POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9229, 5 October 1895, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

[By Telegraph.J

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON, October 4, THE BANKS' AGREEMENT.

The agreement between the Banks is said to have beea arrived at, as between the several Boards of Directors, and may bo laid before Parliament at auy time. The position doe 3 not appear to have altered since 1 last dealt witn the subject, that is to say, it ia believed that the Directors "of the Bank of New Zealand have maintained their position, in declining to take over certain securities and business, and these the vendor Bank will require to liquidate in the usual way. In this connection I may meacion that Mr John Murray arrived here via Australia by the Hauroto yesterday, and that his unexpected appearance excited the interest of a good many persons, including those who recently criticised with so much freedom his part in the passage of the two million guarantee of last year.

THE ESTATES COMPANIES' PROPERTIES.

General satisfaction is expressed, especially by Northern members, at the announcement of the Minister for Lands, that it is the intention of the Government to purchase some of the properties of the Ei'.aU-a Company, which were suitable for the purposes of settlement. It appears, however, that nothing can well be done until after the close ot the session. The Assets Realisation Board will not be set up till then ; but as soon as the Board are constituted they will lo3e no time in setting to work to deal with the various estates. The greatest difficulty will probably be found iv deciding upon what they will do with the business concerns.

SUDDEN DEPARTURE OF THE PREMIER.

There wae quite a flutter and not a little indignation in the lobbies this evening, when it was learned that the Premier had, to quote the familiar phrase of Mr Rolleston, " secretly, silently, and surreptitiously departed" for Chrietchurch by the Manapouri. The reasons given for his departure are manifestlyjthese. He wishes, it is said, to see the Chriscchurch Exhibition, and also to assist at a christening ceremony in which a grandchild will play the leading part. Of course speculation is rife as to the real cause of this very unusual proceeding on the part of the Premier, and many reasons, ranging from the Banks' agreement to the Midland Railway, have been discussed and discarded. But the mystery remains unsolved. I think it is quite likely that Mr Seddon, fiaaiug himself run down fromoverwork.and unable to bring thesession to a close as early as ho had hoped, has simply turned his back upon Pirliamaat for a couple of days to take a much needed resc.

GOLD SAVING MACHINERY,

It now trauspires that the law officers have advised that the inclusion of goldsaving machinery in the schedule of exemptions under the Customs and Excise Bill can be effected by message from the Governor, without the necessity of an Amending iiill, so that the House will not have the opportunity of reviewing yet auother tariff.