PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 224, 27 September 1897, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(By Telegraph—Parliamentary Eeporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day. NATIVE SCHOOLS. The Natives Schools annual report states that the natives display growing interest in the education of their children. In 1890 the pupils on the roll increased to 2220 from 2084 in 1895. Fourteen boys holding industrial scholarships were apprenticed to trades. One Maori girl was at a high school with a scholarship, and two young men held scholarships of forty pounds a year to enable them to study at university colleges, Auckland and Christchurch. The demand for new schools is increasing. One is to be opened at Kuiti, Ring Country. LOANS TO LOCAL BODIES. A return of applications made by local bodies for loans under the Government Loans lo Local Bodies Act for the year ending March, 1897, contains the following items: County Councils: Waipa. £1500, share cost of erection of bridge over Waipa River at Ngarawahia, uncompleted. Road Boards : Arch Hill Road Board, £1800, waterworks ; Mangonui, £1500, for roads and bridges; Mauku, .--.100, for repairs to roads. Town Boards : Ngaruuwahia, £.500, provisionally granted for bridge over Waipa. Total loans granted io local bodies, £97,149; refunds, £2494. The total amount borrowed uo to the 31st March, 1897, was £1,054,100; total repaid to the Public Works Fund, £80,800; total amount advanced to tbe local bodies, £780,4115, FRIENDLY SOC!ETHOS. The twentieth annual report of the Registrar of Friendly Societies states that the total umber of registrations during 1890 was fifteen. The National (Mercury Bay) Lodge, ceased to exist during the year, and its registry was cancelled. The number of lodges whbse returns were tabulated for 189.") was 374, ad central bodies .'Jii ; total membership, 30,905. Funds: Sick and funeral funds, £ 522 ,*J 39; medical and management funds, £58,780. Assets: Investment at. interest, £429,025; value of land and buildings, £110,478; easb not bearing interest, £2.1,402; value of goods, £10.010: other assets, £1002. The Registrar comments at length on the financial position and prospects of tbe societies. He shows that the rate of sickness and mortality increases with old age, and the interest-earning power of money decreased of late years, which must be taken into ;:•_- ---count in fixing payments. General observation has not. supported the theory that the average sickness is lower in New Zealand than in England, as was formerly supposed. The experience of New Zealand societies recently valued shows a much more rapid rise iv the rate of sickness when the age of members passes fifty than appears in the statistics>of English societies. The payments for many years of inadequate contributions must leave the legacy of a deficiency long since contracted 1o others, who, though not responsible for the mistake, will have to bear the loss. PACIFIC ISLANDS. Mr F. J. Moss, British Resident at Raratonga, reports to His Excellency the Governor that the revenue for 1890 was £1128, with a balance of £493 from the previous year; expenditure, including £500 on hospital and school, £ 1441. Outstanding liabilities total £217.- leaving a surplus of £203. The imports were valued at £25,055, and exports at £20,720. English is taught in the three free public schools. The local Parliament was im pressed with the necessity of guarding- against wholesale alienation of land by the present native owners. lOven Raratonga has its "undesirable immigrants" trouble, and at the last meeting of tbe Native Parliament a law was passed prohibiting the landing of sick or insane persons without a guarantee that they wotdd not. become a public burden. The sum of £54 was paid in honoraria to members. Small sums were paid in aid of local councils. £50 to revenue collectors, ami the salary of the chief postmaster was only £15, while other high officials received equally small sums. The Acts passed by the local Parliament are a model of brevity. A codification of all existing laws was resolved upon. Out of a total of 97 vessels, of a total tonnage of 25,501 tons, 53 were British. Of 22,048 tons of exports New Zealand represented £17,153. NOVEL LIQUOR LAWS. Amongst the correspondence is a letter from the Premier in Wellington enclosing a communication from James W. Wilkie, stating that rum was being supplied wholesale to natives. Mr Moss replies that these statements were fabricated by a party in Raratonga, which has been indefatigable iv its efforts to create discontent. By law no native can obtain liquor without a special permit from his chief. The King, Maretu, and Queen, Makea, are provided with books of such permits, each permit having a counterfoil to show to whom it was issued. All liquor imported into the Cook Islands is deposited in a bond store in charge of the licensing officer, appointed and removable by Statue, who issues permits to purchase. Permit holders buy from whom they like, and the seller endorses in the permit authority for delivery from the bond. This experiment, which was substituted for total prohibition, has worked well, but under prohibition nineteen shanties openly sold liquor of a worse kind, though there were over 200 police wholly dependent for pay on fines inflicted for flu's and other breaches of the law. The old law was demoralising the community. OCEAN MAIL SERVICES. The correspondence laid on the table commences with a statement from the Postmaster-General of New South Wales intimating that his Government Jiad agreed to contribute £4,000 to 'the San Francisco mail service for the year ending October 31, .1897, and a communication from the SecretaryGeneral of the Post Office, London, that the Imperial Government will continue payments until expiration of the contract in November, 1897. The postal authorities of New Zealand having agreed to the substitution of the R.M.s. Zealandia for one round trip during* repairs to the Mariposa, the former reached San Francisco two daysf late, owing toiler not being docked arid cleaned.fThe PostmasterGeneral of this colony therefore imposed a penalty of £200, four pounds per hour for fifty hours. Spreckles Bros, protested against this on the ground that on other occasions the company's steamers had made uptime lost in waiting for the mails without getting any compensation. In reply Mr W. Gray, Secretary, stated that the Acting Postmaster-General had reconsidered the matter, but was unable to waive the penalty. Mr Whitson, general manager of the Union. Steamship Company, contended that

under Clause 11 of the contract 48 hours' grace is allowed before the penalty is incurred. To this, however, Mr Walker did. not see his way agree. In June, in reply to a letter from Mr T. Rose, Acting-Secretary of the Postal Department, Wellington, Mr Whitson, of the Union Company, stated that the United States Congress had voted an increase in the subsidy for tbe San Francisco mail service, aud two instalments had been paid to the Company. CANADIAN PACIFIC MAIL SERVICE. In the correspondence on this subject. Mr Huddart, writing from London on the 13th October last, inquired whether the provisional agreement made with Mr Ward in IS9s"has been submitted to the New Zealand Parliament, and states that the Company had taken the irrecoverable step of adding the Aorangi to their .fleet Writing from Sydney on the 14th November, 1890, Mr R. Grayson, representing Mr Huddart, submitted a time, table which allowed for performing the service, from AVellington equal to the average service of the San Francisco line,which is***..'} days from Auckland and 35 days from "Wellington. The Premier replied that without tbe authority of Parliament the Government would not allow New Zealand to be commit led in any way. In February, 1897, Mr Walker, writing to the Agent-General, states that consideration of tbe Vancouver service, was postponed from 1895 because the renewal of the 'Frisco mail service is to be considered this year, and it was deemed advisable to discuss both services together. On April 8 the Agent in reply to tbe. Premier states that the prospect of obtaining a subsidy from the Imperial Government to the Pacific mail service is doubtful. Mr .lames Huddart, writing from London on May 21 last to the Agent-General, slates that "in view of the immediate visit to London of Mr Seddon we have the honour to inform you, as managers for Huddart and C 0..1 hat our Board of Directors I has decider! to make Wellington the port of call in New Zealand. The Hoard has had some perplexity in reaching this decision,and it has been felt that, nothing but a test can solve the problem as lo which port in New Zealand will bring lo the steamship company the largest traffic in mails, passengers, and cargo. The Aorangi was to make the first trip, leaving Sydney on duly 19, arriving in Wellington on The 23rd, and sailing at noon on the 24th, calling at Suva, Honolulu, and Victoria (8.C.), arriving at Vancouver on the 14th August. The addition to the line of the Ao-rang-i had greatly increased the Company's expenditure, and they looked forward to subsidy or its equivalent, in mails carried. Mr Walker writes on July 15 merely acknowledging receipt of the previous communication. SWEFPS AND CONSUTATTONS. The Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill given notice of by Mr La wry is practically the same measure jas was introduced by him in the last Parliament. Mr Lawry holds the opinion that the money now sent across to Australia for sweeps and consultations should be kept in Ihe colony, and with that object his Pill provides for legalising them in .New Zealand. The sweeps be proposes are to be conducted under the supervision of the Government and a sufficient guarantee must be given for payment of tbe prizes. A license, fee of £25 is proposed to be charged for each sweep, and as a sop to probable opponents of the Bill these fees will go to swell charitable aid funds. This Bill will almost certainly meet with the fate of its predecessor. JOTTINGS. There are thirteen registered working men's clubs in New Zealand. A feature of the work of the Sur- i vey Departnient last year was the large area surveyed for mining purposes, namely 200.829 acres, in 2700 sections This is the largest mining area ever dealt with in the colony. Last year Ihe Lands Department constructed 517 miles of road intended for vehicle traffic, and 408 miles of road for horse traffic. The average wages earned on the co-operative contracts for road work and bush-felling last year were 6/A per day, the highest average being 10/0 _ and the lowest 4/8 per day. A series of guides for tourists is now in the printers' bands for publication. The Opposition will table a motion protesting against Mr Ward being sworn, and probably Mr Hutchison and a few of the Opposition and Left Wing will speak, but Opposition members as a whole are not in favour of pushing matters to extremes, which might look like persecution. A rumour that Messrs G. J. Smith, Montgomery, Pirani, Taylor, Kelly, and Joyce will not attend the Ministerial caucus to-morrow is denied. Season tickets for the Ladies' Gallery have been issued to lady correspondents. The Commandant of tbe Forces is preparing a scheme for re-organisa-tion of the volunteer forces. In the meantime no new corps will be accepted. It is said to be the intention of the Government to allow the use of the cyanide process on the goldfields, making a small charge on a sliding scale, based on the value of the ore treated. The Hon. Hall Jones promises to ask for an extension of the bonuses for exported canned fish over another three years. Some surprise was expressed at the non-arrival of Mr Ward by the Te Anau from the South yesterday. The explanation is that he has consented to deliver an address in Dunedin, under the auspices of the Workers Political League. LOAN RUMOURS. There is general belief amongst members that a loan proposal will be brought down later in the session, but Ministers are very reticent on the subject. Opposition members think Mr Seddon is merely awaiting pressure from representatives of constituencies which require expenditure on necessary objects such as light railways. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. I learn on authority that the Financial Statement will be delivered very early in the session, and that it will be of an exceedingly satisfactory character, showing considerable increase under most heads, and a nourishing condition of things generally. THE JENNINGS' ESTATE. The Hon. Jennings has received notification from the next-of-kin agents requesting him to forward full particulars of his parentage, etc., in connection with the great Jennings' estate in Chancery, in which an enormous sum is unclaimed. The money is*lying to the credit of descendants of a certain Jennings, who died in the last century.