PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4908, 2 October 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[Bt Telegbaph.]

(FBOM OUB OWN COBBESPOIOH'NT.)

Wellington, Last night.

Copies of a series of resolutionspassed by the Thames Borough Council on Monday night, a<;ainst the passage of Spencer's Water Right Bill, were circulated among the members this afternoon.

Mr W. A. Hunt is here for the purpose of prosecuting his claim against the Government for £5000 for the discovery of goldfields at the Thames.

A return presented to day, on the motion of Mr Pyke, shows the allocation of monies for roads to. open up Crown lands during the five years ending 31st March, 1884. as follows:—Auckland distri«f, £79.720: £27,600; Hawkes Bay, £11,165; Wellington, £36 547; Nelson, £25,482; Marlborough, £7,602; Westland, £29,841; Canterbury, £14052; Otago and Southland, £45,266.

During the debate early this morning on the Parliamentary Honorarium Bill, there were several good-humored sallies between members, but perhaps the beat was that of Mr O'Connor, though whether the honorable gentleman spoke satirically, playfully, or in grim earnestness, this deponent says not. Probably his remark " that few hon. members there were who in their ordinary capacities were worth more than the amount named in the'bill," was spoken half in jest and half in earnest, but at all events the little jeu &Tesprit passed off pleasantly; each member looked at his neighbor, and laughed immoderately.

The first sign of the close of the session was given yesterday, when Sir J. Togel intimated that it was the desire of tho Government to appropriate- one of the private members' days after this week. This is always done a fovr weeks before ; the close of the session, in order that Government business may be more rapidly proceeded with, and so that among the slaughtered innocents no Government measure may be sacrificed. It is thus probable that my anticipation of yesterday may prove to be correct, and that the sossion will close in about a month. This is the desire of Ministers, and members no doubt are beginning to think that they have fairly earned their honorarium.

Gaming and Lotteries Amend* sagat BUI.

Mr Hobbs' framing and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill is a very striDgenfc measure, and after the expression of opinion given by the House on Friday evening on Mr Fitzherberl's Bill, it is very unlikely that Mr Hobbs' efforts to make the country moral by Acfc of Parliament will be successful. The Bill provides that any person who exhibits, publishes, or causes to be exhibited or published, any placard, handbill, card, or writing sign and advertisement of any place being open for betting or wagering, or for any purpose in connection with any sweepstake, lottery, or scheme for the distribution of prizes, or who takes part in aoy such proceeding, or inyite§ others to do sq, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £50, or two months imprisonment with or without hqrd labor. The same penalties are imposed Qn thoso sendjag pjr publish* ing any letter, telegram, circular, placard, handbill, card, or advertisement (1) whereby it is mado to appear that any person, either in New Zealand or elsewhere, will on appiictttioß g/iye information or advice for the purpose of, or with respect (;o, any such bet or wager or any such event or contingency as is mentioned in the said Act, or for the purpose or w|th respepf; to apy sweepstake or any lottpry o$? sphexjia similar thereto, or will make on behalf of any other persoa any such bet or wager as is mentioned in tho said Act, or will on behalf of any other person take a part in. any sweepstake, or iaie tickets 114 any lottery or scheme similar thereto^ or (2) with intent lo induce any person to apply to any house, ejjice, yooffi, or pl^oe, or to any person,

with the view of obtaining information or' advica for the purpose of any such bet or wager, or with respect to any such event or contingency as is mentioned in the said Act; or for the purpose, or. with respect to, any sweepstake or any lottery or scheme similar thereto; or (3) inviting any person to mako or take any share in or in connection with any such bet or sweepstake, lottery, or scheme. The Bill passed the second reading to night. This day. Sir Geo. Grey's Parliamentary Undersecretaries of State Bill provides for the appointment of members of the House of Representatives to be Parliamentary Uuder-Secretaries of State for New Zealand, to discharge respectively the duties of UnderSecretary in administering ths affairs of one or more departments in the public offices of the Colony ; the number of such Under-Secretaries holding office at any one time shall not exceed four, and from and after the passing of this Act it shall be lawful for the Governor to appoint any person to be an Under-Secre* tary who is not a member of the House of Representatives ; and the usual salary of a Parliamentary Under Secretary shall be such as may be appropriated by Parliament for that purpose.

Mr Knorpp, 0.X., was re-called and reexamined yesterday before the North Trunk Railway Select Committee, and Mr Koch, chief draughtsman in the Public Works Department, was examined to-day. Messrs Koch ford and Holmes were recalled, and there is only another witness now to be examined, namely, Mr Wilkinson, Native Agent, Waikato, who cannot be here before Saturday. The Minister for Public Works is much annoyed that the Committee's report cannot be presented to morrow, as it is delaying the delivery of the Public Works Statement. In all probability the report of the Coniruiltce will be brought down on Tuesday next.

The Government has approved of the site selected by Mr A. Aitken, County Engineer, for the bridge over the Ohinemuri river at Karangahake.

County Goldfields Revenue. The Public Accounts Committee adjourned till to-morrow, to enable Mr Sheehan's evidence to be printed. The contention of the Council is that since the passing of " The Financial Arrangements Act, 1576," part of (he Ohinemuri revenue, in proportion to the interest acquired by the Crown, is due as fellows : —1876-7, £392 ; 77-8, £493 ; 78-9, nil; 79-80, £423 ; 80-81, £239; 81-82, £1837 ; 82-83, £105 ; total, £4399. . A petition by W. A. Hunt, of Hunt's Claim, Thames, for compensation for the discovery of the geldfield, is lo be presented to the House this evening by your member. The grounds set forth are that this was tho first payable reef, and o if it had 'not been discovered the field would would have been abandonod.

The Goldfields Committe. were engaged all day with the Kumara sludge channel, and Porter's petition for Te Aroha discovery coyld not be brought forward.