POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10096, 23 July 1898, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

(By Telegraph.) 1 (from our special correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 22. THE FINANCIAL STATEMfcNT. Captain Russell, to-day, asked the Pre* mier to redeem his promise of a week ago, and inform the House when he intended to bring down the Financial Statement. He had promised to givetha information at the end of the week. The Premier said so much pressure was being brought to bear on him in regard to works that it was very dimcult to decide. He had not yet been able to gauge the wants and the possible revenue. He was now engaged in doing this. Apart from that, however, he expected to get some of their measures through the House, so that they could be sent on to the Legislative Council. He hoped to give the lion, member on answer next week. Captain Russell asked it the right hon. gentleman's financial schemes depended entirely upon the Public Works Estimates and the enquiriea made by the hon. members for moneys to be spent in their districts. He presumed if that were so, tha Public Works Estimates and th« Financial Statemant would appear simultaneously. The Premier gave an evasive reply, and Captain Russell pressed him to say whether the Statement and the Estimates would be brought down together. The Premier said the hon. member was not up in the tricks of finance. There were two things to be considered in the Statement. He would have to give the amount he was going to ask for, but how to divide it amongst members required time for consideration. The disposition was in the Public Works estimates. Captain Russell — Will the hon. gentleman say if he is going to bring them down simultaneously ? He can answer in one word, " Yes "or " No." The Premier—l think, sir, it would be laying down a most dangerous precedent. I have been taken by surprise, and must ask the hon. member to give mc time. Capt. Russell—J recognise the kindness of the Right Hon gentleman. He is unable to say " No."

FISHERIES* CONSERVATION,

The Fisheries Conservation Act has been amended by the Joint Acclimatisation Committee by the addition of a clause providing for the sale of trout or other acclimatised fish within a district upon written request of any registered acclimatisation society. Tho following clause has been added :— "No person shall be deemed to be the owner of water, aud no water shall be deemed to be the property of any private person, in any case where each water shall form part of the waters of any permanent stream, or water which is not wholly contained throughout its entire length or area within the lands of one owner, but nothing herein contained shall extend to authorise any person to commit a trespass." Mr Rigg in the Upper House is moving that anyone may fish in privaU streams, providing no damage is done.

THE PREMIER'S OPOSSUMS

On June 3rd, 1896, the sum of £21 15« was paid to the Southland Acclimatisation Society for opossums, and a further sum of £9 2s 6d on June 20th. In all seventythree opossums were procured and liberated in the West Coast Sounds. On February Bth, 1897, the sum of £10 was paid to the Superintendent of Public Reserves, Launceaton, and on March 10th a like sum to "sundry persons" for opossums. The number of opossums supplied was six. Since the date of the order, twenty-one more have been received, and a further ship* ment of forty-four is en route. A note signed by the Premier's private secretary is attached to this return. It runs :—" The money was advanced for preliminary expenses in connection with an order for 200 opossums, which was given by the Right? Hon. the Premier when in Tasmania."

TREATMENT OF PRISONERS.

..Mr Wason t6-day drew the attention of the Minister of Justice to a statement in the that a man had died in the cells of the look-up in Wellington from ootid, and that the jurors had made a recommendation that prisoners arrested should be provided with a mattress to lie upon. Mr Thompson said he hod no information on the subject beyond what he saw in the newspapers and, as a rule, he did not pay much attention to that. No doubt the Coroner would make a recommendation in the matter.