PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 38, 20 November 1871, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

LATEST

Wednesday, November 8. WATER SUPPLY TO THE GOLDFIELDS. Mr. Mervyn asked whether the Government had decided upon what principle they proposed to allocate to the different districts of the colony the sum of £30,000, which it was proposed to expend for the purpose of water supply to the goldfields. He desired to know whether they intended to appoint any person to ascertain what were the requirements of the different portions of the colony. The inhabitants of his district were anxious to take advantage of the scheme, and he ‘had been applied to in the matter, but he could not advise them what course to take. Mr. Gisborne said there had been some alteration in the mode of applying the fund for water races on the goldfields, and the Government had had no time to consider the alteration with a view to the allocation of the money. Therefore, he could hold out no prospect of giving the lion, member a definite reply. Mr. Shepherd trusted the Government would give the matter their earliest consideration. Mr. Mervyn asked whether there was any likelihood of the Government being able to give a reply before the end of the session. Mr. Gisborne : None. THE BRANIGAN PENSIONS ACT. This bill was read a third time. It makes provision in a lump sum of £1,200, to be invested for the benefit of Mr Branigan’s wife and family. Mr Swanson still opposed its passage. He would prefer to see rewards offered to discoverers, such as Mr Ring, who was the person who discovered the first gold in the colony, or for the discovery of coal fields. He saw no reason why Mr Branigan should be specially provided for. There were plenty of applicants for the position he occupied, who would have been glad to have obtained the appointment, without the addition of this pension. It struck him as rather remarkable that these men with large salaries could not provide for themselves. If they could not do it, how could men of smaller means. He moved, and withdrew a motion, that the amount of £1,200 be reduced to £3OO. The bill ivas then allowed to be read a third time. Wellington, Thursday, Nov. 9. The Railway Bill was considered in committee yesterday, till 4 o’clock this morning. The schedule for the construction of the following railways was passed : Kaipara to Riverhead ; Auckland to Mercer; Napier to Ruataniwha ; Wellington to Masterton ; tramway from Manawatu to Wanganui; railway or tramway from Nelson to Fox Hill; Blenheim to Picton ; Rangiora to north hank of North Kowai; Rakaia to Ashburton, including a bridge over Ashburton ; Moeraki to Waitaki; Invercargill to Mataura ; and Winton to Kingston. To-day, in the Legislative Council, Mr. Baillic asked if the Government would announce, before prorogation, where the next session would be held. Mr. Waterhouse replied that the Ministry were too busy to attend to the question. To-day was observed as a public holiday everywhere, except by the Assembly. The Medical Practitioners Registration Amendment Bill, and the AVhiteker and Lundon Claims Bill, were read a third time to-day. In committee motions in favour of the following additions to the schedule of the Railway Bill were passed :—lokomairiro to Lawrence, and Waitotara to Wanganui. The Napier and Ruataniwha Railway passed last night without a division. The Wellington Railway was carried by 35 to 15. The session is expected to close shortly. Henare Matua and the Porangahau natives petitions anent the Seventy-Mile Bush and other places have thoroughly broken down. They begin to see that those who instigated them (who are well known here) only led them into mischief. Friday, Nov. 10. The House last night went into Committee on the Public Works Bill, and passed about half. To-day, the report of the Telegraph Committee was brought up. The committee found the charges resolved themselves into four, viz., Daily Times ; English Mail Telegrams; delaying Evening Post telegram; Gisborne obtaining a copy of Mr. Stafford’s speech at Timaru, and making ministerial misuse of it. The committee found the two first charges unfounded, and caused by miscon ceptions and misunderstandings. The third Mr. Gisborne had admitted ; aud regarding the fourth, all they found was two private telegrams having been franked by Ministers. They report that the department is fairly and honestly conducted, and they condemn the evidence of Hart, one of the witnesses. The report was received with cheers. The House passed a resolution that the report was satisfactory. Mr. Stewart’s motion that the Government, during the recess, prepare a bill for the simplification of abolition of the provinces was negatived. Mr. Fitzherbert’s honorarium resolution, that £lO5 be paid to members for the session, instead of £1 a day as at present, was carried. The estimates are now being gone on with. Saturday, Nov. 11. A furious gale has been blowing for tho last 24 hours. The ketch 1 Alert ’ has been wrecked at the heads. She became a total loss. The crew were saved. She was uninsured. An old settler, Mr. Hugh Sinclair, of Wainuiomata, was found dead on the road to-day. He was thrown from his horse. Yesterday, the Railways and the Public Works Bills were read a third time. To-day, on the motion that the House go iDto committee on the Appropriation Bill, Mr Bathgate moved that appropriation be given to six months after the end of the financial year. The Ministry warmly supported the proposition, but the House universally condemned it as an innovation of the constitutional right of annual Parliaments. The amendment was lost on the voices, none being given in fayor.

The Appropriation Bill passed. The dead-lock between both House 8 continues. A call of the House is likely The prorogation will probably be postponed in consequence. It had been decided for Tuesday Monday, November 13. The Legislative Council has withdrawn the amendments it made, and some time insisted on in tho Payments to Provinces Bill. In the House the Greymouth and Nelson Goldfields District Bill, the Native Lands Court Bill, and the Insolvency Bill, were discharged from the order paper. The New Zealand University Act Repeal Bill was read a third time and passed Messrs. Rolleston and Gillies protesting against it. Tuesday, Nov. 14. The Assembly is expected to be prorogued to-morrow. Branigan has received a grant £1,300 in consideration of past services.