Political Notes.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5891, 24 July 1890, Page 2

Political Notes.

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Wellington, Last night.

NATIVE LAXD TnjLNSAOTIOJJS.

A statement was made in the House ting afternoon by the Native Minister in reply to a question asked by Mr Sydney Taiwbanga as regards certain land transactions with the natives at Poverty Bay. Mr Mitchelson said he could not inform the House in what year the native owners of tho Pakawhai, Maraetaha, and other blocks of land at Poverty Bay wero induced to dispose of their interests in those blocks of land to Messrs Rees and Wi Pere, but it was understood from the natives that they were induced to pa.rt with, their land without any monetary consideration or promise of shares in the proposed company. Healso understood that a portion of the lan<i had to bo sold to "Kr Woodbine Johnson for£3ooo, and that Messrs Wi Pere and Rees,. as trustees for the natives, were to receivesis per cent, interest upon the amount, asthe natives themselves had received neither principal nor interest, The Native Minister added that he had received a telegram from Mr Kees stating he was anxious for the appointment of a committee- to enquiro and report as to how tho money in question was expended. It seemed that the natives' had probably parted with the whole of their interest in these lands, and he (the Minister) did not know in what way the Government could assist them. LOCAI. UJDUSTBIES. A select committee has been appointed to consider all matters pertaining , to the development of dairy produce, wine pro- ■ duoing, and the flax industries, with power to call for persons and papers. The committee consists of Messrs Mackenzie, Valen» tine, Dodson, Marchant. Walker, Wilson, Withy, Beetham, Hon. G. F. Eichardson, and Major Steward. The Government, as a first step in this direction, have given to Mr Reynolds, of the Waikato, who is now on his way to London, a lotter of introduction to the Agent-General, with a view of enabling him to make enquiry on dairyingand questions for the benefit of this colony. Mr Koynolda will also visit Denmark to see the dairy factories at work there. The committee appointed will take into consideration the desirability of granting a bonus for tho introduction of an improved method of dressing flax, and the beat method of giving such encouragement. Xii.HH) QUANTS. There seems to have been some doubt whether the widows or children of persona who earned land grants for military service*, are entitled to the same grants as have fallen to the military settlers themselves had they survived, and Mr R. H. Beeres • asked the Government to-day whether they were prepared to legislate on the subject. Tho Defence Minister said it had been ' held that the preamble of the Naval and Military Settlers Bill, gave full power to the Waste Lands Commissioners to make recommendations in favor of widows and children, and any snoh proposal would ba duly put before the House. MAORI I.EPKB&. Ministers cannot see any necessity for bringing in a Bill to deal with the isolation of Maori lepers as suggested by Mr Seddon ; in fact, the Minister for Education says the diaoase is much less serious the natives than it used to be, for in tho old days it was very general throughout the native settlements, especially in tho Lakedistricts. At tho present time it is only to be found in one or two places, and that in a much milder form. If only tho Maoris iathe p'.nces affected wero more attentive- to> sanitation, the leprosy could easily l)a stamped out. I'ABLIASIENTABY LIBHABIAN. It is understood that the appointment of librarian is likely to bo conferred on Mr j Treprear, of Wellington, who stood second on tho poll when the late librarian, Mr Collier, was appointed. Mr Tregear is the author of tho Aryan Maori, is said to bo a good Maori soholar, and is ensraged at present with a vocabulary of the Polynesian languages. Several members argue that it is unnecessary to make the appointment at till, matters having gono on all right under the acting librarian (Mr James) during the past year. LETTKU POSTAGE BATES. It was EUggested to the PostmasterGeneral yesterday by Mr E. H. Keevos thnt tho rates of postage for letters addressed to places within the colony outsido of tho towns where they art) posted should be reduced to 2d for those under loz., with an added penny for every |oz. or fraction thereof. Tho Postmaster-General said if this weredone tho annual loss of revenue would be £5107, whereas the concession would only benefit business people, seeing that privateletters rarely exceed the Wi , for which 2d ia now charged. The Government could not, therefore, see their way to niake the alteration at present. Mr Reeves notified that ho would movo in the direction lie had indicated when in commit tec on the Pest Office Acts Amendment. Bill.