TELEGRAPHIC. PARLIAMENTARY. (Daily Southern Cross Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Saturday.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 353, 18 August 1874, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC. PARLIAMENTARY. (Daily Southern Cross Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Saturday.

To-day is a dies non. There is nothing new, and the excitement has subsided for the present. The tatal value of the imports for the quarter ending 30th June was L 1,690,655, and L 1,860,701 for the corresponding quarter last year. The exports amounted to the sum of L 1,515,486, 515,486 ; against £1,043,702 for the corresponding quarter last year.

John Leek s petition against Mr Yon cler Heyde s return was presented yesterday and referred to a committee, which will be appointed for Tuesday. The feeling of members is strongly against Macfarlane. The Speaker announced that he had received a petition against the election of Mr Yon der Heyde, and that necessary bond? had been entered into to proceed against him at law. A committee will inquire into the case on Tuesday. The Premier stated that the Excise Bill which was to be introduced would provide for abolishing the distilleries altogether in this way : The Dunedin distillery to be allowed compensation L 20,000, and be allowed to distil seventy thousand gallons between the Ist of July last and 30th June next. To the Auckland distillery L 7500. and to beallov/pd to distil a certain quantity of spirits till June )>ext, to exhaust material. The Government would impose a shilling a gallon deferential duty during the present year, to be increased a shilling a gallon each two successive years. At the evening sitting of the House, the hon MiMcLean went into the whole history of the Manawatu difficulty, and said that of all the delicate and difficult native negotiations he ever had in New Zealand, that was by far the most troublesome. He was confident that had- he not succeeded in satisfying the objecting natiyes at that time, the Manawatu land would not 'have been acquired, but the prosperity of the province would have been retarded indefinitely. It was utterly unreasonable to make the colony responsible for his individual action in the matter, taken at the most pressing entreaty of the provincial authorities. No amount of persuasion would ever induce him to undertake such a duty again. Mr Fitzherbert insisted that the question had gone beyond arguing, and though he could adduce many more leasons for supporting the claims of the province than those stated by the Speaker, he would not do so, as the obligation of the Government was purely honorable. Mr Andrew pointed out that as Sir Dillon Bell gave his award on a point altogether outside of that he was asked to arbitrate upon, it would establish a mischievous precedent to arbitrators by passing the resolution. A division was called for, when 29 voted in favor of the award and 25 against it. A resolution was earned that the Governor be requested to place the amount on the Supplementary Estimates — oocrv } er L 15 ,000. The Premier moved, the second reading of the Provincial Public Works Adyance Bill for enabling Superintendents to obtain advances out of the consolidated revenue for 'public works in accordance with the proposals in the financial statement. Mr Curtis said that if the provisions of the bill were adhered to considerable delay would arise in the construction of the Nelson public works, and suggested that necessary alteration be made to avoid that. At present they would have to call the Provincial Council together. Mr T. B. Giilies said that all advances seemed to be made to each province upon a separate principle. As regarded Auckland province the Government were reserving to themselves power to dole out the L4OOOO in any way they might deem advisable. The provisions for security also differed very much. He wanted a bill to be framed upon some intelligible principle, making no distinction in the mode of dealing with the different provinces. The Premier was prepared to consider in committee any reasonable objections to the bill. The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Tuesday. In the absence of his colleague The Premier moved the second reading of the Immigration and Public Works Act. The bill provides for land purchase in the North Island, compensation, roads in the North Island, for railways, and aiding works on goldfields. Mr Tribe asked if the Government proposed to make the maintenance of the road between Westland and Christchurqh a colonial charge. The Premier said he thought the maintenance of the road should be divided between the provinces of Canterbury and Westland. He hoped the Superintendents of these provinces would consult on the matter. The bill was read a second time. In the absence of the Minister of Works, The Premier moved the second reading of the Railways Bill. Mr Cuthbertson took the opportunity of giving facts and figures as to the value of Bluff and Winton railway, which he hoped would be considered in the valuation. In reply to Mr Sheehan, The Premier said that although the extension of the line from Kaipora and Pviverhead and Auckland did not appear in the schedule, the Government did intend to ask authority for that work. MrMervyn hoped that alternate surveys would be made of lines via Tapanui, and via Cheviot. Mr T. Shepherd hoped the Government would, next session, take steps to form a line of railway through the centre of the province of Otago, tapping an area of Crown land, and thus largely enhance the value of the public estate. In replying,, The Premier intimated that the first thing the Government would consider was the completion of main trunk lines between Wellington and Auckland in the one island, and Nelson and West Coast, and Marlborough and Canterbury in the other, so as to place the towns of the Middle Island in connection, not to aid large provinces that have money and are in a position to complete a proper system of branch railways. If the Government assisted one province in making branch lines, the others will immediately put in a claim for like consideration, and they found themselves much embarrassed at times by this local jealousy. In fulfilment of their policy the Government would, as opportunity served, purchase those main lines of railway constructed in the Middle Island by the provinces. The bill was read a second time. The Harbour Works Bill, providing for enabling Superintendents and Boards to undertake harbour works, Was reported with amendments. The Premier stated that the Government was not certain whether it would this session proceed with the Polynesian Trade Bill in consequence of the