PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1937, 31 August 1889, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

The Parliamentary correspondent of the Otago Daily Times telegraphs JUDGE WAED VINDICATED. The famous Christie petition has been reported on by the Public Petitions Committee. It will be remembered that the petitioner accused Mr District Judge Ward of perversion of judgment in sentencing him to in> prisonment for fraudulent bankruptcy, and prayed that steps might be taken for the proper administration of justice in the District Court of Oamaru and Timaru. The committee report “ that after careful consideration of the evidence laid before the committee, consisting of the judge’s notes, the letters put in as exhibits, the Colonial Investment and Agency Company’s statement of account, and the petitioner’s statement of assets and liabilities, the committee is of opinion that justice has been properly administered in the petitioner’s case by Judge Ward.” It is stated that there was a strongly expressed desire on the part of several members to report that the committee regretted that owing to a mistake in the warrant of commitment Christie escaped punishment. I understand nothing was moved in this direction, as it was apparent that the majority were averse to giving any I expression of opinion on the matter,

THE SLU'D Q-E CHANNEL. The member for Kumara has now beaten the Ministry. The report re sludge channel referred hack has been reaffirmed by the eommitttee by a majority of 8 to 3, and adopted by the House. This is a distinct slap in the face for Mr G. F. Kichardsou. The financial doings of the Department of Mines in connection with the channel have also been questioned in a scathing article in the Evening Post, and are now under consideration of the Public Accounts Committee. It will be remembered that Mr Bichardson gave the sludge channel £6900 without the knowledge of Parliament because he said he knew Parliament would not pass it. MORE or IT. After the discussion on a vote of £4OO for Wellington was over, the objectors found the money had all been spent already. This is nice, The money was spent, and then the consent of Parliament was asked. ME HISLOP SNUBBED. In the course of his remarks on the question of trust funds before the House, Dr Newman referred in rather stinging terms to the advances made by the colony to harbor boards, and the Colonial Secretary, divining some allusion to Oamaru, set out to give the little doctor a smart dressing! down. Thera were some expressions of resentment at the tone of Mr Hislop’s remarks, and when he sat down Mr Turnbull proceeded to give the Colonial Secretary a piece of his mind. After referring to the tone of Mr Hislop’s speech, he advised him to adopt a more conciliatory course with members. “ When the bon. gentleman has been a little longer in I the House, sir, he may perhaps come to find that it will be better for him if he can be a little more courteous to hon members. If he does not improve he will find that the House will refuse to transact any Government business with which he is connected.” There was some cheering at this, and it is to be hoped the Colonial Secretary will lay the advice of the member for Timaru to heart:

COST OF RAISING LOANO. A return presented on Thursday shows the costs and expenses of raising each of the last six New Zealand loans asfollow:—-Loan of 1879 (£5,000,000): Charges and expenses, £210,749. Loan of 1882 : First million, charges, etc, £29,625 ; second million, charges, etc, £13,518; third million, £21,229. Loan of 1884 (£1,500,000): Charges, £21,951. Loan of 1886 (£1,325,000) : Charges, £59,447. THE MACANDEEW LAND GEANT, The projected interview with the Premier arranged by Messrs Larnach and Mills on the subject of the proposed grant of land to the Macandrew family did not take place on Thursday. THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS, A meeting of the Bible-m-schools party was held on Thursday, There were present Messrs Tanner, Buxton, Anderson, Cowan, Fulton, Hodgkinson, T. Mackenzie, Downie Stewart, and others. Mr Fulten was in the chair. It was decided that Mr Tanner should take the matter in hand with a view to introducing legislation next session,