POLITICAL NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 26, 31 July 1899, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The Financial Statement will be brought down to-morrow evening. An attempt will be made to commence the debato- on Friday evening, Lut it is more likely to open on the Tuesday following, BANQUET TO CAPTAIN RUSSELL. Some dozen members of tho Opposition left town to-day to tako pare in tho banquet <to be tendered to Captain Russell at Hastings this evening. A NEW ZEALAND TEAM FOR BISLKY. It is understood that a sum will bo placed on the Supplementary Estimates to bo devoted towards the cost of sonding a team of New Zealand marksmen to next year's shooting contests at Bisley. Major Sommorville, Avas in Wellington last, week in connection with the matter, and had several conferences with Colonel Penton, who has agreed to tako charge of lite proposal to send a team. lie intends to cnblo Homo at once for a do/.en of Eraser's marksanen's ritles, so that tho men belocted to represent tho colony may hims an opportunity of practising with them before leaving. The idea is to send twelve men, tho seven highest aggregates at the next meeting of the New Zealand RiHo Association to havo tho first right to form part of tho team. It is hoped that Lieut. -Col. Col Him will be able to accompany the team as manager. THE MARINE COMMISSION'S REPORT. Tho Commission of Enquiry into the irregularities iv tho Marino Department was, under the conditions sel forth in tho commission, to have presented its report by to-day. It is, however, not yet ready, and an extension of time for a .fortnight has therefore been granted. It is expected thnt tho report will bo presented to Parliament early noxt Meek. EARNINGS OF CO-OPERATIVE WORKERS. The reports of chief and road surveyors of thu Lands Department on tho working of tho co-operative system for the twelve months ended 31st March last show that the average earnings per day of eight hours in ditferent parts of the colony varied wry considerably. In Auek land North tho average daily earnings of tho men was 5s 10,1 a ; Auckland Central, 6s 2^d , Rotorua, 8s ; Hawkes Bay, 7s 9Jd ; Taranaki, 6b 6Jd ; Wanganui, 8s sid; Wellington, 7s 2Jd ; Marlborough, 7s 3Jd ; Nelson, 6s 3Jd ; Wcstland (the highest of all), 10s 24d ; Otagir, 6s s£d ; Southland, 6s lOd for road contracts and 5s 9Jd for improved farm settlements. SCARCITY OF GOOD CROWN LAND. In his annual report tho Commissioner of Crown Lands for tho Wellington ditrict states that for the future the Crown lands in this district suitable in character and quality, facility of access, position, and moderate elevation for ordinary settlement purposes are not extensive. The Crown still possesses in the Wellington laud distiict about 831,235 acres, but after making allowance to give effect to the forest conservation proposals tho Commissioner submitted for tho consideration of Ministers on tho 13th October last, tho balance will bt» found to embrace generally high, hilly, broken, forest, and scrub-clad country, in most instances remole from existing main lines of communication and centres of 'population. Moreover, theso Crown lands aro frequently isolated and shut in by Maori and other freehold properties, and tho existence of tho latter enhances tho difficulties and cost of opening such Crown lands foi' sale, yet they as a rule benefit vastly in the process, at the cost of the country.