POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 33, 8 August 1898, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES.

PAHIATUA HUSH FIRKS. Mr. Pirani stated in the House on Friday that he had been informed that some of the sottlers who had been relieved by the Government with grass-seed on easy terms, on the ground that they were sufferers by bu«*h fires and unable to help themselves, had actually sown the seed 011 new burns in some cases, and in others Hie idea of financial assistance being requisite was .scouted as chimerical. Tho Minister said every precaution had been taken to guard against what had been suggested, but he was quite willing to make enquiries into the allegations made. SOMES ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE. The reporj. of the Marine Department slates thai the Wellington Harbour Hoard has agreed to contribute the sum of £8(J0 towards the cost of improving the light at Somes Island, and the necessary apparatus ior a second-order light has been ordered from England. A new lantern will not be required, as that which \\as formerly at Farewell Spit will be used with the new apparatus. A brick tower will be erected near the present wooden tower, as the latter will not be suitable for the new light. SHIPPING CASUALTIES. The shipping casualties on the coasts of the colony last year numbered 48, representing 20,357 tons, as against 60, representing 22,058 tons in the previous year. The number of total wrecks within the colony, including a sailing vessel which foundered after collision, was 6, of 3302 tons, as against 9, of 1450 tons, in the previous year The number of lives lost was 28, as against 15 in 1896-7. Of these 27 were on or near the coasts of the colony — viz., 12 from the Zuleika, 13 from the s.s. Tasmania, and one each from the Clematis and Maud Graham. SHIPPING MASTERS. The following is an extract from the annual report of the Marine Department :— The question of tho appointment of master mariners as Shipping Masters at the four principal ports has been carefully considered, but as it would appear that the advantage that would be gained by such appointments would not justify the expenditure that they would necessitate, it has been decided to continue the present system, under which the Collectors of Customs perform the duties. JOTTINGS. One of> the new Legislative Councillors was to be seen during the early part of Friday's sitting sucking at a short briar pipe in the Chamber. Suddenly the enormity of his solecism dawned upon the lion, member, and the offending pipe was surreptitiously smuggled into his pocket. The Minister of Lands informed the House on Friday that he was in favour of a Fair Rent Bill to cover all tenants in the colony ; but he was afraid that he could not get such a Bill through the present House. In repty to a message from the Council, it was stated that no evidence on the Wages Protection Bill was taken by tiie Labour Bills Committee of the House last session.