PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5118, 12 June 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegraph.] (from our own correspondent.) Wellington, Last night. There seems to have been some misunderstanding as to the hoar at which Parliament would open to-day, consequently a great -many persons were disappointed owing to His Excellency attending a few minutes after two o'clock instead of at 2.30, as has hitherto 'been usual on the occasion. It has long been the custom for the House to meet at two o'clock, and for the Governor to. arrive half-an-hour later; no intimation was given; of sany,alteration *qo| thef prjesent occasion, and in .response to enquiries made yesterday it was stated that Parliament would be opened at the usual hour. It was rather amusiug to observe' the number of people sauntering carelessly up to the Buildings and asking where the cerernoniesj Cwere v \6: fake place some minutes alter His Excellency had left; the building, though one could sympathise with the disappointed ones. Especially was sympathy called up on the case of a Foreign Consul, who, attired in his glittering and gorgeous robes of office, dashed up to the ctiijef jentrande lot; the* -L^gislativel Council behind a couple of spanking greys, and placidly asked the bystanders if there was yet any sign of His, Excel-. lehcy's arrival. His • consternation,: when shown the retiring form of His Excellency as be reclined- in his carriage passing through the gates.of Government House on its homeward way, may be better imagined than described. . There were numberless, such cases,'and; much public-disappoint-ment. In the Upper House, most of the recently-appointed pensioners were presented, and took their seats, but in the Lower; House only Mr Hislop; membeif for Oamaru(of the new members), put in an appearance; the other recently-el^cted members have not yet 1 armed. 'Mr Hislop was .duly presented, and took the oath; for the political sponsors he was; fortunate in having two such • men as Robt. Stout and John Bryce. So far the House presents rather an empty- appearance, many members having failed to put in an appearance; conspicuous by their absence were—Major Atkinson, apd Messrs Rolleston, - Montgomery, and Macandrew." Sir George Grey was present, and looks hale and hearty, though his voice sounds a trifle more shaky than it did a year ago. Contrary to general expectation, Sir Julius Yogel was in his place in the House, he having sufficiently recovered "from his recent' in* 'disposition to admit of conveyance from his residence to the Parliament buildings. It is probable that Sir Julius VogeL will shortly take up his residence at the build-' ings for the session. The Ministry evidently mean to keep members to their duties, if the proceedings to-day be any criterion; usually the House adjourns from Thursday to the following Tuesday, when the opening ceremonies take place on the former day ; this gives the new member, who is to move the Addressvnfieply, a chance of preparing his speech, but Mr Pearson to-day gave notice that he would move the Address to morrow. He, however, cannot be considered as a new member. As already intimated, Mr Hislop will second the Address-in-Reply.

Merchants and others, fearing that the contemplated revision. of the . tariff will seriously affect sugar, tea, and of her articles of consumption, were this 'morning engaged in removing such articles from bonded warehouses to escape the imposition of ah increased taxation. Among the papers laid on-the table of the House to-day were' the following :— From the Chamber of Commerce, Dunedio, to the Premier, containing a resolution of the Chamber expressing the desirability of the appointment of a select com- i mittee to ioresliflate aud coaiider the I

subject of a paper currency, sod the es» tabliahment of a State bank of issue, nnd in the direction of an enquiry as to the effect of the paper currency now in use in the colony, being issued I y private banks ; fand,whether it is desirable that the colony .establish a >tate bank f issue.

The Comptroller and Auditor General presented an abstract of the liabilities of the colony on the 31sfc March, in com» pliance with the 9th section of the Publici Eevenues Act of 1883. The summary is as follows: — Consolidated Fund, £218,387; the Public Works Fund, £1*202,970; total, £1;421;357r • •

From the annual statement of the busineßS of the Post Office Savings Banks I p.ga^Jaet.the following interesting figures,; s —Number of Post Office Savings Banks in the chief postal districts at the close of Jthe year December 31, 1884': Auckland 56, Canterbury 25, Otago 33, Southland 20, Napier. 11, Ne.jp Plymouth 6,-Tfaames 11, Oamaru 7, Wellington 22 ; total in the' colony, 243; number of deposits receired during the year £129,279, of which £19~257 were in AucklauJ, £26,663 in Canterbury, £24,062 in Otago, £4820 in Southland, £4336 in Napier, £2717 in New i"£2880 in Oamaru, £3340 in Thames, 21,853 in Wellington ; total amount of deposits received : during the "year, £1,227,909./: Auckland contributed £199,693; Canterbury, £269,p14; Otago, £208.737 ; Invercargill, £48,196 ; Napier, £44,799 rNew Plymouth, £33;264; Oamaru, £23,589; „f names, £24,823; Wellington, :;£189,761. '"There : were 80,801/ withdrawals, during the jyear amounting to £J.,195,931. The excels of deposits over withdrawals being £31,978 ; cost of managing the Department, £40G0 per annum ; interest for the year amounts to £47,381 ; the number-: of accounts opened; 20,228 ; accounts c105ed,C16,447 ; accounts remaining open at close-of year, £65,717. Total amount standing to: the credit of all open accounts, £1,499,112.

.; A return to the order of the House, 20th August, "1884, jgiving approximate value of school buildings in each Educational District, has been presented to-day: —Buildings, outhouses, etc.: Auckland, £83,932; Taranaki, £9076; Wellington, £26,498; Hawke'sßayr £16,935 ; Otagb, £100,580; Southland, £17,103: total for colony, £466,761. School Furniture: Auckland, £10,763.; Taraaaki, £1278; Wellington, £2401; Hawke's Bay, £3155; Otago, -£5460 j Southland, £2147,: total for the colony, £42,250. Teachers dwellings, including outhouses: Auckland, £28:289 ; Taranaki, £2739; Wellington, £6018; Hawke's Bay, £4705 ; Otago, £30,509; Southland, £11,435 V total for the colony,-£150,627. Value of "lands used as school sites : Auckland, £45.348; Taranaki, '£1553; Wellington,' £6993'; Hawke's Bay, £7089 y Otago, £39,426; Southland, £7683: total value .of school land for the colony, £188,546. ■ : .a This tfay.ft

Just a taint of a rumor this morning is to the effect that Government rushed on the Address-inKeply, fearing an adverse political more from the ranks of the Opposition. Whether they feared that more in the shape of an amendment to the Address cannot be said. , t In course of conversation this morning with the Premier, I have learned that Gorernment has no intention of rushing business in order to take advantage of empty benches. The fact is Government have all their measures ready, and having no desire to waste time, do not consider they should delay business in order to allow dilatory members to arrive. Already there seems to be a considerable feeling against the Native Land policy of the Government, especially among Northern members. As I have previously intimated; the battles of the session will be waged around the Native Lauds Disposition Bill; and/members lire already speculating Upod; the/results. Some are.of opinion^ tbat\it~the° Native Land Settlement: proposals are adhered to as a Ministerial question, the Govern** menl may possibly be defeated, whilst others are of opinion that the weight of the South .Island votes will. be>, with the Government proposals, and that they will be carried. ■» ' It'ifc understood that the Premier will to day agree to postpone the moving of the Address in Reply until Tuesday, if desired by the House. Major Atkinson will not arrive before, to-morrow „ night j * Messrs Montgomery' and Cadman arrived today. m ._ :-v. " :-• ST T-- • >~A bill is to be introduced in the Legislative Council by the Hon. Mr Buckley, to indemnify Jthe .'action, of the; Government in appointing Col., Whitmore to the 'command of the forces at a salary of £800 a year»;and make an exception in his case, and allow- him to receive public money and hold a seat in' the' Legislative Council, while at the same time thus set aside the provisions of the Disqualified* tioo Act. , >