POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4660, 14 July 1886, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

I'fhosi oub special correspondent.—»t telegraph.]

■Wellington, Last night.

There was qniw a plethora of petitions from your district to-day. Mi , Locke presented no fewer than thirteen, and Mr Grace one. The latter was from Hugo Friedlander and Oliver Mason Creagh, alleging that in Commissioner Barton's report on native land transactions they, and their subagents, are charged with frauds said to have been committed upon the natives, which charges petitioners deny, and pray for a Parliamentary Committee to investigate the whole facts or the case. 'Ten of the petitions presented by Mr Locke set forth that the petitioners reside in a part of the colony which has not received any part of the public expenditure upon railways or urterial roads. That there exists no means of communication between the towns of Gisborue and Opotiki, whereby native lands are unoccupied, and settlers cannot get their produce to market except during summer, and then only at great risk and cost. They therefore pray for the construction of a light railway as far as the Mota Block_. some thirty miles distant from Gisborne. Number eleven of Mr Locke's budget is from Alfred Jarman, late chief draughtsman of the Survey Office, Napier, complaining that after twenty-one years service ho was arbitrarily dismissed from tho service without reason, while all the junior hauds wore retained, and two additional hands placed on the staff in Napier after his dismissal. He prays for a re-appointment or full compensation, claiming-£560, whereas he has only been granted £200 retiring allowance. The two last petitions are from tho Chairman of the Wairoa County Council and the Chairman and members of the Ormond Road Board, asking for the appointment of a Royal Commission to enquire into the management and working of railways. The Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill is engaging the attention of the House this evening. So far the clauses providing for school buildings being erected by local bodies has been the chief point of attack. There is considerable hostility to these provisions, and it is not at all unlikely that they may be struck out.

Mr Larnach this afternoon gave notice to introduce the Bill to provide for the reduction of tho gold duty on lines I gave you a few days ago. In consequence of this Mr Pyke asked to withdraw his motion on the question of privilege, and they wero discharged from the Order Paper. The Stock Drivers' Bill, an absurd measure, imposing vexatious restrictions upon the transit of stock, introduced in the Legislative Council, will meet with scant support at the hands of the Lower House. The Lords are not happy in their originations, which are usually regarded by commoners as somewhat abnormal developments. The district railways purchasing question is still the question of the hour, and a very warm debate is almost sure to ensue to> morrow night. There is still talk of the Government making tho matter a party question, but I doubt thid very much. There is evidently a strong desire on the part of a certain section of tho Opposition to drag Sir Julius Vcgel into a moss, and it is hinted that Sir Robert Stout will have to take up the cudgels in his defence, and by so doing make it a party question. This is as undesirable as improbable. This day. Mr Scobie McKenzio's motion to rescind the motion of last year's against the appoint - ment of medical men as coroners, was taken yesterday on the question of going into Committee of Supply, and, after a good debate, was only beaten by a majority of one, the figures being—For 35, Against 36. Last night the education clauses of the Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill was thrown out on the voices.

The estimates were taken subsequently, and votes for the Defence, Education, and Native Departments went through without alteration, and with almost unprecedented ease. There was a good deal of talk on tho Education vote, but the Defence and Native votes were scarcely opposed, except by Mr Bryce. The Midland Railway Bill was safely piloted through tho Council, only being subjected to verbal amendment. The Premier has promised that he will make a Ministerial statement on the Representation question this afternoon.

The debate on the report of the committee on district railways purchase is the first order of the day for this afternoon.