NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 269, 6 August 1908, Page 9

NEWS AND NOTES.

Mr. J. S. Maclaurln, D.Sc.,F.C.S., Dominion Analyst, states in his annual report that, tho work of the Laboratoj-y during the year ended December 31, 1907, has largely increased, 1325 samples having been received, as against 1135 during tho preceding Tear. Tho samples aro classified as'followCoals and carbonaceous minerals 111, sands and clays 75, rocks, minerals and ores 364, special examinations for silver and gold

465, waters 75, manures' 36, examinations for Customs Department 27, miscellaneous 240, total 1402.

Fourteen petitions wero pi'esonted yesterday including 12 by Mr. Parata and two by Mr. Herries, from .Maoris praying that tho Maori peoplo bo given the entire right to oontrol ana administer thoir surplus lands, as in tlio oaso of Europeans. Two Hawko's Bay petitions from the AiitiAsiatio Leaguo wero presented yesterday. They ask tnat tho poll-tax on Chinoso bo raised to £500, of which £100 should bo placed to the credit of tho Dominion revenue and tho'balance spent in deporting Chinoso >from New Zealand; each Chinaman to bo paid £100 on leaviilg; arid four to' bo sent out for erery ono that comes in. A misprint which has occasioned a certain amount of. porplexity amongst school teachors occurred in tho printing of tho Education Act Amendment Bill. In-tho. second schedule, column six,' only ono additional assistant is. shown to bo provided 'for in grade 6A. This should read two assistants, and tho salary column in this grado (blank in tho Bill) should read 1A for . tho additional assistant. . Tho House lingered long 'and laughingly last evening over Mr/ 'Ell's Towi District Amendment Bill. To some of its provisions tho. Opposition t00k... strong l exception, and members of tho Government , joined in tho discussion ' A now machinery clause was proposed by the Proniier, "niid" after slow and -meaningless discussion, Mr.' : Tanner asked what the new section*was/dU qhoiit. "I.have seen Bills put through tliis : House .under varying circumstances," ho'said,' 11 arid I have seldom seen things going 'on as- they are tonight.. I aim not' a : bettirig man, ; 'but I. am prepared to stake half my'-estator-(latightor) —that not half tho members in tho Houso know what thoy. are. doing now!" (Loud laughter.) ,Mr. Tan'ner'suggested th'e proceedings • W6K> akin-;.to;,a:-:Puneh„rand r 'Judy: show. Whereupon; morot- laughter.: shoolc .the Assembly, and rose to have the-remark recalled.-• •Tho! .Chairman was. unable to see-concealed contempt in Jlr. Tanner's reference,, and - .proceeded,tori".put" the clause. ' Up jumped serious -and Aery, -who declared the clause was; lucid, and further said Mr.-Tanner was holding him.up to the ridicule of the House. ■•-'!.Oome;.kiss and bo friends,": said Mr. Wilfordj- and rthe Houso laughed and fias?ed on agaiii; to. business.. • Mr. Massey-said yesterday that sorghum and •millet stwds wero being - madb much; clearer by. the duties now'-collected on-'them, blithe believed -tho' tariff -was being-interpreted in a-way-never meant by tho Legislature. Parliament had'not intended; to .putsa "duty on sorghum, and the Commissioner of Customs should revjse his decision in'the matter. -S '