PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 234, 2 October 1900, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(By Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter.);

WELLINGTON, this day. ,

THE COOK GEOUP.

Among the papers laid before' the House by the Premier last night was the estimated revenue and expenditure of the Cook Islands for the present year, and in forwarding it the British Resident (Lieutenant-Colonel Gudgeon) states that he confidently, expects a substantial surplus at the end of the present fiscal year. The revenue for the" year is estimated at £34SG 18/, made up as follows: Surplus from year ending 3,oth June, 1900, £976 18/. By customs duties, £1500; post office, £300; shipping fees, £20; trade licenses, £200; liquor dues, £200; High Court fees and fines, £70; Arikis Courts, £180; rents, £ 40.

The schedule of salaries affords interesting reading. The medical officer receives £250, and the treasurer, who is also paymaster, secretary and interpreter, is paid £ 155, while two collectors of customs, with other offices (one of them at Aitutaki) receive £150 and £100 respectively. For the High Court Judges, registrar'and travelling, the sum of £ 140 is set down, and £18 is sufficient to cover the cost of the passages of members, whose total honorarium amounts to £72. The postmasters at four of 4 the islands receive salaries ranging from £2 to £6. The auditor is paid £15; and the expenses of Parliament amount to £20. The Judges of .the Arikis Courts are paid salaries rangiug from £3 to £40, and the policing of the various islands costs from £1 at Mitiaro to £20 at Earotonga.

HOESES SHIPPED TO SOUTH' j

AFRICA,

A return of the. horses pixrchased by the Government for shipment to South Africa shows that a total of 1701 were bought from October, 189,9, to June 16th, the date of the sailing of the Ormazan. CYCLE BOARDS BILL. Mr Fowlds- intends to persevere in an attempt to secure the passing of the Cycle Boards Bill in the Legislative Council with a view to its being sent down to the House. GUBERNATORIAL DINNER. Messrs J. H. Witheford, R. Thompson and J. McGowan had the honour of dining with the Governor on.-Sat-urday. : ■ . . . ■ ■' ' ■, GAMING AMENDMENT BILL. .Considerable difficulty has been, experienced by the Canterbury Jockey piub and other trustees of racecourses in getting tote layers and other pbjectibpab'le characters removed. from^xß-; serves under their control. The object of the Gaming' Act Amendment Bill ia to give',.clubs power to remove any person ai;d to invoke the aid of the " police if necessary. Another clause^ will give thf-Colonial Secretary poweit to increase.the cnniber of permits. :