PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 2188, Issue XXVII, 17 July 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[BT TELEGRAPH— SPEdAL CORRESPONDENT.]

The Wairoa Disaster. t Wellington, Thujndav. The Public Petition Committee this afternoon brought up their report on the petitions of Messrs Mcßae, Humphreys, and •f. Bird, who petitioned for relief on ac count of their losses by the volcanic disturbances. Mr Mcßae's lo^s was stated to be iIM)0, Humphrey I*,1 *, £2000, and llird'a £70. Tho committee report that while they consider tho petitioners have no claim upon the Government <for compensation, still, taking into consideration the facts shown in tho evidence, the petitioners would have been able to save a considerable portion of their property if they had directed their energies to that instead of saving life. They recommended the (Government to give the ca->e favourable consideration by putting a sum on the estimates for the sutfetei-j.. Sir (I. Grey asked the Premier what the Government proposed to do in the matter. The Premier replied that it was unusual to ask (loveinment to st ito what tli^v would do on a report that had only ju-.t been heard. The Government intended putting a small sum oil tho estimates for tho most urgent ease*. Por^onally lie thought there was great danger in the Government becoming insurers again-t volcanic eruptions.

Newspapers in Parliament. Fiequent refeienco has been made this session t> ii<'W-|»:ipur editots and special correspondents, and the Lyttleton Tunes, Christchurch Press, and other p.\ppr>* hn\o received an lutimition at the h mds of lion, members, whilst the Coloni.il Treasurer has threatened a libel action against one paper for soino Parliament iry gossip forwaided by its correspondent. Th.it enterprising journal, th'i T.vr.unki Herald, had a turn this afternoon. Mr Hursthou-e, when speaking against the New Plymouth Harbour Bill, s.iid that because lv» had considered it his duty in the public interest to oppose that measure. he had been subjected to scurrilous abuse for twelve year*. He had been a public man and he had never disgraced the po.si tion lie held eithei in>ide or outside tho House, and yet he was held up in th it distinguished paper, the Taranaki Herald, to the derision of the House. He had thought at ono time of bringing on a question of breach of privilege by asking that an opportunity .should be given him for expressing his mind. Usually he considered it inadmissible to bring private matters before Hie House. He appealed to the Speaker to say whether he had not conducted himself with order and reasonable decorum in the House, or whether he hid been guilty of conduct which would warrant any paper in chastising him as the " larrikin of the House." He, had accu-ed Mr Samuel, the member for New Plymouth, of being the author of that scurrilous.' remark, but as that gentleman repudiated th« authorship ho exonerated him fully. Subsequently Colonel Trimble said that everything that had appeared in the Taranaki Herald for the last five years concerning Wait.ira was false. He made that assertion with a full knowledge that it would go through the country.

Letting the Steam Off. There were one or two "bully " scenes in the House last night. The first «ro-*e on the debate in the Woikinen'-i Wapes Extension Bill, introduced by the Minister for Public Works. During the discu.s -i m the Premier stated that the reason why Mr Forguson, the member for Wakatipu opposed the Bill wa» because he was carrying on a Government contract which allowed the truck system to lie t-iken aH vantage of. Mr Ferguson shortly afterward* ro*e and pave Sir Robert Stout a " bit of hi-i mind." While doing m> ho said he was reminded of a remark which was made in the Utapo Provincial Council some years apo, by Mr George Tnrnbull, the Provincial Treasurer. He would not say wh.it that reinirk was in CtV»eh t> should Iv called to order, but he wwuld tell Sir Robert privately outside the House. 1 have since a^crtained that the words uttep-d by Mr Turubull on that occasion were th >t, wh°n he (Sir Robert) had les.s to say and more di^crption, he would become an ornament to the Council. Referring to Sir R'>b"»tV remarks on the Bill last night, anil Mr Fergus's opposition to it, he (Mr Fergus) -aid one of the statements by the Pi em i*r wi< false, as in the 'country where his contracts* were carried on (Tasmania) the truck system w.w not in force. The Speaker here interposed, and said he would not allow any member to characterise another member's statement as false. Mr Ferguson : It wax a false statement. Sir Maui ice apain called him to older, when Mr Fergus said "It is not true." The Speaker again sharply called him to order, and then a-<ked him to withdraw the expression. Mr Fergus here sat down, and several of his fiiends cried out " Withdtaw," which he eventually did, although in a very reluctant manner. He has since hunted up H visard, and found that on no le.^s than four occasions this session has Sir Ilobt. Stout refoired to other members' statements as false without being called to order for doing so. Another little scene occuned durinp the discussion on tho motion re Chantable Aid. Sir G. Grey, while speaking to the motion, made an attack on the Government, and was proceeding to refer to the commission of £1000 paid to Mr Steward, for commission on the Waimate debentures, when the Speaker pulled him up and said he was not allowed to refer to a past debate. Sir George disputed the ruling, alleging that he was only referring to a p.iper that had been l.vid on the table. The Speaker said he must not prevaricate in that manner. Sir Georgo still stuck to his position, and said surely he was allowed to refer to a past transaction. Sir Maurice said that was simply trifling with the matter, and he declared him out of order. Sir Geoi-ge by this tune was pvcewvely angry, but he merely said ••Then if l' am out of order, I shall sit down," and he resumed his seat.

The District Railways Again. SirfJeo. (Jrey gave notice thU afternoon to ask the Premier whether he will cause proceedings to be t.ik n n with reference to the improper offer made by Mr ttlee of agency fee* to bo paid to a member or members of this House if they would effect a sale to the Government on favourable terms of the debentures of the Wai ma to Railway Company, the letter adding that though the lo^a would be heavy, this would not preclude their recognising his and (BLuik\) services.

The New Plymouth Harbour Bill. Tho Kew Plymouth Harbour Bill was talked out this afternoon, and its committal by consequence postponed for another day. Rumour ha-i it that Mr Hur*thou»e intends contenting one of the Taranaki country con-

slituencie* at tho n ij \t clrrtion, uhidi it orrect would account to .soinu t.\Lent for his opposition to tli" bill.

The District Railways Scandal. Fnday. It was goner dly e\p< < ted th.it after the prematuie clo>e of the dolnte <>n the l)ihtiict Railway Debeutuies '•c.mhl.il <>n Wednesday the niattei could not fwnsilily l»p allowed to rest tlni .-, and th.it Sir Julius Vogel w,is hound to tiki* some steps 1 to defend himself tmni the imput.ition levelled against him not only in the committee s lepoit, but hy linplir.ition m thn Premiui's resolution also. Su G. Giey this afternoon givi'the Ti.\isiiier this opportunity, sad ho til once availed him-elf of it )>v nuking a'lenglhy speech in di f. nc o „f | )H action, alleging th.it he was influenced soU-lv hy a de«no to make ilie hest teiin- tor the <!o\eimt.t'iit in the put chase of the dehi>n tuitM, and utteily di .claiming any nn worthy ltioti\e. ihs remaiks as to thn committee boin^ influenced by;"malice, hatted and uncfiai lt.iblone s, h(i\ve\er, were \eiy 111-tinud and etfectually iou«od the indi^'ii.ition of se\et il menibeis of the coirni'ttec, who w.iimly repudi.Ued buitiK in(l lenced by any svu;b i;o,jsidciation. Mr ( Jan id., one of th<> committee, and .'i Htioii^* {overnment supports, made a c.dmly judicial speec li. m uhiclihe trreatlv letf lotted that Sir Julius \'o(, r el hhould have refened to the. committee in such terms and denied altogether that the Treasurer 1!*1 !* sweeping condemnation u as in any way warranted. H« also made a damaging attack on Mr Steward, and laid Hpecial strem on the manner in which the member for Waimate lobbied last year, as he «aid, by fair means or foul mean-, for the insertion of the Wai mate line in the schedule to the bill. '] he debate is likely to go on for some time yet, in comparatively few members had »*poken on it up to the dinner adjournment. The whole affair was brought about by a clever ruse on Sir Geo. Gi ey's part. Everybody expected that he would not be satisfied with the re ply given to his question an to who recommended Mr Frank Slee for appointment as Justice of the Peace, and he would at once move the adjournment of tho House to enable him to debate the matter. He therefore put the question to Mr Tole, who replied that Government could not give hucli information as asked for, as it wmuM not be proper to do so. Mr Turnbull, then, who was evidently " put up" by Ministers so as to prevent Sir George from moving the adjournment on the next question, which was the one expected to reopen the debenture business, moved the adjournment of the House and took exception to Mr Tolfl replying. Sir George Grey ro^e afterwards to speak, upon which the Premier asked the Speaker whether Sir George was in older in doing so. Sir Geojgo here interrupted, " Don't think you will <jet rid af the adjournment so easily." Su Robert replied, "I don't want to got rid of it," upon which Sir George resumed his iemaik« f and in doinz so iefened to the whole question involved in the second question.

Representation. I undent wd tho Representation Bill which the Picmirr is to inttoduro will provide for the c«m-ti tictiou of a boird ti» ri jfful.it*'tlio it (li^tulmlioM of loprosont.vttnn tr«-»tn time to tune, according 1 to population, will reunite and amalgam, ite the city dec toiate>, and will limvc tho total nuiiib» j r of menibeiM of tin- lldiivj blank, to be filled up as tht^y should think fit.

The Mail Service. ft app»\u-> tioi.i ,i ict.MM l.irl <m lh«* 1al»li< nf 'he K-.ijM' th.it dm mi; rh<> \cji I s - .") the New Z'ml.iik! Slnpp'.n^ Couipanv imnci! £12,700 14s 8.1 for mail, subsidy £7885, mid i!7'M romitted light due*, or a total of £21,581 14s Sd; the Hhnv, Snville, and Albion Company received £I.) 2s 8d for carriapp of mails jit one penny per lettor, and £1040 li«?ht dues remitted, or a total of £1089 2s Sd.