PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH-SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2185, 10 July 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH-SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

The Case of Tawhiao. Wellington, Thursday. There was quite a warm li.tlf hour in tho House yesterday afternoon over an apparently innocent question put by Dr Newman. He asked tlie Government (1) if they had offered Tawhiao a seat in the L°gi>.htive Council, and whether sm;h offer i* still open?; (2) what were tho "tempting proposals " of the G»\ eminent "to do me honour aud give me propeity," mentioned in a letter from Tawhiao to the Native Minister dated 17th M.tv, 1880. Mr Ballance repl'ed that nich an offer had been made, and had been refused by Tawhiao, but it was not still open. He said he was n^t aware of any tempting propolis having been made to him. Tlie reply was not considered satisfactory by Dr. Newman, a» he immediately moved the adjournment of the lloii->e, without which it is not competent to raise a debate on n question put to a Mnii>ter. The member for Thorndon then quoted from a speech made at Lawrence in February, in which Mr Ballanco referred to Tawhiao as a mm who w.vs inclined to diink more than was goo J tor him, and when m that &t.ite his antics were peculiar. Dr. Newman said it was an insult to the colony to offer a seat in the Legislative Council to a man who had been described by the Native Minister as a broken-down drunkard and a sot. Mr Ballance said he had been entirely misrepresented. He challenged Dr. Newman to prove his assertion. Dr. Newman took up the challenge amid.st crios of " Hear, hear." from the Opposition. He said that in Mr Balance's speech at Wanganui he, had said that the present Government had been blamed for their numerous appointments to Commission of the Peace, but they had never appointed a drunken sot, such as Tawhiao was when the previous Ministry offered to appoint him. He (Dr. Newman) submitted that when the Native Minister had seen tit, rightly or wrongly, to criticise the Maori King in such terms, he had no right to subsequently offer him a seat in the Upper House. Mr Ballance said he had been imperfectly quoted. What he stated was that Ttiwhiao was inclined to drink too much at the particular time ho was offered a commission of the peace, but ho had qualified that by saying tS)at for several years Tawhiao had been a rigid teetotaller. That altered the complexion of the cat>e, and if the present Government had offered Tawhiao a .seat in tho Council it was not us a dvankou. sat, because hn- several years lie had been abstemious in his habits ami had worn tlm blue yibbon. Mr Ovroond bbnrtJy afterwards said the Government should give a move definite statement with regard to their intentions respecting the Legislative Council. Hg considered tho Premier's answer yesterday, that *' At present they had no intention of making further appointments ' was very vague. Ho further said there were rumours chroughout the colony that at the. end of the session several gentlemen wore to be created Councillor* as a rewnul for their political service. Tho Premier declined to soy what would happen in the future. It was absurd to look for such a pledge, as the Government might be in power for tive or six years. (Laughter.) All lie could sajt was as to their present intentions. After some further discussion tho matter dropped.

How the Money Goes. I understand that revelations of an astonishing nature are being made by the

Public Accounts Committee, to whom lim been referred tho question of the purchase of StajkV property for defence purptaes at Auckland. It transpires that less than 12 months before the puichaae by Government, the whole property Was under offer for £7000, while the pi ice arranged and paid by the Government otik-ers wm £17,100.

The Gold Duty. Tho action of the Legislative Council in the rejection, th<s Gold Duty Abolition Bill for the fifth tune has rousnd the indignation of .some of tho goldtields member*. Mr Pyko, in conseqiuince of thin motion, intends cnllinir th«- attention of the House to tho question of privilege initiation to n-jortioti of tax remission biila by tho Council.

Sir J. Vogel's Illness. Sir J. Vogel if, .still confined to his room through illness-, and lias not been able to take hi.s place in tho House for nearly m week.

Representation. Tho Cabinet ha.s not us yet come to A final decision in tho impoitant question of Representation. It was expected that it would be decided at the Cabinet meeting on Monday, but owing to Sir J. Vogel's illness only matters of uigency were diicussed on that occasion, and the Representation question was not reached. I learn to-day that the Treasurer's complaint in cramp in tho stomach, not gout, as was generally reported yesterday. Sir J. v ogol hoard himself that he wtfs suffering from gout in tho stomach, but it appear! now the RymptomH are the loss dangerous ones of cramp. He is now slowly recovering.

Mr Steward's Commission. Tho committee appointed to tiTake enquiritta inspecting the purchase by the Government through Me Steward, tho member for Waimate, of ccrtnin railway debentures, are expected to bring up their report to-morrow. It is rumoured that the evidence shows that although Mr Steward has not committed a bteaoh of tho Disqualification Act, the spirit of s the Act has bson broken. A very lively debate is expected when the committees report i« received. , "'

Civil Service Reform. Sir G. Grey intends moving when tho Civil Service Kefoim Bill cets into committee, thatjhe number oi Ministers should be .reduced, and political Under-secretarieii appointed. The Bill pa-.sed its second reading last night by a lar^fl majority.

Tawhiao Again The Maori king T.uvhiao was the subject of another short di>cmsiou this afternoon. It arohe on a question by Mr Lake, who asked the Native Minister whether uny assurance director indirect, either by word, telegram, or in writing h.is 'been given by the Native Minister or the Government to the effect that, until Tawhiao gave his consent a court would not' be held at Kawhia or elsewhere in the King Country. Mr Ballancs caid tho court was to he ad* journed while Tawhiao came to Wellington, but he decided not to c>mie. There wan no such assniance given as that indicated in tho quotation. Mr Lake said the reply was not- satisfactory. Mr Ballance repeated it. Mr Lake again demured, but the Speaker refused to allow the matter to proceed any further.

Payment of ReportersThe Reporting Debates Committee | brought up their report to-day. They recommend, regarding the Hansard staff, that in future reporters join the staff at £Joo with a progressive increase of £10 per annum till tho salary has reached £350 ; that reporters who have been on the staff tivo years should icceive £10 per annum from the piesent session till £350 is reached; that the chief repot ter's Kilitry of £GOO remain as at piesent, and that his services be at Hip disposal of the Government during the year without additional payment for any other duties performed [This is not to interfere, however, with the emolument hitherto paid him for the preparation of Civil service examination papers, etc.] ; that the salaries of tho ieporttrs shall cover all service.* required of them during the sitting of Parliament each year. Friday.

The District Ruhvays Purchase. ConoidtM'.ible s(»ns.itioii was caused this afternoon by tho report <>f the District Railway-* Purchasing Committee, which lias bjun liiukfd for with m> much interest by the Hou&o. Tho f<u>>r> of lion members were quite a study while the repoit was being read by Major i Campoill, the cleik tho House, and it \\a* received with an ominous silence. The report itsdf is substantially tho sane as I wired you yesterday was likely to be brougut down. The whole affair will come before the. House, for diHoussmn on Wtidne^d.iy night. The proceeding* are expected to he more than usually animated when the report is considered.

/The Opposition. The Opposition held another meeting today, but nothing of any impoitance was done except the usual report as to the progress of business.

Mr MacandreVs Bill. Mr Mac.indrew quoted a few interesting statistics la>-t night when moving the second reading of the Public Advances of Land Bill. Ho .said that la*t year there were 3!),000 mort£a<re-> registered in the colony. Of that number 39,778 wm 1 under £100. Besides these there were 7000 for suma of over £200. H« contended that if the money had been raised by the colony, there would havo been a sivmg of from £'300,000 to i;i0Q,000 per annum, after the payment of 4 par cent. The bulk of the moitgages vveie held b,y the loan and agency companies, the greater portion of the money h»ing in England, and the interest was as j high as 8 and 1) per cent, and even higher.

Representation. Major Atkinson has not relinquished his intention of moving in the Representation question. He intends hiking some action on going into Committed of Supply, with a view of moving for a reduction in the numbers of members.