PARLIAMENTARY.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1458, 17 October 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

AYfiLLINOTON, 11 Politically, things are dull and uninteresting. In the afternoon Mr Seel 100 a«.ked tlie Minister of Mines the following puest.ions : — 1. Whether the Government will have forms of application for rights, acquirable and enumerated under clause 22 of the regulations made under ■« The Mines Act, 1877," and the i*egulatioiis made under a*id i» conformity with " The Gold Mines District Act, 1873." left for distribution with the Postmasters at the several Po3t Offices iv each mining district. 2. Have instructions been given to Wardens' clerks to receive applica tions that may be forwarded through the post. 3. Have instructions been given to Wardens' clerks to sign the same, stating thereon thedateupon which such applications shall come on for hearing before the Warden aud then return same through post to applicants. 4. Have instructions been forwarded to the various Wardens that, if on ' ■' thi) •'day fixed .for tiie hearing of the' sakl applications, and there being no objections lodged, the Warden shall determine such application without requiring the presence ofthe applicant either personally or by agents, and that if the rights applied for be granted notification of the same be sent through the. post to the applicants. If, however, on public grounds, the Warden objects to grant the right applied for, then, in such

case, written notice of such objec- i tion, and the nature thereof, l shall be forwarded to the applic- 1 ants, and if their personal attendance is required by the Warden, they be accordingly so notified. ■ Mr Ballanee thanked the hon, meouber for the suggestions. A great saving of time of miners would be effected, and Government would, so far as practicable, carry out the several matters contained in the questions. A new party, said to consist of thirty-six members, has been foimed to oiler steady resistance touiy extravagant works. No resolutions will however, be hi ought forward. Amongst the petitions now before the iiou.se is one from Mr W. A. Hunt, of Auckland, praying foi' a reward of •£SOOO for the uis.overy ofthe Thames goldiields in 1867. i During tiie debute on the East and West Coa_t Railway Bill which h-id waxed warm, Mr \V. F. Bncklaud was in the midst of a strong denunciation of the Bill generally, when the attention of the House was withdrawn front the member for Franklin North by a rumbling noise very similar Lo tiie accents of a fog horn. Hon gentlemen looked at one another supioiously, and as the truth became -evident the legislative countenances expanded in won deruient and horror. Tlie mysterious sound was undoubtedly a snore of considerable power, and presently Mr Maeaudiew drew the attention of the speaker to the " unseemly noise," which was militating against the eloquence of Mr Bu Aland. Is subsequently appeared that a memboi* ofthe Legislative Council while listening to the debate in the gallery set ap..rt fo/ members of the body had succunioea to drowsiness. The hou. geuthviaii was duly awakened, aud tiie ousiness was proceeded with. The Auckland members are very wrath over the central route of the North Island Railway. Tiiey have just held a caucus and come to the conclusion to block it, and nlno the East and West coast line, the l-uter course to spite the South IsLi.-d mem- ; bers. ! In the debate on the Westport and i Greymoutii Harbor Bills. MrShi.'ims!»i, who opposed them strenuously, said there were 12 members of the Legislative Council who were, in tore .ten iv Westport Coal Compame? to the ■ xte'it of £49,375. and amongst them he instanced the following ii_me^ and the number of shares iield by cci : — HeMr Oliver, M.L.C., hei.UOOJs.'ui*..; Hon Mr Reynolds, M.L.C., 2oi ; Hoi Mr Campbell, M.L.C., 787; Hon A.'r Miller, M.L.C., 1475; Mr Gillies, M.H.R., 2535; and Mr L_,n„i:li t M.H.R., 1491; and large numbe/s were held by gentlemen who were represented by relations :/) the Hou^e. The shares are valued at £o each.