PARLIAMENTARY.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1562, 17 June 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, June 12. The House met at the usual hour this afternoon. Several l>ills were introduced and read a first time. Committees were also appointed. The Address-in-Reply was adjourned until Tuesday next at the request of tlm hon. member for Waitotora and other members, owing to the absence of so many members. Messrs Macaudrew and Wakefield objected to absentees being considered in the question, because it was delaying the business of the country unnecessarily, and it was the duty of members to be in their places at the proper time. The Premier expressed a similar opinion and stated the Government were quite prepared to go on with the business, bnt under the cucunistances were willing to grant the request. Messrs Bevan and O'Connor ai'e the only West Coast members in Wellington up to the present. The Locomotive Superintendent at Addington was instructed on 2nd June to forward the necessary waggons to Hokitika for the use of the contractor iv the construction of the Hokitika and Grey Railway. Mr Sheehan, M. H. R., died at Napier this evening. , Macandrew presented a petition signed by 600 residents of Port Chalmers against female employment in public house bars. Macandrew gave notice to moxe for this session, that the Honse meet at 10.30 a.m. and rise at 5.30 p.m. Grey gave notice to move an address to the Cirown, congratulatory upon the action of New South Wales sanding troops ; and to assure Her Majesty that Ne.w Zealand was willing to assist at any time of need. Ballancc gave notice to introduce a Land Act, 1885 ; Native Lands Dispositiou Act, and N itive Lands Consolidation Act ; which were read a first time. Sir J. Yogel introduced a Bill to amend the laws re tire and marine insurance companies and foreign companies ; a Bill releasing ariaugemen ts of fisheries; establishment of state forests; and investors protection. Grey introduced a Bill to abolish plural voting for members of the house; a Bill relating to Dhe admission of persons to practice at courts of law ; and a Bill to provide for facilities for the enforcement of judgments recovered iv courts of inferior jurisdicdiction. The House adjourned till Tuesday. Wellington, June 13. Should Sheehan's relations desire the as. Hinemoa will be dispatched to Napier to convey the body to Auckland. General regret is expressed thronghout the city. All sides of politics equally deplore the loss sustained by the colony. The, Government, members of both Houses, and their friends, had a cruise round the harbor this afternoon and visited the fortifications, which are now in an advanced stage. There is likely to be considerable opposition to Colonel Whitmore's appointment as commander of the forces. It is looked upon as an attempt to over-ride the Disqualification Act. ' A special bill will Ihs necessary. Whit- j more's well-known pluck and bravery I may help to carry the bill through. j A conflict is expected between Grey j and Ballance over the appointmeut of j a select committee to look into all j bills aud petitions affecting waste lands. Grey for many years Las taken up the position that the House should deal with all such matters. The Committee will be moved for on Tuesday. Owing to Lady Fox's state of health preventing Sir William Fox from coming back to the colony, the Westoe property has been sold for £15,000 to a publican at Bangitikei named Dalziell. It is a enrious coincidence that Fox and Sheehan, such great) opponents for many years, should pass at the same time from the political horizon. The Ministry showed an undue haste in trying to rush through the Address in Reply, and the .f«>e#hg against it was bo strong that an adjournment was consented to. Neither Atkinson, Ormond, nor Rolleston has yet arrived ; and the only West Coast member I have seen is O'Conor. Next week caucussing will commence when strange developments may happen. Booth publicly declared in the Theatre Royal to night that he had advanced Wakefield, who occupied the chair, to the position of standardbearer in the Legislature on local option and temperance sentiments. Since Waketield joined the Press the circulation of the paper has trebled, but the advertisements have not come in like proportion.