POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10130, 1 September 1898, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

(BY TitLEGRAPH.) [FROM OCR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, August 31. LYTTELTON HARBOUR BOARD BILL. The Local Bills Committee recommend that the Lyttelton Harbour Board Land Act Amendment Bill br not allowed to proceed, as sevtiop 148 ot the Harbours Act. 1878, has not been complied with, as the description in the schedule is not complete, and as there appears to be considerable local opposition to the Bill. THE MUNICIPAL FRANCHISE BILL. The action of tne Legislative Council in amending the Municipal Franchise Reform Bill by inserting a clause providing for plural voting on loan questions will probaoly cause a warm discussion in the House. A large section of the Government party are not likely to agree tc tne Council's action in this respect without a struggle, especially as the amendment was only carried on the casting vote of the Speaker (Mr Miller). The decision of the Council would have been the other way had not one of the opponents of plural voting arrived too late to take part in the division.

THE MAP QUESTION. The Spenkei has recoA-ered from his indisposition, and will if all goes well take the chair when the House meets to-morroAV afternoon. One of his first official acts Avill priobably be to give his decision as to whether the Hon. J. M'Ken/.ie's map shall or shall not go into "Hansud." Tlk question, in view of what has transpired during the last few days, lias become a very delicate one, and Avhichever A.ay Sir Maurice O'Rorke may decide, it i- possible more Avill be heard of the matter. I have very good reason to believe that the Speakei Avill give instructions that tho nvip is not to be inserted. If he takes this bland he Avill certainly have the support of the country, and he would be supported by o very large majority of the House also if members Avere alloAved" to treat the question on its merits, "apart from private interests, prejudices, and partial affections," to use the Ayords ot vhe parliamentary prayer. Mr M'Kenzie, however, is not likely to submit quietly to an adverse decision". " He is not built that a. ay, and is even reported to lun-e said, "Unless the map goes in, I go out"—presumably out of the Ministry. I regret to say the minister of Lands has been very ill during the last two days, and has been confined to his room. MR MEREDITH AND THE ASHLEY ELECTORS. Mr Walter Gibson, a mcmbc_ of the Kaikoura settlers' deputation that Avaited on Mr Meredith with a petition asking him to resign, denies the assertion that some of the signatures are not genuine. "If such is his (Mr Meredith's; allegation," he Avrites, "I challenge him to publish in your columns any properly-certified evidence to that effect from any of the electors who signed the petition. If time had permitted the sending of the petition to the other parts of the elecLrale, from my knowledge of the conditions of life existing there, I venture to say that it would liave been signed by a great majority of the Liberal electors of Ashley, for in every home of tho working men and small settlers there are large numts>s of tine young Avomen and men who, from their training, would make the best of settlers, and yet are unable to obtain land on which to make homes for themselves. Notwithstanding a full knowledge of this deplorable social condition, the member foi Ashley, through servility to the Government now in power, has tamely permitted large areas of the waste land of the Crown to pass away for ever from the people of New Zealand into the hands of large land monopolists, and now serenely insults the intelligence of the Liberal electors of Ashley, who have dared to request him to surrender the great trust that he has betrayed."

JOTTINGS. The "New Zealand Times" is advocating thei establishment of a Board of Trade for this colony. "The main object of such a department," says the "Times," "would be the dollection and dissemination of reliable information. This work need not be confined to the colony. It would be useful for instance, to procure information regarding Eastern markets, the trade customs of these markets, and such other matters as are of keen interest to our people. Again, the trade figures of the colony, which ore now never given to the publio with any promptitude and which are only partially presented, would be the especial care of such a department--* While Mr Lewis was speaking on the Imprest Supply Bill last night, the Premier rose to a point of order, and drew attention to the fact that the hon. gentleman had bis hands in his pockets. Mr Lewis, however, , was ready with his retort. "Sir," he said, "since I came into this House I have always made a point of keeping my hands in my pockets. (Laughter.) As long as my hands are there, hon. members cannot get theirs in. (More laughter.) An hon. •membesr—They are better there than in ■omeone else's pockets. (Laughter.) Mr Seddon Inst night read a list of Sir Walter Buller's costs in the Horowhenua litigation. The total, he said, amounted to £6810, and there was a proviso that these moneys be secured under mortgage on HoroAvhenua, and that the mortgage held by Major Kemp, so that Sir W. Buller would not lose nis costs. It was, he said, ridiculous to say that the colony should pay this poor man's costs. Tlie Joint Statutes Revision Committee recommend that Mr Millar's Audit of Public Companies Accounts Bill be not further proceeded with, as the objects of the Bill, in so far as their accomplishment is practicable, aro met by the Companies Audit Act. 1894. The Railways Committee recommend*that L. G. Pratt, of Christchurch, be paid £200 for injuries received through falling into an excavation in the parcel office at the Christchurch railway station, while in the execution of his duty a. railway guard. The Railways Committee state that the construction of the raihray from Waicolo to OniAyia Flat, near Merrivale, is a matter of public policy, and they therefore recommend tliat the petition of W. Mouat and others regarding the same be referred to the Government. Mr LeAvis has given notice to ask the Minister of M .rine, Avhether his attention has been directed to the fact that tAvelvc bales of wool shipped on the steamship Otarama, at Timaru, on the 11th and 13th August, Avere found to be in a badly heated condition on that steamer's arrival"in'Lyttelton! whether the Collectors of Customs have power to detain any cargo found to hem a heated and dangerous condition: and. if not, whether the Government will amend the Shipping Act in the direction of giving all Collectors of Customs such poA**er ? In regard to the Winding-up of Companies Hill, it is likely that the Joint Sliilut-8 Revision Committee will recommend that it apply only to companies AA-ound up by order of the Court, and not to companies to bo voluntarily wound up by the shareholders. According to a return laid on the table, there .re no members of the native race .m ploy id as teachers in the public schools. In native schools under the Department no pure Maori is employed as a teacher, but then, are tAA-o half-castes in charge of schools, three half-caste assistants, and two assistants b. t-iveen European and half-caste. In boarding schools receiving Government subsidy, theio are tAro half-caste pupil teachers, one Maori assistant, one halfcaste assistant, and one half-caste head teacher.