POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 76, 27 September 1898, Page 6

POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES.

THE UREWEBA NATIVES. Yesterday afternoon the Premier was waited upon hy a deputation of Urewera natives, who asked that Commissioners under the Urewera District Native Reserve Act should be appointed at as early a date as possible. They also requested that for the . future native meetings iv connection with the Act should be slopped. The last of these meetings was said to have cost £180, and it was alleged that at one guns bad been taken up, while at another there had been actual bloodshed. The deputation further asked for a policeman to be stationed at Ruatoki, and for telegraph and money order offices to be established there. Railway connection with Gisborne was also referred to. The Premier replied that the request as to Commissioners would be gladly granted. The delay had been caused by Judge Butler being busy about the'Horowhenua Block. The Commissioners would be sent without fail before the end of the year. He (the Premier) would inform the Tuhois that Jitus and native meetings would be forbidden. The Minister for Justice should be consulted about the appointment of a policeman at Ruatoki, and he would see himself as Postmaster - General about the establishment of telegraph aud money order offices there. The new Governor would shortly visit the Urewera Country. At the close of the interview oue of the chiefs presented the Premier with a pakerangi mat. The Premier, in acknowledging the gift, drew a comparison between the present state of the Urewera Country and what it was six years ago. THE LEFT WING. The Left Wing, though a small Party numerically, is evidently determined to make itself recognised as a distinct Party in the House. Last evening, when the Premier and Captain Russell had explained their positions and the positions ol" their respective Parties iv connection with Saturday's stonewall on the Old Age Pensions Bill, Mr. Pirani also rose to speak. The Chairman of Committees wished to rule him out of order, remarking ,that it was merely extending the usual courtesy to the leaders of the two Parties in the House, by allowing them to make the personal explanations jusb heard when another matter was before the chair. Mr. Pirani, however, insisted that his Party (the Left Wing) had been misrepresented in the matter, and he claimed the right to speak, and had the right conceded. THE OLD AGE PENSIONS BILL. This Bill appears at the head of the Order Paper again to-day, and will have precedence of all Government business until it is finally disposed of. THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. It was stated after the Government caucus yesterday that the Public Works Statement was coming down last evening. This proved not to be practicable. It is now promised to come down to-night, though probabty not until a late hour. THE BIVAL ROUTES. A proposal is afoot to hold a public meeting at Marlon on Saturday evening in support of the Central route for the North Island Main Trunk Raihvaj'. Messrs. J. Duthie, J. Hutcheson, F. Pirani, and other members will probabty address the meeting. Wellington's magisteate. In the House tins afternoon Mr. Tanner gave notice of asking whether the Government had received any complaint as to the inefficient control of Court business by Mr. Kenny, S.M., at Wellington, and if so, whether such representations would receive early consideration.