POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 9835, 25 October 1895, Page 4

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[Fbom Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, October 25. Advances to Settlers.

At last the Government Advances to Settlers Bill has emerged from the committee ordeal in the Council, and has passed its final Btages. Mr Pharazyn yesterday objected to land held under lease, and providing for the payment by the incoming tenant of valuation for improvements made on the land, being inoluded among the classes of land on which money might be advanced, but the clause was retained unamended. A Hitch. Progress was unexpectedly reported yesterday afternoon on tho Public Securities Bill. This was in consequence of the carrying by -26 to 24 of an amendment by Mr Montgomery to clause 3 of the Bill, proposed with the intention of removing any ambiguity as to future dealings with the Trust securities.—The Treasurer said that the alteration made the clause inoperative s 7 far as the Treasury was concerned. The Treasury was required to inspect the securities of the other offices every day, and the amendment would mean endless trouble and departmental insecurity.—Mr Montgomery disavowed any such intention, and expressed his willingness to have the clause modified, but the Treasurer insisted on progress being reported. luclaimcd Moneys. The Unclaimed Moneys Bill introduced in tie House by Mr Joyce, and subsequently tiken up as a Government measure, received its quietus in the Council yesterday.—Mr Downie Stewart regarded the Bill as unworkable, and badly drafted.—He was followed by Mr Bonar, who moved, with a view to killing it, that the Bill be read a second time six months hence. While agreeing with the necessity of gazetting sims of money lying dormant in a bank, Mr Bowen objected to the money going into the Treasury. The only friendly note was sounded by Mr MacGregor, who considered tie principle good, though the measure was defective in some details.—On a division the Bill was thrown out by 14 to 11.

The Liquor Bill.

There was some discussion in the Council yesterday over the Conference's report on trie Liquor Bill. —Mr Kerr deprecated the action of the Conference in not respecting the opinions and votes of the Council. He was disappointed both with the Conference and the gentlemen who had represented the Council on it.—A defence of the action o. the Conference in respect to clubs was made by Mr T. Kelly, who declared that it was a "matter of principle that had been fought for.—While disappointed in some respects, Mr Downie Stewart thought that the Conference had done the best under the circumstauces.—Mr Rigg entirely disapproved of the compromise which had been arrived at.—The report was adopted. Smells Knnk. It will be recollected that in the closing hours of last session a Bill, entitled the Horowhenua Block Bill, was introduced, and another measure dealing with that now f vmous area is once more before the House. If this latter Bill is seriously meant it is likelv to prolong the business of tha session, for it is certain of a stormy passage through Parliament. The Bill reviews the facts of the original Native title to Horowhenua, aid generally the subsequent transact ons In which Warenahuuia and Major Kemp, as trustees, bore so conspicuous a part. It then declares that s ncc the Court of Appeal has decided in effect that the division and certificate of t : tle founded thereon in respect to an area of 14,975 acres do not contain the names of the whole of the persons beneficially interested, and has inter alia quashed the title. -Since it is alleged that there exists undefined trusts and unfulfilled obligations in respect ti some of the other divisions, comprising in all some 5'2,4'J;l acres, it is directed that all certificates of title iu respect to such lands shall be reviewed, and if found to have been fraudulently acquired such alienation shall be set aside and become absolutely null and void. The Native Laud Court is further invested with special jurisdiction and powers t) renew all the titles connected with the Horowhenua lands.

The Mining Bill.

The Mining Act Amendment Bill was put through its final stages iu the Council yesterday. In committee a new clause was proposed by Mr M'Cullough to the effect that when a tunnel had been constructed, and others than the owners were desirous or using it, and the parties were unable to come to any arrangement as to terms, etc., the warden (if he saw fit) might on application from either party settle the compensation, terms, and obarges upon which tho tunnel might be used.—Objection was taken by Mr Downie Stewart that the clause proposed to transfer the management of & person's private concerns to the warden, and by the Hon. Mr Montgomery, on the ground that it involved an interference with private liberty. Ultimately the clauae was withdrawn. Joltings. Sir Patrick Buckley, notwithstanding that he has been in ill-health for some time past, has stuck gallantly to work, being in his place in the Council every day. Yesterday, however, he wa3 absent, and his colleague (the Hon. Mr Montgomery) explained that Sir Patrick was too indisposed to be present. He trusted that his absence would be merely temporary. The Public Works and Government Railways Bill has been read a second time in the Council and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Native Reserves Act Amendment Bill was reported to the House yesterday and put through its final stages, as wa3 the Westland and Nelson Reserves Act Amendment Bill.

A Disagreeable Motion.

What might, if tabled at an earlier stage of the session, have been treated as a no-confidence motion has bqen tabled by Mr G. Hutchison, who, on going into Committee of Supply, will move—"That this House views with regret the action of the Government in raising money on debentures issued against the sinking funds of the local bodies' loans, being the accumulations of the past t'iree years, amounting to £64,397, and t'.ie payments in respect to the present year, amounting to £20,812, or a tital of £85,209, which has been placed to the credit of the general revenue; and that this House considers the payment by local bodies of sinking funds on their bans should not be continued under such circumstances ; and that restitution should b3 made in respect to sinking funds against which moneys have been already raised in aid of the general revenue."