The Attorney - General held that it would more likely conserve the forests, and would enable better precautions to be taken for the protection of valuble property than the Government could give. The question was debated at some length, and it was shown fchat 94 per cent, of the total timber export of the colony was from Auckland. The motion was eventually withdrawn on the promise that the Government would consider the question during the recess with a view to prevent the destruction of timber on Crown forests or on forests leased from the Crown.

JOTTINGS. In the opinion of the Minister for Works ifc will entail an expenditure of about a quarter of a million sterling to complete the fencing of the railway lines of the colony. The Government decline to put £20,000 on the estimates for the purpose of continuing the Waipahu-Heriot line to Crookscon. A clause will be introduced into the Justice of Peace Act now before Parliament allowing postmasters or other peroons of good repute m outlying districts to make declarations. The contract by Capt. Whitney, of the Auckland Cartridge Factory, for furnishing ammunition to the colonial forces has been renewed for another year. Mr Joyce is desirous that members should have the opportunity of expressing their views on tne Government proposals tor auditing borough accounts. Mr Fergus gave notice of a Bill yesterday which has for its object the suppression of disorderly houses. j Mr Seddon is moving for a return of nnfenced railway line in the colony and the cost of fencing the same. Mr R. Thompson is to move for a return showing how many blocks have been opened for free selection in the Provincial District of Auckland under the Act of 1887, where situated, and what is the area of each. Where inquests are necessary in outlying districts it is the duty of the police to communicate with the nearest Inspector or Coroner by service telegram. All telegraph officers have been instructed to accept such telegrams as Government messages. The Minister of Works promised Mr Hamlin to-day, that the Government will take over nearly all the railway sleepers which the South Franklin settlers have on ! hand, taking a quantity from each proportionately.