POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 7356, 31 October 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.!

WELLINGTON, October 29. The Cemeteries Bill.

There has been some talk in the lobbies to-day respecting a new Bill to amend the Cemeteries Act, 1882, in a rather "peculiar direction. It has been drafted by Messrs Russell and Campbell, of Auckland, and will probably be introduced next week. It gives power to boroughs or other local authorities to contract or to arrange with the owner of any piece of land, without acquiring the fee simple, to use such land as a cemetery for the interment of dead bodies; and it is provided that after ,a -proclamation- is- made the cemetery cannot be closed, but shall remain a cemetery for ever. A circular accompanies the Bill, and explains that many poor, borough* that wish to have cemeteries find it beyond their power to provide even for the living, and considers that it is advisable to introduce the American system, and induce companies to devote land to this purpose, taking the fees received in lieu of the ; sale of the land. Mr Goldie, who objects to the Bill on the ground that it would have the effect of covering the country with small cemeteries, which would gradually be built in, and for other reasons, will bring the matter before the Municipal Conference on Monday. - - - Railway Management. Mr Lawry has been urging upon the Minister of Works a matter of some importance to country settlers. He represents that persons having railway trucks should be allowed to carry in them whatever goods they please so long as a given weight is not exceeded-or dangerous goods are not shipped. To-day, however, he received a letter stating that the Minister of Works had given the suggestion due consideration, but found that it would be impracticable to comply therewith. The Civil Service. ■ Fresh legislation is likely to be introduced this session to amend the Civil Service Reform Act, to prevent the evasions which are now being practised. The AuditorGeneral refused to pass some vouchers for the salaries of persons temporarily appointed who had not complied with the provisions of the Act, and the Solicitor-General gave it as his opinion that power existed under the Act of making such temporary appointments. The Auditor-General replied that if this reading were the oorrect one the Act was a farce, and useless for the purpose for which it was passed. After some correspondence on the subject he gave way, and passed vouchers under protest on condition that the whole question should be brought before Parliament More of Sir G. Grey's Bills.

. Sir Gr. Grey intends on Tuesday to introduce two new Bills. The first is intended to constitute a court consisting of three Judges, the president of whom shall be the Judge of the district in which the land is, to fix under certain circumstances a fair rent to be paid by any tenant paying rent to the Government for the occupation of land. TheTCcond Bill*seeks to amend the conditions on whioh lands are now held in certain settlements which have been recently established. , The Police and By-law Cases.

Some unpleasantness appears to have arisen between the police and the corporation officials in some of the large towns respecting the onus of instituting prosecutions for breaches of by-laws. Commissioner Gudgeon recently is3ued a circular drawing attention to a decision at Melbourne, where it was decided that a police constable had no power to prosecute for breach of municipal or other by-law without authority from the council. He further instructed the police not to take action except in cases where the offence can be proved under the Police Offences Act or some other Act empowering the police to take proceedings. Inspector Shearman communicated this order to the Auckland City Council, and the town clerk of that Corporation has written to Mr Goldie representing the desirability of inserting a clause in the Act empowering and compelling the police to take action in all cases of breaches of by-laws. He also suggests that the time has arrived when some of the police should be at the disposal of the various councils as municipal police. Mr Goldie will place this letter before the Conference, although he does not by any means agree with it. He considers that corporation officials should institute and conduct their own prosecutions for breaches of by-laws. Charitable Aid. Mr Anderson (Bruce) thinks that each district should be compelled to support its own poor people, and tomorrow will ask whether the Government will amend the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act for that purpose. The Education Act. Mr Ross will to-morrow ask the Government whether it is their intention to amend the Education Act in the direction of transferring the. school inspectors periodically, and also to give teachers who feel aggrieved by the decisions of Education Boards a right to appeal, October 31. . A million Loan Needed. The Cabinet meet this afternoon to finally revise the Financial Statement. Matters have been so focussed that Ministers can now see their way to confine future expenditure within the revenue of the Colony ; but as there are deficiency bills to the tune of. one million sterling in circulation, a loan will have to be asked for in order to meet existing liabilities. the Midland Railway Business Is in the same position as when the House met on Friday. The probabilities are that tomorrow the Premier will move for the appointment of a Select. Committee to consider and report on the whole matter, the Government Indicating a Course which they think ought to be pursued. Major Atkinson will probably explain that the Government object to the concessions asked for, but are willing to waive their right to alternate blocks on the one hand, while reserving the right to fully conserve mining interests on the other. On this basis a satisfactory solution of the difficulty may be arrived at. 'Ministers seem'determined to confine the Company in selecting their lands to the prescribed area of 9,000,000 acres mentioned in the original Agreement. Defence. General Schaw arrived from the North yesterday, having been sent for by the Minister to consult on defence matters. There is some talk of his being offered the post of Commander of the Colonial Forces. A Deserved FUrloughl Judge Johnston has been granted a year's leave of absence, and Mr Justice Ward has been appointed to the temporary charge of the Canterbury district. Personal.

Sir John Hall returned from Sydney to-day, and had a long interview with the Premier. •'