IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2433, 14 February 1888, Page 2

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

|By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] London, February 9. Parliament was opened to-day. The forecast of the Queen's Speech proved to be accurate. Reference was also made to the Naval commission, thd protection of life and property, and the New Hebrides. Mr Parnell g;ive notice of a Bill to Amend the Irish Land Act. Mr Osborne Morgan gave notice of a Bill to legalise certain colonial marriages. Mr Russell gave notice of an amendinent to the Address-in-Reply, asking tin' •in inquiiy into the t-ioverument inter icrence with the Trafalgar-square meet meeting. The Address-in Reply has bceu adopted in the House of Lords. Mr Gladstone, in the debate ill the Housc of Commons, on the Address inReply, spoke with studied moderation, tie pronnstd to expediic business, ami deprecated party rivalry in foreign policy. He was indispose! to renew the constant agitation of last session. Mr Parnell moved an amendment which attacked the administration of the Crimes Act. Mr Parnell's Bill reduce-' judicial ten aiicies to seven years. Lo.nd >N, February 10. Mr Gladstone, speaking in the iiiu« of Commons, said lie regarded the refer ences made in tile Queen's Speech to Ireland as a diatiuct challenge The Home Rulers denied that there had been any diminution of crime, and he invited the Government to produce proofs. He regretted ill.it the Speech contained 110 intimation that local government w'ould be -rained to Ireland. Mr \V. il Smith, in reply to Mr Gladstone, stated that he would supply the House with ample proofs of the decreascuf crime m Ireland, and furtiier remarked that the Government were prepared to extend equal local Government privileges to Ireland when the Irish people showed that they were reconciled to thw law. The i)on. A. .J. Ualfour, Secretary for Ireland, said that there was a notable decrease of boycotting in counties Kerry and Clare, where the National League has been suppressed.