POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 7226, 31 May 1887, Page 3

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

.WELLINGTON, May 30.

The Education Report.

From the appendix to the tenth report on education, I learn that at the end of 1886 there were 2,124 children between the ages of five and seven years attending the State schools, and that there were 13,000 children who had passed the fourth sta.dard. A Libel on Dunstan's Member.

Mr Pyke has threatened the three Auckland papers with libel actions for Ll,oooeach in consequence of their having published a statement made by a political agitator named Hodge, that the member for Dunstan was in an improper state while attending to bis duties in the House. Hodge oame down here in the Hinemoa, having been granted a free passage, on the eve of Parliament meeting, for the purpose of watching the doings of the Auckland members. The allege! libellous statement was made in an address delivered by him since his return to the Northern capital. Mr Travers, acting for Mr Pyke, this morning is jued a wi it against Messrs Wilsons and Horton, of the Auckland 'Herald,' claiming LI.OOO damages. He will proceed against every paper in the Colony that published his name in connection with Hodge a remarks.

liar a tonga. The Queen of Raratonga has written to an Auckland resident enclosing a request to the Governor that Ministers will appoint.a British Resident at Raratonga. lam informed that the Government desire to make such an appointment, but cannot do so owing to the action taken by the English Government, who are anxious to make the appointment of a consul, which means that the Home Government will deal with Raratonga in their own way. This the New Zealand Government objoct to, and, though anxious to comply with the Queen of Raratonga's request, they are at present unable to do so. The Premier has written to Mr Cadman, M.H.R., who is interesting himself in the matter, informing him that the Queen's letter has heen forwarded to His Exoellency.

The Way the Money Gqes.

A return recently laid on the table to the order of Mr Barron giving the expenditure on account of salary and allowances to the Governor, salaries ef Cabinet Ministers, their travelling expenses, etc., affords some interesting information as showing how the money goes. A perusal of the figures shows that the actual savings are miserably small compared with the large amount claimed as savings in the Financial Statement. The member for Caversham, who is one of the most severe economists in the House, with a view of showing how departmental expenditure grows intends to move annually for the presentation of a similar return. The following figures speak for themselves :

It will be noticed that this year an increase is shown in the amounts drawn by Ministers for travelling allowances and expenses and house alldwanoes, but that a saving has been effected on Ministerial residences. May 31.

A Formal Meeting.

The Legislative Council merely met and adjourned till to-morrow without any statement being made by the Colonial Secretary as was anticipated. The Otago Central.

In consequence of the political situation, the Wait 3 Lands Committee will not report on the CMago Central Railway Bill as intended, but the evidence given by Surveyor-General M'Kerrow will be laid on the table this afternoon.

NO. 1.—Thb Governor —■ Establishment _ Government Houses and grounds Tota's 1876-76: ■ £ 6,000 2,500 1,901 9.401 1880-81. £ 4,528 2,500 486 7,514i 1885-86. £ E.OOO 2,500 642 8.142 1886-57." £ • 5,000 2,500 2,993 10,493 No. 4.— Departments. Under con trol of the Colonial Secretary — Colonial Treasurer Minister of Justice Postmaster-General- and Com missioner of Telegraphs Commissioner of Customs Commissioner of Stamps Minister of Education-. Minister of Native Affairs Minister of Public Works - Minister of Defence 1875-76. £ 76,678 10,795 52,618 223,970 65,724 23,416 11,520 29J454 126,767 131,095 ! 752,037 804,794 1880-81. £'• 208,837 1C3.759 119,382 256,152 86,666 23,786 271,165 33.96S 11,601 603,498 141,466 1,860,279 1,916,807 1885-86. £ " 237,304 69,735 113,666 287,524 77,623 28,212 357,806 22,243 19,056 726,576 161,108 2,090,853 2,160,334 1866-87. £ 162,727 54,691 118,571 290,046 80,751 30,120 371,603 26,836 32,693 723,946 182,569 2,674,553 2,144,654 No. 2.—MINISTBRS— Travelling allowance and exHouse allowances .. Totals £ 9,283 1.044 319 1,078 11,7241 • £ 2,264 4.812 14,724 9,83i 31,632 7.80E 1,174 430 1,104 10,516 £ 2.605 4,928 19,800 11,165 38,4981 £ 9,250 2,100 550 2,812 14,712 £ 3,063 6,283 25,776 11,605 46,627 £ 9.250 2,355! 696; 705 13.036 £• 3,193 6,631 25,646< 11.102J 46,5721 No. 3.—Thb Lkqislaturk — Salaries, including extra clerks and messengers — Legislative Council House of Representatives General expenses