JOTTINGS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8928, 19 October 1894, Page 5

JOTTINGS.

The amended taxation on jßanka a ? proposed by the Land and Income Assessment Acts Amendment Bill will yield from £6300 to £6500 against £.650 under the present system.

The Public Petitions Committee of the Council having reconsidered the petition of Major Chas. Brown and taken the evidence of MessiS Seddon, Miteholeon, and Mantel! thereon, report that the petitioner is eu-i-i.led to have his case by the Chief Judge of the Native Laud Court, and tbey recummend that the Government should take the necessary step- for this purpose. Mr Mantelt has given notice that a report of the evidence in this case, be printed in the Council. People in the North appear to cruise about the coast looking for whales and blowing them. up with dynamite., This destructive practice is to be prohibited by an amendment, inserted in the Sea Fisheries Bill last night. •

Sir Robert Stout, ever on the watch in -the cause of higher education, to-day asked What, if any, steps had been taken to appoint a Council for the Middle District (Wellington) University College, aad in doing ;so pointed out that the Act just passed provided that such election shall be by both Houses of Parliament.. It was -in no. seifse a Cabinet question, and he hoped the Minister for Education would do what was -necessary to bring about the eleotion before. the rising of Parliament. Mr Reeves said, in reply, that he would have the necessary regulations drafted as quickly as possible, but it would first be neoessary for him to confer with the Cabinet and the Crown Law Officers, Evidently no University Council for Wei* lington this year. During the discussion that followed today upon a motion of adjournment, among other subjects the wrongs of the old soldie.B who claimed to have served New Zealand and earned their reward were voiced by Dr. Newman in the language of warm and generous indignation.' He reminded Ministers of their broken promises of last session, when, among other things, there was a"distinct assure.—— that Mr Cadman would examine, and as far as. possible 'determine, the .merits of the claims. There were, in all, nearly 2000 claimants, and making the most liberal discount for claims that could _ot be sustained there must remain hundreds of men who had rendered unquestioned service to the country in a time of peril. The conduct of the Government was most discreditable. : * ■*-*'-'

A comparative statement of the extent of settlement during, the first three years of the present Government and the last three years of the late Government shows the total number of selectors under all systems, for the three Yeats ending March, 1891, was 6912; and for the three years ending March, number was 7206. If the pastoral runs are excluded, the' number for the first-named period is 6307 and the second 0986. The area of Und taken up under all systems for the first period was 8,520,782 acres and for the second 4,244,439. If pastoral runs, are excluded, tbe acreages are —First period, 1,422,098 acres ; second, 1-741,837 aores.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON, October 13. The Native Affairs Committee recommend that Mr J. D. Campbell, solicitor, be heard at the bar of the House on behalf of three Natives who dissent to the purchase of the Lattls Barrier Island by the Government for acclimatisation purposes. ' The report is not likely to be given effect to by the House. The Hon. Mr Jenkinson in addressing the railway servants at Palmerston North betrayed views singularly at variance with those which he waa known to hold formerly. He told the meeting that after his. experience with the Upper House his opinion had quite altered, and_ he now looked upon it as a necessary body and a useful chesk on batty legislation. Mr Guinness this morning received a telegram from Greymouth * to_ the effect that -there is general constenlatio n~—l ere 7 at the Midland Railway proposals being- thrown I cut, and the Grey ~ Borough. Council has passed the following resolution—**_hat thjs Council deeply regrets the action of the House in throwing but the Midland Railway j Bill, "as the passage of the same-would "have provided employment for a large numberTof j men now out of work, and throw open large -tracts of —_ds for settlement-, -and farther deplore that the Government did not make it a policy Bill and thereby ensure its ; passage through Parliament.""' j