PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 29 July 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

♦ (Correspondent Chris-church Press ) Wellington, July 19Mr Oimond's no»confidence motion rather took the House by surprise. He said nothing very new in his speech, which was a long one ; but in discussing the local government operation, be showed a decided preference for Road Boards as against Coun'y Councils. It is said that a good majority will follow him into the lobby on bis amendment that the Government proposals are unsatisfactory, (hough many who may do so do not believe in his ideas regarding Provincialim. The debate is likely to last some days, and it is not likely that much business will be done till it is settled one way or the other. Tbe Premier, replying fo the Otago Central Railway deputation to-day, said that Government had no funds available for the construction of that or any railway in the colony, but a Bill was in course of preparation by wbich great advantages would be offered to capitalists or companies' Willing to undertake ~the construction of railway.". Tin's would afford large facilities to persons sufficiently interested in the work to carry it on. He ins'anced the rase of Welling* ton, where £50,000 had been subscribed j towards such an enterprise, on the strength of the promised Bill. In reply to a question by Mr Pyke, the Premier said it was proposed to give land to tbe value of 25 or 30 per cent, of the con strnction of cost, the land to be along tbe line of route, and in alternate blocks, the intermediate ones to be retained by the Government for the public benefit. It wonld also be proposed to hand over to snob persons or company, under suitable guarantees, all work already done. Power wonld be reserved to the Government to resume possession at any time on payment of adequate compensation. Mr Pyke has introduced a Bill to amend tbe Education Act. Tbe preamble I sets for tbat it is desirable to extend the i benefits of the Education Act to elemen- | tary schools maintained by private bodies or individuals, and it provides as follows: — ' Every school which is conducted in accordance with the provisions of Tbe Education Act, 1877, and tbe regulations framed thereunder in respect of tbe qualification of teachers, course of in** struction, attendance at school, snd in* spection by an Inspector of tbe Board of Education shall be deemed a public school within tbe meaning of tbe said Act. No grant shall be made under tbis Act to any school in respect of any instruction in religious subjects, nor shall it be required that the school shall be in connection with a religious denomination, or tbat religious instruction shall be given in the school. Every such school shall be entitled to receive the same capitation allowance as is granted to publio schools established under the said Act, provided that no suoh sohool shall be entitled to a sbare in such funds unless the average number of pupils attending the same be twenty-five or more." Mr Pyke's Miners' Rights Fees duction Bill provides that from and after the Ist day of January, 1882, the sum which shall be paid for a miner's right shall be ten shillings instead of £1, as at present. Mr Finn has given notice to move that the House resolve itself info committee to consider an address to the Governor praying that he will cause £50,000 to be plaoed on tbe supplementary estimates for the purpose of encouraging goldnmining industries within New Zealand. Mr Reeves, in asking if the Ministry intended disposing of the Government House at Hokitika, stated that the furniture had been maeh abused, and although worth £1500 some years ago, would not now bring £300. The Ministry stated that it was not intended to sell the building, but that inquiries would be made into the matter of furniture. The Marine Department have received the following telegram from Captain Fairchild :— " There is no mistake about the volcano reported by Captain Anderson near Channel Island, off Cape Cob ville. We found it without any trouble. The water is boiling up like a spring for the space of about 100 feet. Channel Island bears N. by W. tbree»qnarters of a mile. The water is muddy and yellow. The yellow water drifts away with the tide, and is in shape very much like the tail of a comet. There is no change in the soundings. The least water we found was 24 fathoms, so that navigators need not be afraid to go on their usual tracks when passing there. I took the Stella on the spot and dropped the lead into the centre of the boil, and then found 24 fathoms. I left the lead down as long as 1 could to see if it would come up hot. but it came up quite cold", and brought up, broken shells.* '