PARLIAMENTARY.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 96, 15 July 1882, Page 276

PARLIAMENTARY.

(BY XBIiEGBAPH.)

OTEE THE SPEAKER'S CHAIR. Wellington," Thursday. — After the House sat two months, the Government began to bring their business clown. — Grey lias had a bad cough lately, but it is getting much better. — Eobt. Graham is here, wanting to float Waiwora. Ministers won't help him, as they find enough hot -water in Wellington. — There was a member of the Council, whom I will not name, who, when the Fisheries Bill was trader discussion, spoke of the measure as a, fiscal ouo. — The clergy in Canterbury thought the Contagions Disease Act would prove an irresistible argu- , nient in favour of shifting the Seat of Government. — Tenders are to be issued to the bants, to 'know on what terms they will keep sold on stock +o convert Atkinson's £250,000 of shin-plaster when wanted.'' — By no re cans bad is Atkinson's repartee on a, new leader of the Opposition—" Arising, shining like a comet, but not with a long tail. I hope," ciuoth the Major. —When J. C. Brown suggested that the Christchurch Exhibition Building was fit for the Assembly to meet in, the Mayor of Wellington said that it was only fit for the State Dairy. — Sheehan has made a new political discovery. He is rather proud of this one. It is, that the member . who sympathises With, deferred payment settlers who covenanted to pay too niuch for their land, must be corrupt and in favour of repudiation. • — There have been several discussions in the House of late that have been rather "blue." Thus, when Brett's Vagrant Bill was called on last week, the women all left their gallery and waited outside until nearly 12 o'clock, all anxious to know what was said. — If the insurance scheme goes through, the Colonial Treasurer, next session, intends to bring down National Dairy and National Washing Bills— the churn . to be erected at New Plymouth, on the site of the iron, works ; and the wash-pot on the reclaimed land at Wellington. — A very good story comes about old Eos, and it has the merit of being true. An Act of Parliament in 1878 gave certain lands to a Maori on the West Coast of this island, but Fox and Bryce say the man shall not have the lands specified in the Act, but that he shall take interior land iuforiorly situated. — The Richmond - Atkinson family are not breeding so fast as they are wont to breed"! There are. several appointments open for several more of the family, could they be found. It is felt very hard that if Batkin or Hamerton, for instance, died, there would be none of the family fit to take their places. — When Green's Eight Hours Bill came up to the Lords, no one knew who was to take charge of it until McLean at last acknowledged that he had promised, to do so. If the Bill becomes law, the Union Steam Shipping Company are to be specially exempted from itsoperation. — There is a " rag " here called the Advertise?', and the hat was sent round among3t the Opposition to aid it. I was told among the subscribers was Macandrew. When the cartoon came out of Macandrew riding the elephant, awd was shown to him, he is said tohave wished he had not been so ready in subscribing 1 . — When John Buchanan, of Wapier, was de- , tailing how usurers got hold of unwary men and got them to settle on land, ai^d then took the last pound and the last shilling from thorn, Vesey Stewart, who ■> was sitting at his feet, began to scratch his leg ; whereat one fellow in. our gallery asked if that was where his conscience was ? — A Wellington merchant, who went on the " spree " with the ruck, took the trouble to go round to the shop-keepers and condole with them on the mischance that was likely to befall them, asserting that when the Seat of Government came to Wellington all the herdsmen became insolvent from the long credit they gave and the bad debts they made to the Civil Service. — There was a collection in the CatholicCathedral here, in aid of the penniless children of Judith. Hearing a good Catholic lady übter a wish that the collection would be a large one, I asked her for what reason she expressed such a hope. "To beat the Church of England collection," was the ready response. "Then you don't care about the Jews ?" I asksd. " Not a fig," was the reply ; and the general impression seems to bethat they are a people able to take care of themselves. — There have been few exhibitions in theHouse so amusing as the few minutes that elapsed afterRolleston had moved the second reading of the Land Bill. Montgomery did not know apparently what to do or to say, and did what he certainly should not havedone — he neither spoke nor refrained from speaking.. He asked for an adjournment, to make up his mind what he should do or say in reference to the BilL Fancy a leader confessing he knew not where to lead his. followers, and his men standing waiting mute for some other man to go forward, carrying the standard. — Something like Midshipman Easy's triangularduel has taken place between three West Coast members belonging to the goldfields. One weighs aboiit 16 or 17 stone, the second about 13 stone, and the third about Bstone. The 10-stouer makes a point to " sit " upon the 8-stoner in the House and at committee meetings — in fact, wherever and whenever he can get the chance. Things proceeded so far in the line of persecution that the 13-stoner told the "big 'tin " to let the " little 'un " alone, or else he would punch his head; whereupon theSpeaker was appealed to for protection, who, it is said, thotxght the dispute should have been fought ovit on. the tennis ground, the Sergeant-at-Arins acting as-bottle-holder. — The best guide as to the nature of the newLand Bill is that the Council approve of it. Bolloston, posing as a land reformer, is playing the role of the' wolf in sheep's clothing. The object of the Bill is to increase the price of all freehold land in the Colony. They do this in the following manner : — Declare by proclamation that no more shall be sold in certain districts — letus say in the locality where John Hull has nearly 30,000' acres. Having issued the proclamation, they create alot of Crown tenants around the boundaries of the freehold estate. They, in this manner, enable the owners, of freehold to say to land-seekers, "You can have land from me on the same terms as the Crown gives to its. tenant" — a very crafty and well-devised scheme. In this manner Rolleston proposes to foster settlement* freeholders, and thralls.

Spectacles. — Herbert; and Godfreys' AqnaCrystal Spectacles, recommended by the Faculty. T.- B. Hill, agent. On Wednesday next Mr T. W. Hictson "will sell at Mr Dowd'en's Auction Msirt, Queen-street, suburban land at Avondnla, in lots of from 4 to 20 acres. As this property contains some of the best land im» Auckland, a line opportunity is afforded to those desirous of making a comfortable and profitable home for themselves. A splendid collection of .Parian Statuette and figures, from the celebrated firm of Copeland and, Co., sole manufacturers for the Ceramic Art Union Co., are now on view and for sale at Montague's Fancy Bazaar, and, being a consignment, are offered at a very low price. The subjects comprise Gibson's "Venus," " Eve and the Serpent," •' Water Nymph/* " Macguerite," "The 3i\ishor Girl," "Psyche," and many others. We recommend our readers to inspect the same. Tlie sale of the Ellerslie property by Mr Grreenwood, advertised in the Obsekvexi to'take place on the 12th inst., has been postponed to the 19th inst., next (Wednesday), and will take place at Mr Dowden's Mart, in Quoerf-strcet, at 11 o'clock. In order to afford every facility toHnteuding purchasers, the allotments have been numbered, flagged, and pegged on the ground, and lithographic plans provided, to be seen at Mr Green.--wood's office.; '.■.''. ■-.'.' - *

Feoii Otje Special Cobbespoitdent.