POLITICAL NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 39, 15 August 1905, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

A PETONE BILL.

There has of late been a good deal of trouble between the Wellington Woollen Company and the Petone Borough Council on the subject of waterworks rights. An agreement was entered into defining the nglrts of the Council and the-com-pany ; that- agreement, af t«F being signed,sealed, and executed, was questioned, as to whethei or not the Council had power to execute the work and enter into the contract mentioned therein. For the purpose of removing any doubt on thesubject a Bill has been prepared, called the Petone Corporation Waterworks Bill, which provides that the borough of .Petone Shall have power and authority to j execute the- works recited in the deed of agreement set out in the schedule, and to enter into the covenants contained in the agreement, which is to bind both parties. Mr. Chapman, on behalf of the WoolleD Company, Mr. Kirk, on behalf of the Borough " Council, with Mr. G. London, Mayor of Petone, and Mr. Wiliord, member for the district, waited on the Local Bills Committee this morning in reference to the Bill, which, it seems probable, will be favourably reported on by me committee and passed into Jaw this session. THE LEADER OP 'JIIE OPPOSITION. A memorial to the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. W. P. Massey) is now in course of signature (says 'the Nev Zealand Herald) in the Franklin electorate. His constituents, knowing how short a time •will elapse between the rising of Parliament and the election, and recognising liow necessary it is that he should have an opportunity of laying before the whole colony the views of his Party, fiave determined to give him as free- a hand as possible. His constituents are spontaneously offering to elect' him on the understanding that he shall deliver addresses at me principal places in the Franklin electorate only. It is, however, Mr. Masaey's intention immediately after the election* to visit and address all the districts he was unable to reich before. The Memorial is being largely and freely tho general opinion being that3lr. Slawsey's record, during the three Parliaments in .which. _he Jbas tat for Franklin entitle* him to th« absolute confidence of his constituents. - - • HAWKES-BAY SEATS. Mr. W. J. M'Grath, ttorekeepor, has definitely announced himself an a candidate for .the Xapier Feat against allcomers. Mr. M'Grath is ouo at the leading lights in Labour Union circles, and is understood to be standing in the Government interest. While in Hawkes Bay during the past ten days Mr. A. L. I). Fniscr, the 'present member for Napier, received nu•meroni overtures to contest the Hawkes 'Bay seat., "Mr. Eraser emphatically declined the request, and announced his intention of standing again for Napier. A very largely-attended meeting of the Old Wellington -Naval»' Association was held last night, Major Hislop in the chair, when various matters of interest to the members weie dealt with. The quesi tion of foirning a benefit fund was discussed, and referred to tho committee for a report. Tho sum of J35 was voted to the family of a deceased member. A statement laid before the meeting showed that the membership was increasing and that the funds were in a, healthy condition. '• Mrs. J. L. Kelly, who li.is been ill for jomo time, is nojv in v critical state.