PARLIAMENTARY Wellington, August 23 to 25.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 294, 29 August 1888, Page 4

PARL I AMENTARY Wellington, August 23 to 25.

A LAND AND INCOME TAX. Mr Lawry, yesterday afternoon, asked the Colonial Treasurer if, after the strong expression of opinion made during the present session by a large number of members of the House against the property tax, he will during ths recess take into consideration the desirability of repealing the said tax and substituting in lieu thereof some other form of taxation. In reply. Sir H. Atkinson promised to very carefully consider the whole matter during the recess. The question was a very large one, and no doubt would be largely debated at an early period next session. His own viowa favoured the property tax, but ho was willing to carefully consider the whole subject with a view to seeing whether any taxation CGuld be substituted that would be more acceptable to the people.

NEW GUINEA. The Colonial Secretary informed the House, in answer to Dr. Newman, that the sum of €2,669 which was passed in the Estimates as the colony's contribution towards the government of New Guinea, beinsj the third instalment promised by Sir P. Stout, must be paid, but it will be the last payment. It appears that the Act passed by Queens land in November last assuming the protectorate of N.ew OUunea did not take effect until June.

PUSHING ON THE BUSINESS. Such satisfactory progress was made with the busiuses yesterday, fciiat the Premier now hopes to prorogue on Saturday afternoon. The amendments made by the Legislative Council were agreed to by the House, and the following Bills were further considered in Committee and passed through their remaining stagec : Rating Act Amendment, Fencing Act Amendment, Justice of the Peace Act Amendment, and Land Tiausfer Act Amendment.

THE VAILE RAILWAY SYSTEM. | The matter of allowing a tiial of Mr Vaile's system to be made on the Auckland lines of railway was suggested by Mr 11. Reeves yesterday afternoon, the hon. member stating that he had been advised that certain influential gentlemen residing in Auckland were willing to offer substantial security that the freights should not be raised Dor the railway service made le&s serviceable to the country. The Minister of Works, in reply, said that he had not received a communication from any Auckland gentleman on the matter, but he had a letter from Mr Vaile, stating that his friends were willing to give substantial security. What Mr Yaile meant by "a substantial guarantee" he (the Minister) did not know : but nothing less than a cash deposit would satisfy the country, and that deposit: would have to be a very large one. In the first place the amount of interest on construction would be about £45,000, estimating the neb revenue at 2h per cent., and in addition to that at least £50,000 would have to be deposited against depreciation and allowing the lines to get out of order. The Government did not intend to take any &teps in the matter. The question was a veiy large one, and the Goveinment were ot opinion that it would be a \eiy injudicious thing for the State to lease an\ portion of the railways, and seeing that the Government were shortly to setup railway commissioneis, they did not think it advisable to consider the pioposal furthei. At a later stage of the pioceedings, Mr Goldie was informed that tile Government had no intention of introducing a shoit Bill to give effect to Mr Yaile* s proposal to lease the Auckland railways for a peiiod of hve years.

THE MOKAU REPORT. The Premier on Monday evening denied that the Government had received the lMokau Commissioner's report, and asked members not to believe the &ttitement& they i-aw in the newtapera. '" We"' (the " Post ") " might retort with much bettei reason by warning the House against giving too ready credence to Ministerial assertions or denials or accepting Ministerial words too literally. It would be difficult to imagine a more glaring instance of the wppre^io vf.ri, amounting to •a >ii{](jLstio /ahi, than the statement last night regarding this report. The Preuiiei may have been literally accurate in that the formally s-igned and sealed docm.ient had not officially reached the Government, but it ia an absolute fact that a copy of the report was in the hands of his colleague the Minister ol Xative Anah-b. who entered the Chambei while he wa.s epeakiner, and .sitting down only u few feet a *ay from him, engaged in a perusal of the document, appaiently by no means pleased with its contents. "

POINT RESOLUTION PURCHASE. The Special Powers and Contracts Act Amendment Bill, introduced by the Colonial Secretary, is an Act to amend the Special Powers and Contracts Act, 1886, and carry into etiect the report of a Committee of the House of Representatives, respecting; the purchase and re&ale by the Crown of certain land at Points Resolution, and otherwise in relation thereto.

NORTH ISLAND TIIUNK LOAN. The Premier made a statement yesterday afternoon, at the instigation of Dr. Newman, with regard to the proceeds of the North Island Main Trunk "Railway loan, and the new million loan. It appeals that only 20 per cent, of the loan was> duo up to the 24th July, though tonic moneys were paid in advance. At the late&o date the Government have received news that £975,000 have been paid in. The Covetnment had to take up immediately C 500,000 in debentures under the Railway Loan, and £200,000 worth of deficiency bills. The balance was taken up in redemption of guaranteed debentures, so that there weie really no investments, to which Dr. Newman's question had been particularly directed.

PALMERBTON-WOODVILLE RAILWAY. The Minister for Works promised Mr Ormond ye a terday afternoon that an endeavour would be made to open the Palmerston - "Woodville railway simultaneously with the completion of the rohangiti Bridge. It is understood that bhe Government will ask peimission fcopush on the work ab rapidly a.s possible tki*> year.

GISBORNE HARBOUft. In moving that the Gisburne Harbour Board Bill be comraifcfced to a committee of the whole House on Thursday, the Premier said that the Board had to discharge all its employees last week, and under the circumstances the Government thought it ' reasonable to ask that facilities should be given for passing the Bill into law this session, with the amendments recommended by the Committee which recently considered it. The motion waa agreed to.

AN OBJECTIONABLE QUESTION. When Mr Hobbs gave notice last week of a question dealing with the honorarium paid to members abt-ent on account of illness in their families, some exception was taken on the ground that it contained matter of an inquisitorial nature. Yesfcer-

day afternoon blie hon. member complained that his question had been altered since it left his hands, and now appeared in the form that a return was asked for. The original question drafted by Mr Hobbs was turned up later in the day. On reading it the Speaker (Sir Maurice O'Rorke) said he believed the hon. gentleman was quite within his rights a asking bho question in the form in which he had framed it. Still, it was incomprehensible to him that any member should, by asking such a question, take upon himself to harass the feelings of other members who had drawn their honorarium on his (the Speaker's) certificate, and who had been called away by the loss of one of those nearest and dearest to them. Mr Hobbs asked how members were to know whon such was the case. (A member : "Bah !") He had not desired to hurt other people's feelings, and he had simply put the question in the interest of the publicservice. (The Speaker: " Under those circumstances, the hon. gentleman is bound to ask the question of which he gave notice. >% ) After an interval of dead silence, the Premier said he doubtod whether when the question was put he would be able to answer it. The honoraiium was paid simply on the Speaker's certificate, the riovernment having no other information regarding it. The subiect dropped after Mr Ilobbs had given notice of hi& question in its original form.

Mil LONDON'S PETITIONS. No fewer than four petitions from Mr John Lundon were presented by Messis La wry and T. Thompson yesterday. Thoy were for payment of certain expenses in connection with the village fcottloments, and for the consti notion of certain roads in the Bay of Inlands district ; that payment be made to certain persons in connection with the village settlement scheme, and for payment, of certain costs in connection with the village settlement scheme.

THE NATIVE BILLS. In the Council yesterday tho native chiefs i were heard at the bar in opposition to the native Bills, which were subsequently referred to the Native Affairs Committee.

THE MINING BILL. The Council have agreed to insist on their amendments in the Mining Bill. THE CASE OF MRS DAVIDSON. MR MOSS MOVES FOR INQUIRY. Mr Moss will to-day give notice of a question respecting the case of Mrs Davidson and asking the Government to cause an inquiry to be made forthwith into the circum&tances under which she was imprisoned on a groundless charge at Auckland recently.

I THE PROROGATION. Though the business will practically be got through by the end of the week, it is unlikely the prorogation will take place before the middle ot next. It is quite probable that the prorogation this year will be by order-in-Council in place of by Commission.

THE MOKAU LAND CLAIMS. There seems to be some difference in the Cabinet as to the meaning of the report of the Mokau Commissioners owing to its indeiiniteness. It is alleged that they have tried to shield the Government officers while at the same time endeavouring to put Mr Jones in possession of his rights.

MR LUNDON'S CLAIM. The Petitions Committee have taken the evidence of Messrs Ballance and Lundon and Under-Secvetary Eliotton Mr Lundon's claim of €250 for 401 days in which he was engaged on the village settlement business. The late Minister of Lands piomised him 12s 6a for each d;iy he was engaged on this business and Mi Tole, exCommissioner of Crown Lands, testified for the number of days now claimed for. Mi Ballance, in his evidence admitted that he piomibed Mr Lundon an extra L"100 if the Village Settlement Scheme was a success, and Mi Lundon claims that it is.

ROTOR U A RENTS. Mk Taiwham. \ infcendb asking 1 the Minister of Lands if he will suspend .Judge Clarks award ot the Rotorua rents until next session or Parliament, and pay the ientb due to the chiefs to the haput. as heretofore, as the awaids have not been asjieed to by the Xgativvhakane chiefs nnd tribe, "who complain of the division of the shares.

PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. Theie was a lenjrbhy debate last night on the motion to go into Committee of Supply, but the speaking was of a very commonplace native. MrMcKen/,ie led ofi by urging that it was inexpedient) to discontinue lailway works which could be made piontable by the expenditure ot a few thousand pounds, and specially advanced the claim ot the Catlin River line, while Messrs R. Thompson and Hobb& regretted that no piovi&ion had been made tor extension of North Auckland railway, which was one of the moftt profitable in the colony. The other speakers included the Hon. Mr Richaid.son, Messrs Hutchison, Moss, Seddon, Ciimmond, and 11. H. Reeves. At eleven o'clock Mi Fulton, on behalf of the (Jovernmenfc, moved the adjournment of the debate till to-day, which, though opposed by Mes&ts Duncan, Walker, and others, was carried by 50 to 18.

THE NATIVE BILLS. The Native Bills aie being tenibly mutilated by the Native Affairs Committee of the Legislative Council, and I am informed by a member of the Committee that it will be necessary bo reprint them.

POTNT RESOLUTION. The Special Powers and Contracts Bill gives effect to the icport of the Committee which inquired into Point Resolution, Auckland. The affair was passed through its final btageb last night with merely veibal amendments.

DISTRICT RAILWAYS AMENDMENT BILL. The motion for recommittal of the Dis" trict Railways Purchasing Act Amendment Bill was carried yesterday afternoon on the Speaker's ca&ting vote.

THE TRUCK SYSTEM. The Minister of Works is bo be asked by Mr Monk if he will next session introduce a Bill dealing with the truck system.

THE CD. ACT. Mr Lawry presented a petition to day from Otahuhu in favour of the repeal of the CD., Act.

PANMURE BRIDGE. The following tenders were received by the Public Work Departments for the Panmure bridge repairs : E. Mills, accepted £158 10s : Jackson and Elliott £164 ss, Cornwall £167, Rhodes £168, Morns £279.

THIS DAY'S SITTING. The House met at 13.30 to-day for th e consideration of local Bills, but as a free conference on the Mines Bill was proceeding the House at once adjourned till two p.m.

THE COUNCIL. In the Legislative Cquncil 10-day the second reading of the Crown and Native Lands Rating Act Repeal Bill waB agreed

to on the voices. The Government Life Insurance Bill was also read a second time. The chief proposal contained in the measure is to place the Department on the same position regarding mortgaged property which might fall into its hands as privoto assurance companies are in. The Hon. Mr McLean, in the course of a short debate which took place, expressed himself as being avorse to the Government Insurance Company lending money on private property, and he also disapproved the Department giving insurers large bonuses. • THE MOKAU REPORT. The report of the Mokau Commissioners upon the case of Joshua Jones has been laid before Parliament. It is an unusually long document, and gives the Commissioners' decisions upon numerous points of detail which were submitted to them. They do not consider that Mr Jones was proven ted or materially hindered from completing his title by improper interference of the Govern men t, Legislature, or any Government oflicor ; but this is not said as affecting judicial acts or the decisions of the Native Land Court, which the Commissioners did not asume to review. The Commissioners proceed to say : " Considering the exceptional nature and circumstances, the case of the said Joshua Jones is, in our opinion, entitled to any assistance which the legislature can accord, having regard to the just rights and interests of the natives, nor has there been any such dilatoriness on the part ot the said Joshua Jones in prosocuting his negotiations as to disentitle him and those claiming through him to such absistancc, but on account of the difficulty of the case we consider that any suggestion as to the specific form which &uch assi&tanco should tako must proceed fiom Mr Jonts himbelf or his legal advisers. We need hardly say, howevor, that any suggestion having for its object to supersede the tunctions of the TiuPt Commissioner or the provisions of the law in foicoafc the time of the signing of the lease with regard to dealing*? by minors should be regarded with great jealousy. Also that the effecr ol Captain Mc&senger's evidence would have to be carefully consideied." After some reference to an introduction of beer at a native meeting, for which they do not blame Mr Jones, the Commissioners further say : " The said Joshua Jones has sustained serious loss and injury through inability to make good his title, but we are unable to form any pecuniary estimate thcieof."

A STATE BANK. For days past fche member for Ashley has been watching anxiously for an opportunity to deliver himself ot an elaboiate speech which he had prepared with regard to his favourite "fad" of a State Bank. Last night hib opportunity came, and on the Premier moving that fcho House go into Committee of Supply, the hon. gentleman tired oft' his speech. Beginning with some depreciatory remarks upon political economists, whom he preferred to call political economonomaniacs and simply humbugs, he went on to say that he had challenged all the world and his wife on this question for the 4 past two years, but no one had had the coinage to take him up. Among thoso who had declined to discuss the question with him were "that benighted democrat, the lute Premiei,'' and Sir ."Julius Yog el, while the " Lyttelton Times" and " Christchurch Press " had shown their little minds by lefusing his letteis, while tilling their columns with a lot ot rubbish. His scheme for the establishment of a State Bank included the appointment of a Board consisting of two or three of the best bank managers in the colony, who were to have their salaries raised 50 per cent. Pie denied that paper money would depreciate in value, and pointed out that the Government's Savings Banks depositors had nothing but paper acknowledgment lor their in vestments-. The hon. gentleman, who had beensubiected at running tire of comments, .convulsed the House by promising that, in the event ot the Piemier supporting the amendment he was about to move, he would in exchange transfer his support to the Government. As an amendment to going into Supply he moved, "That in the opinion ot this House it is desirable that the Premier should next session introduce a Bill to establish a State Bank.' The proposal was negatived on the voices without discussion. The hon. gentleman's speech occupied an houi, and the whole thing was treated as a huge joke. On rising, Mr Verrall was gieated with loud applause from both side- of the House, but members weie wearied befoio he got through his task, and there were repented cries oi " Question '' before he saw the wisdom of resuming to his seat.

LOCAL BILLS. Tin afternoon Mas devoted to local Rill* 5'5 ' and scvciu.l measures were passed thiough> including the Epsom and Mount Eden hocreation Reserve Bill, the Otago L)oek Land Bill, Clyde .Domain and Recreation (J round Giant Bill, Auckland Hospital Reserves Act Amendment Bill. Progress was reported of the Wellington School of Design Bill, and the Auckland Uirlo' High School Bill was adjourned.

BANQUETTJNO GOLDFIELPS MEMBERS. The goldfields members of the House have been invited by the Hon. Mr Larnach to meet him at u dinner at Bellamy's this (Saturday) evening, in acknowledgment of the compliment paid him by those gentlemen last week.

THAMES FISHERMEN'S PETITION. Col. Fia.ser ga\e evidence before the Public Petitions Committee on the petition of the Thames fishermen praying that a distinction may be made between the two descriptions of flatfish, viz., flukes and flounders. The Committee have decided, in accordance with his evidence, to recommend the petition to the favourable considoration of the Government, which means a* amendment of the fishery regulations. Colonel Fraser and the Chairman of Committees will take pains to explain the wishes of tho Committee and the fishermen to the Minister of Marine.

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE. The total expenditure under the heading of defence up to the present time hab been £406,000, of which £207,000 has gone ior munitions of war ordered from the old country, and the rest in the acquisition of land, wages, etc. There are now liabilities to the extent of £31,000 to meet for guns and other things on tho way out from the old country. The Hon. Mr Fergus denies that the present Ministry are answerable for this costly expenditure. All they have done is to bring to completion the defences undertaken at as early a date and in as cheap a manner as possible.

THE DEBATE ON THE PUBLIC WORKS PROPOSALS. This debate was resumed at 7.30, and lasted till about 11 o'clock, when the House went into Committee to consider the various votes, and a very late .sitting was promised. In speaking to the Grahamstown-Te Aroha vote, Col. Fraser said that the Thames district had nothing to thank the Government for. Their port had been closed, their property confiscated, and their I railways, which the Hon. Mr Mitchelson had pi'omised should be gone on with, had

been allowed to rot. The treatment to which the Thames had been subjected led him bo think that the Queen-street ring, , consisting of the Bank of New Zealand, Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, and New Zealand Insurance Company, really controlled the public works expenditure—so far, at all events, as concerned that district. In Committee, the following votes were passed ; — Helensville Northwards, £15,000 (after a protest by Messrs R. Thompson, Monk, Seddon, Peacock, and Hobbs, owing to the smallness of the sum) ; Grahamstown-TeAroha, £5,000; Putaruru- 1 Rotorua, £20 000. There was considerable j debate over the item £50,000 for the Wood- | ville- Palmerston lino. Mr R t Thompson moved to reduce the amount by C6,0Q0. The Minister tor Works said that it this proposal were assented to the contract for vPohangina Bridge would not be lot. The estimated cost for this bridge was £18,000. The amendment was negatived on the voices, and the item passed as printed. The following votes were carried aftor short discussion : — Mangamahoe • Woodville, £24,000 : Blenheim -Awatere, £6,000 ; OJroymouth-Hokitika, £23,000 ; Mount Somers Branch, £4,000 ; Livingstone Branch, C 46.

SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES. The Supplementary Estimates wero circu latcd la&t evening, They show that for sorvicos chargeable under the Consolidated Fund authority is required for C 107,944. Tho folio wine: items are included : — Short hand writer tor Ministers, £100 ; grant in aid to Dunedin I tospital trustees, towaids building anew operating room, £400 ; grant for relief of su flavors by bush tires at Norsewood, l'3oo ; printing transactions of New Zealand Institute, £500 ; Melbourne Exhibition (additional), £1,500 ; cable repairs, C 5,000 ; suppression of smuggling and illicit distillation, £1,000 ; jjrofe.ssional repoit on Ciisboino Harbour, £115 ; good attendance medals Wanganui Education Boaid, £134 ; protection of salmon, £300 ; introduction of salmon ova, £500 ; putting in new boilers and repairs to Hlnemoa, C 3,000 ; school building*, £30,000 ; completion of South Canterbury rabbitpi oof fence, £5,430 ; destruction of scabby sheep (additional), CI,COO ; special representation of mining exhibits j at Melbourne Exhibition, £500 ; ditto at Paris Exhibition, £500 ; gold passes tor memberfe of the Legislature, £220 ; restoration of General Post-office, £IS,OOO ; compensation paid to officers and men on reduction of the defence force, £4,242 ; ditto police force, C 4,236 ; expenses incurred on account of French escapees, Gasparini and Cury, 11 25. Under the Public Woiks fund, Cb',ooo is required for relief works (village homestead settlements inclusive, expenditure since April), £10,000 for purchase ot lands for resale in • small blocks, and £30,000 for the Woodville-PalmeiPton railway (additional), of which £3,000 is to be spent bhis year.

f THE OTAGO CENTRAL. The vote for the Otago Cential recened some opposition from Mr Secldon, who &ai" that though .Mr Fish opposed giving publi o money to this line when Mr Fyke's Bill was under consideiation, he now seemed anxious to get the vote now proposed, passed. The Minister for Works said that bill the line to Middlemarch was constructed, ieturns from it would be nil. It would require 162,000 from March 31st last to take it. to Middlemareh. Mr Monk recorded his piotest against this vote, and Mi Venal intimated his intention of suppoiting it. Mi R. Thompson said that after his failure to reduce the other votes he recognised thatitwould be futile to try to reduce this one, and should therefore content himself with saving that the present Public Workss Statement was no credit to the (iovernment, Mr Fish said it had always been taken for gianted that the colony would construct this line to Middlemarch, and that theoppositiontoit on thegiound of the land grant system was to taking it onwaida beyond that point. Messis Ward, Fraser and Peacock recorded their protests against exceptional treatment being shown to this line. Mr Bruce objected to this question being treated as a provincial one. Half a million oi money had been spent on the Otago Central, and it was desirable to take the line not to a paying point, but to such a point as would enable the colony to minimise the loss. It was generally iec;ognised that during fche last administration of the Atkinson Government, Otago \\as \ery much overlooked in the expenditure of public money, and hence perhaps the ieeling had been intensified with respect, to this line. Mr Goldie moved do reduce the vote (£40,000) by C 15,000 which was lost on divi&ion by 41 to 21, and the item passed as printed.

WOODVILLE PALMERSTON LINE. An attempt was made by Mr R. Thonip! mjh this morning to 1 educe the additiona vote of C 3,000 for the \Voo(lville-J\ilmcrb-ton Railway appearing in tho .supplemental y ebtimates by £2,500. The motion was put without discussion, and loht on the voices.

OTHER VOTES. The viiiioufc departmental estimates wcr leviewed at length, but no single reduc. tion was made. In eonsidciing the vote fo 1 immigration, the Piemiev said it was in tended to briny to the colony young" girls whose parents are already here, at about half the cost of other immigrants. Mr J. Mackenzie tiied to obtain a further reduction of the salary of the Undersecretary of Public Works (already reduced fiom £800 to £700) by £50, but the motion was lost by 39 to 10. The Minister stated that steps would be taken as soon ah (he House rises to abolish tho Department, overseers would be discharged as various works were completed. All the supplementary estimates tor unauthorised expenditure weio discussed at great length, bub no reductions were made. The House adjourned at 7.5 a.m., till 11 a.m. on Monday.

KOAD WORKS FOR VILLAGE SETTLEMENTS. In considering the vole of £6,000 for relief road works ab Auckland village homestead settlements at daybreak this morning, Mr U. Thompson condemned the expenditure on these settlements as a waste of public money, and &aid he would be glad if some member would move to reduce the vote. Mr Hobbs warmly retorted that he was prepared to defend the settlors at the proper time.and &aid the proposal to strike out the vote was simply ridiculous. Mr Kerr moved to strike out the vote. The Premier said the colony had determined to try the experiment of these settlements. Some of them had been put in places where they ought not to have been. The Government would look into the matter carefully, but at present a large number of Northern settlements were not self - supporting and would not be so for a considerable time. The Government wanted the vote to provide work if necessary, so that they could not afford to strike it out, and must have it in order to carry on the experiment. Mr Kerr withdrew his motion and Mr Allen moved to reduce the vote by £1,000. Mr Monk protested against the vote since it was not in continuation of that already granted. The colony was not in a position to expend money on a matter of thiakind. Taking- upa remark from the Ministerial Benches that the settlers were starving, the hon. gentleman

aid that was, just the calamity he predicted ast year. ' Mr Moss said he knew of nine ! settlements in the North of Auckland which were doing as well as if the settlers had capital of their own. The Minister of Lands, alluding bo the taunts of log-rolling levelled at Auckland members, said none of them were cognisant of the fact that the vote was to be proposed. Mr R. Thompson doscanted on the gross mismanagement and extravagance in connection with the settlements. He said that so long as there were a host of village stewards loafing from village to village, this state of things would ] continue. The settlers were the scum and refuse of Auckland, and had been di'ivon up North by the people of the city to get rid of them. Mr Mobbs warmly condemned the last speaker's reflections on settlers and stewards. Mr T. Thompson regretted the inconsistent and uncalled-for remarks of his colleagues. To state that the honest hard - working settlers of the North were the scum ot the city was to cat-t unmerited sliu's upon them which lie could not hear without) protesting. One or two .Southern members thought that in the face of Mr Tv. Thompson's denunciations the House .should he&itate to pa&s the vote. Returning to the charge, Mr R Thompson admitted that there were some respectable people amongst the villagers, but haid that Mr Lundon had himself described the majority ot them as the offscourings? of the city. Mr Allens motion was lost on division by 32 to 16 and the vote passed.

GOVERNMENT PURCHASE OF PRIVATE LANDS. The proposal of the Government with regard to the vote of £10,000 for the purchase | of lands lor re-sale in small blocks is to buy ■ land in parts of the colony whero no Crown property exists, and to sell it to intending I sellers. No assistance will be given by the Government, but the idea is to enable people of limited msans to get such holdings as they will be c;ble to live upon. The vote was strongly opposed when it dime up for consideration at six this morning, the chief objection being that the purpose of the vote | was to establish small labour settlements in the vicinity of large estates for the benefit of big land owners ; that the Government could not get land &o cheaply as could the settlers themselves ; that the principle had already been 1 ejected by the House in Sir Geoi ge Grey's Land for Settlement Bill ; that the system would be open to imputations of jobbery ; that the matter entailed an important and entirely new point of policy which ought to have been introduced in a Bill. The vote was passed by 25 to 22, but the Premier promised that an opportunity should be given to review the decision when the Speaker was in the chair.

CUSTOMS LEAKAGE. The Premier stated that it will bo neces> tary to employ an expert to have control ot invoices passing through the Customs Department. There had always been considerable leakage, but now that the tariff was higher steps would be all the more necessary.

THE PREMIER AND MR WALKER. There was a sharp set-to between the Premier and the leader of the Opposition, Mr "Walker, last evening. The latter com plained that the Promier chose in a most delibeiate way, when he moved an amendment recently, to say that all he had been doing this session, along with the membei for Cheviot, was intriguing for odicc. It the Premier meant that he was intriguing for a seat along with him, heaven save him (Mr Walker) from the humiliating: position of occupying 1 a seat with those who had hhown such lamentable management as Ministeis had this session. He could assure the hon. gentleman that that was the last thing in his mind, and he could answer also in the mind of the member for Cheviot. He supposed that the Premier was leferiing to newspaper gossip. JHe (the speaker) might juntas well charge thatgcntieman with having intrigued for the Agcnt-(Joneralship, which had been often stated in the lobbies and in the newspapers. Such an appointment would be a ■very good thing for this country, tor the colony w ould get rid of the. member for Egmont (laughtei), but it did not make it any the moie coriect. He assured the hon. member that he was not intiiguing for olliee, and that he had no ambition except to be useful to the country as a representative of the people, and while ho never leiused any responsibility put on him, he had never sought it. Wa-> that u wrong thing ? He denied that he had cndeavouied in any way to be a colleague of the Premier's at the present time or in his present company. The Premier retorted that that was exactly the point. He had to get rid of two or three of Ins colleagues to make room for the hon. gentleman and some of his friend^. He deliberately charged the hon. member with aspiring to office, but warned him that before he could successfully lead the House he must learn to assist in maintaining order.

BUNNY DESTRUCTOR. Another rabbit disease somewhat rebcmbling the scab in sheep lias been discovered in the YVairau district, southward. It is said to be killing: oil' the rodents in the locality by hundreds, the disease being caused by the ravages of insects, which aie found under the microscope to resemble very diminutive-looking beetles. Mr Valentine has requested the Rabbit Inspector for the district to send one of the diseased rabbits to Wellington in order to obtain a scientific i6port upon the utility of the disease in question as a means of putting down the rabbit pest.

MORE RECRIMINATIONS. Warm words were exchanged yesterday between the Minister of Education find the member for Now Plymouth in reference to the New Plymouth Hospital Bill. In the course of his speech on the committal of this Bill Mr Samuel charged the Minister with having deluded the House for the purpose of gaining applause for himself, adding that his opposition to the Bill was influenced by the fact that it was introduced to give eiiect to the promise made by his predece&sov. Such conduct was disgraceful to himself and the Government. Mr Fisher held his hand till the third reading of tho Bill, and then he rose and said that though he might be personally disliked, yet as toon as he found that any of his ticls brought dishonour on the Government he would leave the Treasury Benches immediately. The hon. gentleman de&cribed Mr Samuel's strictures as being unfair and ungentlemanly, but immediately withdrew the expressions, and substituted the words, " unpi'ovoked, uncalled] for, and unworthy." Subsequently, Mr Samue) expressed regret if he had in tho heat of debate said anything to hurt tho Minister's feelings.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, by the Speaker's casting vote, negatived the motion to suspend the standing orders so as to enable Bills to be passed through all stages at one sitting. This will effect a prolonging of the session by several days.

RABBIT PROOF FENCE, It was stated by tho Minister of Lands this morning that as a result of the erec-

tion of the South Canterbury rabbit-proof fence, the colony will soon be able to place , several millions of acres of Crown lands in the • market freo from the pest. Mr Buchanan strongly protested against the vote of £5,430 for the completion of the fence as being a udelens expenditure. Ib would only delay the passage of j rabbitsnorthwards and that very little. Mr McKen/.ie retorted that the hon. gentleman's experience, with rabbits was confined to the Wairarapc* district, wherethe circumstances were entiroly different from those in the Southern parts ot the colony. A motion by Mr Duncan that the vote be struck out was lost by 28 to 14.

JOTTINGS. % The case of Forwood has riot been lost sight of, and as soon us his health will permit of his removal from Victoria, he will be leturned to Auckland. The Government have no information as to whether the cruisers now being constructed in Great Britain for the defence of thib colony arc of the Archer type. A sum will be placed on the supplementary estimates for the procuring of another shipment of salmon ova during the recess. Colonel Haul tain resigned hi 1 ? position as of the llepi'esentation Commissioners, and the Government now propose to re-appoint him. To guard against fire in the General L J ost Office building now in course of erection, six brick partition walls aic to be carried light up to the roof. The prorogation is not likely to take place before Wednesday at the earliest. Mr Venall caused great fun last night by airing his State " fad." The Council pits on (Saturday .'iflornoon and again on Monday. Several Bills sent up from the House have to be considered. A irce confeience on the Mines Amendment Act takes place at noon to-day. Most of the Southern membei s leave for their homes on Monday. Over halt-a-million of money h paid annually by the Government foi wages to railway employees. Leave of absence for the remainder of the hes&ion has been granted to the Hon. L. Walker, M.L.C. The " Post " calls on the Justice Department to take cognisance of Sir W. Fox's conduct in inflicting the maximum penalty on all offenders against sobriety.