PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2032, 3 July 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

(united press association.) THURSDAY, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, In the Council-, the Colonial Secretary moved the Whitnwre Ealing Bill which TO r §ad q first time, i\fter whioh the Council adjourned until Tuesday, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Replying to questions, it was intended to appoint a Royal Commission to enquire into the question of the relief o tenants on Native reserves on the West coast of the Middle Island; that the connection of the Kawakawa and Whangarei railways would be dealt with in the Public Works Statement; that the duties collected under the new tariff would be returned if not assented toby the House j that the nucleus of a superanuation fund would be started for distributing among railway employees' benefit societies the money accrued from departmental fines; that proper inspection would be provided for. the township of Dobsjn, Brunner railway.

The following Bills were introduced The Dunedin Cattle Market Reservo Leasing Bill (Mr Stewart), a Bill to extend the Adulteration Prevention Act (Mr Lovestam). The debate on the no-confidence motion was resumed by Mr O'Oonor, who strongly supported the Government proposals, but objected to % tax. Ho tjjpugljt wliat was wanted was Increased faollitjes for shipping the coal, He considered the Government had effected all the retrenchment they possibly could,

Mr Montgomery intended to vote against the amendment, as he considered the member for Auckland City- East should have had some consultation with other members before moving it, Ho said the existing depression had'deepened instead of lessened, and that land in the Wiwd hacj almost i|uqalofttye. The peqpje in fhq §oqti} ivpr;e so, burdened with dpbt that it was a cruel thing tp put taxation on thorn, and ijnless very great modifications were nia<jO| lie should vote the duties proposed. Tho proposal to allow the local bodies to bqrrqw to sijch a large gxtei)t lyaq a mqsfc (Jangewms qne, and the House should protest against it. The Treasurer asked thorn to establish fisheries and other things, hut ho never suggeaM a \yay of getting rid of their enormous (]eht. He admitted tho Trooper's nwyellqui) ability for construction, but ho (Mr Montgomery) had never known a single scheme of the Treasurer's that had turned out a? ho had represented it He should rogreMf any action of his would remove the Government from office; but. he would vote against the Local Finance and Policy Bills, even if doing so involved their removal,

Mr Mentkath condemned the financial proposals, and Baid the Financial Statement was an attempt to mislead the public as to the effect of the tariff. He donied that the Government were entitled to credit for vigorous administration. He criticised the Local Govern-

ment Schomoat some, length, and could not support the borrowing proposals. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. Evening Sitting.

;• Mr Holmes Baid the Local Bodies Financial and Powers fiill was a cure to the system of favoring local bodies. After referring at length to free trade and protection, he argued that the proposals in the statement were not of a protective character, and eulogised the policy pf th e Lands Department. He approved of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill, and and would vote for the second reading; but he thought it might be aniended in committee,'

Mr Bryce declared' himself a free trader. The best means of diminishing the depression was to make people look to themselves for carrying on local works, and not to t]ie Government. He believed that they would go far to remove the depression and to re-establish the selfreliant character of the race, if they reduced their borrowing policy.• Mr Beetham would not support the Government proposals owing to their protective character. Ho was- disappointed with the local Government scheme. From the nature of the country he did

not think they could do without borrowing money for the construction of roads, bridges, and other public works, and it should therefore bo continued. The erection of school buildings should not be made a charge on local bodies, but rather upon borrowed moneys or the consolidated revenue, The Government, he said, must bo sure that the Bill dealing with local bodies would not pass and it should be shelved until next 'session. Meanwhile a Royal Commission comprising qualified gentlemen should report on the question. He thought no more money should be expended on defence until it had been ascertained whether naval defences would bo more advantageous than land defences. On that occasion ho would vote with the Government as against the amendment.

Mr Garriok moved the adjournment oi ;he debate until to-day, The House rose ftt 11,40 p.m.

THE POET'S FATE. In a villiage close to the sounding sea, A poet stood in a reverie, And o er his face came a solemn shade As he thought of the songs lie oftimes mado When for three short months he had

been the boss Of the "Advocate" published away in Ross, And the other poems, drearier far, He had sent to the autocrat-democrat "Star." Ah! Well might the poet heave a sigh, For the cask of colonial b,eerwas. dry. But soon, as he looked, round the taproom floor v ' He smiled fte a seraph and sighed no

more, Fur there ir\ a corner,disclosed to view, ?tp,pd a mighty barrel of Parsons' brew, Now quick to the barman Homra speeds, And thus in impatient tone lie pleads, " Come, raise to the bar (an easy task, For we'll all lend a hand) this giant cask." Soon 011 the top of the bar it stand. Raised by the help of such willing hands, And nothing now can the poet vex, As he swallows a tankard of treble X. The live long day did the poet stand Reciting the verses he thought so grand, And telling, in accents so, lois at\d ' gruff, Sonle anecdoteSj-%ifly pa doubt—but touj^. Til o W of the poet was seldom stilled, And many a time was his goblet filled, As he threw on the counter his hardearned pelf, And shouted gallantly—for himself.

But alas! for the poets moving fate, Some jokers came in the evening late. The first a boarding-house did keep, The next was a squatter who owns nc sheep, The third was a swell, of masher hue, A trader of furs was the fourth one, who, While quietly whistling the " Dreamland" waltz, Kept filling tho glasses with Epsom salts. He dosed three beers and a whisky hp.t, And the luckless poet swiped the lot,

You will fyul \t n matter extremely hai'4 To discover tho fate of that wretched bard, For whether he lived or died, I ween From that day fourth he has nover been seen, R.M.W.M.