PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4934, 1 November 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegbaph.] (fbom oub own cobebspohdent.) Wellington, Laßt night. F. K. Donnelly. The Goldfields' Committee have had the petition of Patrick E. Donnelly, a miner of the Thames, under consideration. The

petitioner alleges that he bought the Crown Princess mine, but afterwards it was found the Warden had no right to authorise the sale; he says he has lost £12 103, the sum paid for the mine, and £300 he has spent upon it, besides his own time. The Committee report that the statements of the Warden and the petitioner are so much at variance that they are unable to make any recommendation. When in Committee on the Police Offences Bill, hon. members of the Legislative Council discussed a proposal by the Hon. Mr Waterhouse to insert a clause providing against " burning in effigy." The mover pointed out that much pain was often by this practice caused to the members of a person's family. The Hon. Dr Pollen thought there must be a vent somewhere, and it was better to burn a man in effigy than to punch his head ; he also was of opinion that the whole Council could thus receive public recognition for a barrel of beer; other hon. members likewise thought a £5 would secure to anyone the honor of being burned in effigy. The amendment was ultimately withdrawn.

In the House this afternoon there was an all round attack and free fight, the immediate cause of which was over the sale of the Wallsend township, on the West Coast, to the Westport Colliery Company without the knowledge of the people most interested, namely, the miners at Wallsend. Mr Eolleston attempted to justify his actio i, but his explanation only seemed to add fuel to the flame, and the abuse and attack became general, discussion drying off to vituperation and exceedingly harsh criticism of the policies of different administrations. There was really little else done this afternoon.

The House meets to morrow at 11, when some bills will be taken, and the general estimates considered. It is not probable the House will sit on Monday, as tho members wish to get into fettle for the ball on Monday night. On Tuesday the Federal proposals will be taken into consideration. Major Atkinson is likely to make a strong Federation speech. Sir J. Vogel's Property Tax Bill, introduced to-day, has reference solely to the proposed reduction of the tax.

Direct Mail Service. The terms and conditions of a contract proposed to be entered into between the New Zealand Government and the New Zealand Shipping Company, for the conveyance of mails between Plymouth and New Zealand, were laid before Parliament yesterday. Under the proposed agreement, which is for a period of five years, and for the conveyance of mails from Plymouth to either of the ports of Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, or Port Chalmers, the Company contracts to provide and keep in a seaworthy condition the steamers Euapehu, Tongariro, Aorangi, Kaikoura, and Eimutaka, or any other vessel of not less than 2500 tons. Mails are to be conveyed once in every four weeks between Plymouth and either of the New Zealand ports, alternating with the dates of the despatch of the mails by the San Francisco service, the object being that regular fortnightly mail communication, as nearly as possible, be" tween the colony and the United Kingdom shall be maintained. The mails are

to be conveyed from Plymouth to New Zealand in 1080 hours, and for the conveyance of such mails the PostmasterGeneral will pay to the Company at the following rates :— Letters, 12s per lb; packets, Is per lb; newspapers, 6d per pound; such payments to be quarterly at Christchurch, the head quarters of the Shipping Company. The rate of fine, etc., for delay in the delivery of the mails, is set out at length ; the steamers engaged in the performance of the contract are to be exempt from the payment of light dues at New Zealand ports, and alao from the payment of harbor dues, and so long as the efficiency of the New Zealand service is not interferred with, the Company may carry mails for any other country or colony at rates not less than those paid by the colony of New Zealand. Failure to carry out the agreement entered into under this contract renders the Company liable to pay the sum of £7500 by way of damages. The proposals will be considered by the House on Tuesday. This day. "Wahanui Before the Bar-

Considerable interest was manifested in this morning'vS opening proceedings of the House, when Wahanui, the chief of the Ngatimaniapotos, was heard at the bar of the House, in reference to the Native Settlements Bill, the first order of the day. The old chief has quite an imposing presence, and spoke well and clearly. His speech was attentively listened to by members of the House and the visitors in the public galleries, among whom were

many dusky relatives and friends of the

renowned Kangitira Maori. The speech lasted only about half»an*hour, and at its conclusion met with cheers and loud ap* plause. The House is expected to sit all day and during the evening.