POLITICAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 223, 21 September 1898, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Tuesday

I understand that the Hon. Lee Smith, at the instance of several shareholders of the Colonial Bank, is considering- the advisability of moving for a committee to inquire into the liquidation of that institution. Several members are inquiring" as to the intentions of the Government with respect to the settlement of old soldiers' claims. Mr Hunter wants the Minister of Hallways, like the Union Steamship Co., to grant teachers return tickets at the rate of a fare and a. quarter during1 the recognised school holidays. In vieAv of the smallness of the weekly contributions now being paid out of the Branner Mine Accident Fund Mr Guinness is pressing the Premier to take steps to urge on the Public Trustee and Advisory Board the advisability of increasing the contributions paid to widows and children of the deceased miners. During the discussion on the Estimates last night Mr J. Allen, M.H.R. for Bruce, who has just returned from a prolonged European tour, entered the Chamber and was welcomed with a coixlial cheer. The Premier promptly walked over to the Opposition benches and entered into a conversation with the hem. member, and Mr Carroll, Captain Russell and others joined in their congratulations to the member for Bruce. GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING. During the year ending March 31 last-, a sum of £7897 was paid for Government advertising. The .newspapers drawing the largest amounts were:— N.Z. Times, £611; Evening Post, £425; Ota go Daily Times, £-100; X.Z. Herald, £385; Lyttelton "Times, £35-!: Christchureh Press, £309; Auckland Star, £274; Dunedin Star, .£l9O. Of £10,112 paid for Government printing £7110 went to the Government, printing oilice on account of the Railway Department. PETITIONS. The following petitions were presented to-day: —Prom .Maria Smith, by Mr Pirani, claiming £3000 from the Government; from the ratepayers of Arapohue, Auckland district, by Mill. Thompson, praying" for a grant towards the main road.

The Petitions Committee report as follows: —On the petition of Mr R. J. Felfctis, Auckland, that as the claim has been considered under the Naval and .Military Land Claims Settlement Act there, is no recommendation to make; on petition of Mr W. .fas. Casley, Freeman's Bay. Auckland. R. Guthrie, Thames, Elizabeth Clout. Howe-street, Auckland, and Chns. Andrews, Aratapu, Northern Wairoa, to the same effect.