PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4918, 14 October 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegbaph.]

(FBOM OtTE OWS CORRESPOND JiNT.)

Wellington, Last night,

The Evening Post has been able to gain some later information than that I wired to you this morning wiih reference to the caucus held by the Auckland and Taranaki members to consider the report of the North Island Main Trunk Eailway Select Committee. It appears that the meeting was quite prepared to abide by the decision of the Committee, if the construction of a branch lioe to Taranaki could be assured to the North. I have authority for saying that strenuous efforts will be made to obtain what is" to be considered a measure of justice for the north in this connection. Oruelty to Animals. Early in the session Sir George Grey placed upon the Order Paper a bill to arnecd the law relating to cruelty to animals, but finding it impossible to carry it through the House owing to the pressure of other business, he has withdrawn.it, and the Hon*. Mr Waterhouse has intro* duced the same measure in the Legislative Council. It authorises the convicting magistrate to order that any fine inflicted for cruelty to animals shall "be either in part or altogether handed over to any society for the prevention of such cruelty, and any B.M. or two justices may appoint any officer, agent, or servant of such society to be a special constable within any district, or for any period, to enforce the provisions of the law in the ordinary manner. The bill also gives power to order the killing of any animal in a pound, or found in any other place, in a weak, disabled, or diseased state. It is also made an ofi'ence for any person having custody of any animal to neglect to supply it with proper and sufficient food, drink, and shelter, and local bodies who own a pound must have a portion of it covered in so as-to afford shelter to the animals confined.

A deputation of Otago representatives, headed by Mr Mackay McKenzie, waited oq the Minister of Public Works this morning to urge upon the Government the advisability of completing the railway works on the Otago Central line with as much convenient speed as possible. The Hon. Mr Sichardson slated that every effort consistent with the position of the public funds at the preseDt moment would be mads towards advancing the works, the importance of which the Government fully recognised.

A meetiog of members was convened to-day by Mr Mitchelson to consider the proposal of the East and West Coast (Middle Island) Railway Bill. Twenty five members attended, but no resolutionwas arrived at, although the feeling of the meeting was distinctly adverse to the Government proposal.

„ • This day. Government seem determined now to get rid of the troublesome East and West Coast (Middle Island) and ffelson iiail-

way Bill, and it is again made the first order of iho day for to day on (he Order Paper, which is, however, yet open to correction. The second order at present is the report on the District Railways Leasing and Purchasing Bill, which is also a measure under which the fires of opposition are smouldering, and it is therefore not improbable that the consideration of tbe North Island Railway Committee Seporfc may be still further postponed. '