PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4907, 1 October 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegbaph.]

(feom oira own cobbbspohdent.)

Wellington, This day. District Railways Leasing Act. The District Railways Leasing and Purchasing Bill, to come od to-day for its second reading, is just circulated. It provides that the Government may contract for the lease and purchase of district railways, the company owning the railway may join in such contract if the shareholders consent, and the value of the railway, with the uncollected rates, to be purchasing price; such value to be determined by three arbitrators, one chosen by the Government, another by the company, and the third by the otkfir two arbitrators ; the Government in We Council may authorise the Colonial Treasurer from time to time to issue to the company owning any railway leased under this Act, debenture lease bonds for any sum not exceeding the total value ofjthe|raiiway, ascertained as hereinbefore mentioned, or may authorise any one or more persons, either within or beyond tho colony, to be agents for the issue of such bonds, the interest ob every such bond not to exceed four per cent., tho deficiency of profits of railway to be made up equally out of the Consolidated Fund and by a rate, the Minister for Puhlic Works to determine tho rate required for half the deficiency; the railway leased is to be subject to Public Works Act on payment of the debentures, the company to convey and assign the railway to the Queen. After the passing of this act no railway shall be authorised to be constructed under the District Railways -Act, the lines made under this act which will be effected are the Duntroon and Hakateremea railway, the Rakaia and Ashburton forks railway, the Thames Valley and Rotorua railway, the Waimate railway, and the Waimea Plains railway.

Our Prospects. Writing on Mr Bryee's speech during the debate on the Fi&ancial Statement, and the pessimist Tiews therein expressed, the Post this evening says :—<Mr Bryce and his pessimist friends have less justification, however, for their despair than had 'Junius Swift, or the Statesman of 1783." The debt they showed with such alarm was one borrowed, —not to advance or develops the industries of the country, not to increases its population, or open means of communication Ihrough the country,—but it was money borrowed to be wasted on war, parleying for peace, and reducing the population. Vfiry different are the purposes for which most of our debts have been incurred, and. for which we hope all future debt will be ipcurred. England, by the growth of its

manufactures, the expansion of its com tneroe, and the increase of its population has risen despite the harden of its war debt, which is but lightly felt, and have we not an equally hopeful prospect open before us. We hare every, encouragement to develop our manufactures, to increase our products, to extend our trade, and necessarily it follows on these things to enormously add to our population. Our future is a far brighter one than was England's a hundred years a&o. The facilities we eDJoy through the developments of art and science are far greater than those which enabled the i England of the last century to grow into the England of to-day, and it will indeed ba a shame upon us if we become fainthearted, and fail to utilise the great ad*, vantages we possess for reaching the future prosperity which lies easily within the compass of our attainment. We need not fear doubling our debt if we treble our population, and effect an equivalent .increase id the productions of our art end industry, with the necessarily corresponding expanse of trade and commerce. Those who come after us will laugh at the gloomy predictions of the Bryce school of to-day, as we laugh now at the visitation of impending national ruin which inspired the pens and voices of the pessimist politicians of England in the last century."

From a return laid on the table of the House to-day, it is ascertained that the Dunedin Gaol Enquiry, held last year, cost £729 9s 4d, while 89 witnesses were examined.

An interesting though melancholy record is the annual return of persons drowned in New Zealand rivers. It shows that 53 met their deaths in this way, being the smallest total of any year of which there is a record. Between the y/ears 1840 and 1870, 1115 were drowned'; between 1870 and 1875 , 375 ; from 1870 to 1877,179; from 1877 to 1881, 240 ; from 1881 to 1882, 79 ; from 1882 to 1883, 70 ; and from Ist July, 1883, to 30th June, 1884, 53.

A return just issued shows that under the Land Transfer Act, 1805, applications were received during the years 1883 and 1884 upon which 1220 certificates hare been issued, and 43 rejected or with* drawn. At present there are 115 under requisition, and 24 are not yet examined ; 24 are gazetted, but are not yet due, and 10 are due but not yet issued. The fees under these transactions amount to £8068. There are but 2 examiners of titles under the Act, one at Auckland, and the other at Christchurcb, at salaries of £200 and £400 respectively, though the duties of examiners of titles are discharged at the undermentioned places by the District Land Registrars:—New l'ly. : mouth, Napier, Wellington, Benheim, Nelson, Holritika, Inrercargill, and Dunedin.

The Select Committee of Enquiry into the route for the North Island Truok Railway met this morning, and examined Mr C. W. Hursthouse, surveyor, of New Plymouth; Mr Scott, surveyor of Palaerston North ; and Mr Hicks, butcher, of Auckland. It is understood the report will be brought up on Friday, in which case the Public Works Statement will be made on Tuesday evening next. Ohinemuri Revenue Bill. The Public Accounts Committee were engaged all this morning considering the Ohinemuri Revenue Bill. Mr Sheehan's evidence only was taken, and Messrs Gavin and Gill will give theirs to-morrow. Capt. Morris is working hard in the matter and is shepherding the Bill through Committee. Government has informed Mr Cad man that they will grant a telephone office at Tapu, but the residents must provide a suitable building free of expense. Block 27 PetitionAn adverse letter was received by the Goldfields Committee from the Undersecretary of Mines Department with reference to Block 27 petition, on the of which a resolution, proposed by Col. Fraser and seconded by Mr Cadman, was carried to the following effect:—"The Committee find they are unable to take all the evidence they would wish without entailing the necessary witnesses from the Thames, and- report as follows—'That the petition be referred to the Government, with their recommendation that the Warden be instructed to take evidence and enquire fully into the merits of the case, aDd report thereon to Government. The Committee would also urge upon the Government the advisability of obtaining the freehold of the said land.' "