ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 9197, 16 August 1880, Page 2

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

(Evening Post, 11th August.) To describe what was done in the House yesterday, over and above the transaction of routine work, and the asking and answering of a few questions, is a somewhat difficult task, for while there was no end of talk and a variety of subjects, very little else was done. To begin with the questions. Mr Beeves asked if the Goveremenfc had dispensed with the services of Constable Doran, if they had appointed another person in his place, and, finally, if so why_ so ; to which the Native Ministor replied that all reductions in the police force were made only after careful consideration, and that it was scarce!' rigkt to call the Government to account for every reduction made. In reply to Mr Bowen, Mr Rolleslon said the examination of candidates for the Gilchrist Scholarship of £300 would take place in Christchurch on the 6th Sep. tember next, and though the notice was short, he hoped to see a fair number of candidates co.me forward. Notwithstanding the announcement of the Premier regarding the " slaughter of the innocents," three new bills were introduced. One was by Mr Tole, and related to College Trusts in Auckland ; a second was the West Coast Bill, by Mr Bryce ; and the third the Thames and Waikato Railway Bill, brought down by Sir George Grey. Major Atkinson intimated that the Beer Duty -Bill would be brought forward as soon as the Public Works Estimates were disposed of, and the Public Works Bill would be bofore the House in a day or two. It was decided to hold a sitting at 11 a.m. next day, and to adjourn at 2 p.m. till 7.30, in respect to the memory of Mr George Hunter, and to allow members to attend thp funeral. Sir George Grey referred to the deceased gentleman as one who had done much good servioe in the House and to the .colony. A discussion arose upon a motion by Mr J. B. Fisher that permission should bo given to forward to the Supreme Court the petition of Mr Oliuiie, presented to the House last year, and the evidence taken thereon, it being alleged by the mover that the recqrd might bo of servioe in jußtly dealing with the case of Climie v. Wallace and others, now going on in the Supreme Court. The motion was ultimately negatived. Then came the slaughter of the doomed bills referred to by the Premier the previous day. Ho moved the discharge of the following from the Order Paper : — Town Districts. J'isliwicp, ESuciUiVß lieaoyyes Amend.

ment, Public Entertainments Prohibition, Cemeteries, Auctioneers, Fire and Marine Insurance Companies, Gaming and Lotteries, Hawkers, Pedlars, and Peace Preservation. Tho adjourned • desultory discussion of the previous sitting upon the question of going into Committee of Supply, was resumed, and continued till the usual hour of adjournment, and for an hour and ahalf in the evening, when Mr Moss's amendment relating to local government was lost, and the House got into Committee of Supp'y for the purpose of considering the Estimates. Clause X., Minister of Mines, £23,200, was reduced by £200, the clerk in connection with the Coalfields Department having his salary (£SO) struck off, and the agent being reduced from £200 to £50. Clause XI., Public Works, £634,079 8s Bd. Tho Mini -tor for Public Works proposed a reduction of £47,887, and, after discussion, this waß ■ agreed to. Tho following votes in the same class were passud unaltered : — Architect's office, £1485; Government domains, £1191 4a ; public buildings, £20,985 ; and Inspector of Machinery, £1900. Progress was then reported, and the House adjourned.