PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. Wellington, July 30.

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

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. Wellington, July 30.

PAIR RENT BILL. The opinion is increasing that th r drastic clauses inserted in the Fai Rent Bill wi'l have the effect of causing it to be thrown out of the Legislative Council. Letters in favour of the measure are, however, pouring in on members. I have before me one from a settler at Waitakerei who applied for his land last year at £4 por acre, but was driven up by competition to £40. He has now arrived at the conclusion that it is only worth £1 per acre. He declares that he is rated at £40 per acre, and his neighbours for similar land only pay £20.

A MAORI STONEWALL. The four native members held a meeting this forenoon, and decided to stonewall all native bilh> to the bitter end unless the taxation clause is struck out of the Native Land Bill.

ROADS IN MOUNT ROSKILL. At the request of Mr J. W. Carr, Mr G oldie has obtained from the Minister of Works a promise of four hundred yards of metal to complete roads in the Three Kings district.

UMBRELLA MATERIALS. Mr Gotdie is negotiating with the Premier legarding concessions which the umbrella-makers desire to have made on materials imported by them. It is now claimed that there is a certain majority of ten against the renewal of the San Francisco mail contract, and that the list includes three Ministers.

NEW HARBOUR ACT. The Premier is framing a bill to amend Ihe Harbour Acts, so as to provide a remedy for the present impecuniousity of the Harbour Boards of Thames, Waitera, New Plymouth, and Patea.

PROHIBITION. The Auckland Temperance Alliance have written to Mr Goldie and other members urging that Mr Fulton's resolution relative to prohibition should be brought forward in Committee of Supply. It is very improbable, however, that this course will be adopted, as in fche present temper of the House, and the late period of the session, members would not give the question the consideration it deserves.

OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY. The present intention of the Government with regard to the Otago Central Railway, is that they will nob do anything more than carry out the promise of last year which was to take the line to the Middlemarch. It is, however, quite on the cards that this decision may be altered at the Cabinet meeting at two o'clock to-day, as it is known that the Premier and Messrs Fergus and Fisher axe very favouiable to the line. The Government will also promise that one of the ministers will go over proposed route of the railway during the recess, with a view to further proposals by the Government before next session. Air Pyke has convened a meeting of the supporters of the Bill for 1.30.

LOCAL, INDUSTRY. During- the lecess the Public Works Department imposed a penalty of £350 on Scott Bros., the Chri.stch.urch locomotive makers for importing 1 certain material which could have been rnannfactured locally — their contract stipulating that local material should be used where possible. A petition from Scott Bros , asking for a refund of this penalty, was before the Petitions' Committee today, when Mr Maxwell, geiural manager of Railways, and 3\lr Rothevam, Superintending Engineei , were examined. The Committee will probably recommend that the prayer of the petitioners be granted.