PARLIAMENTARY NOTES, [BY TELEGRAPH.-SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Friday Night's Proceedings.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2201, 17 August 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES, [BY TELEGRAPH.-SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Friday Night's Proceedings.

WYllinu rox, Saturday. Tr is almost superfluous to st»tte that last night's proceeding have been eagerly discaused i» the lobbies :uid all quarters today, and it is the general opinion that Major Atkinson has scored heavily over the division on tho Uepie»entation Bill, [t will undoubtedly consolidate his party fi»r next session, while the action of the Government in respect to the Bill is almost equally certain to cause dissention in the Ministerial ranks. The supporters of the measure are of opinion that the Opposition should not allow any othor business to proceed nevt session till the Representation Bill is either curried or lost, as otherwise Ministerialists will withhold to a man their co-operation or the security of their nupport. It was v«ry remarkable 1 ist night the manner in which the House rose to the important question, and although there was considerable reproach and contusion during the debate tho House for tho time beintf was certainly far removed from i the reproach of the " parish politics " style j (if legislation, which we hoar m much about i now-a-days. i

The Prorogation. The date of prorogation is not yet definitely fi\ed, but it it, expected to be Tuesday at the latest unless the Legislative Council should cause delay in sending down their Bills to the House.

Supplementary Estimates. Amount the Supplementary Estimate* aie the following ite.ni->:—A*»si«,tance and hiipphc^ to n.itne sufferer* by the Tarawera eiuption, £40); eAp'iuhture incurred in affording relief .in 1 -.w^Unee to the sufferer-, by the Tarawera disaster, £2000 ; gratuities to Mr Jo.se ph Me Rao and others, £150; companion »te allowance to Mis. Ha.ss.trd, £270 ; services of Sir William Fox as CouunUsioiter under the West Coast Settlement Act, £2000; clothing, etc., supplied to Samoan chiefs on their visit to Kew Zealand, £l<<7 12s .">d ; New Parliamentary Library, in brick, £10C0; compensation to Inspector Scully, nine years' sen ice, £2<S7.

Purchase of the Stark PropertyMonday. There was a most animated debate this afternoon on the Stark purchase at Auckland, and home very damaging speeches were made by various members of the committee, who enquired into the purchaso of this property, especially by Major Atkinson and Dr Newman. No result was arrived at, although the Piemier was repeatedly asked whether he would appoint a Royal Commission to further enquire into this precious transaction. Mr Balluuce to everybody's astonishment got up, and made a \igorous defence of tho whole business, but Major Atkinson delicately hinted that the Native MinUter knew nothing whatever of the >alue of the land if ho defended a purchase of which was distinctly shown by the evidence was about £7000 or £8000 more than it should have been paid for it by the Government. The Premier eventually said ho could not reply as to whether a commission would be appointed off hand, without consulting tho Cabinet. It was frequently stated dm ing the debate that it conspiracy has been enteied into by somebody by which tho Government were defrauded of about £8000 over the purchase. Mr Stark, the owner of the property, is at present in

England. The Prorogation. It is ->till uncertain whether the prorogation will take place on Monday or Tuesday. A large number of members intend going South by to-night's steamer.

The Special Powers and Contracts Bill. The Premier is greatly incensed at th<» Special Powers and Contracts Bill having been laid aside by tho \otes of the "Lords" whom he so lavishly cieated during hi« own term of office. Some of the newly-created councillors indeed have been showing altogether too much independence this session to please the Government. Tho Special Powers and Contracts Bui got into committee in tho Upper House to-day, but it i« already .sadly mutilated by that chamber.