POLITICAL NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 October 1908, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. [OUR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, This Day. The Ways Authorisation Bill considered by the House of Representatives to-day is a brief measure authorising the extension of the Midland line from tho termination as at present authorised in the Tadmor Valley to the junction of the Hope and Duller rivers, a distance of about twenty miles. A slight deviation nas been made from the route originally proposed for tho Midland line. AVEA LTHY WELLING TON. In the House to-day Mr G. Laurenson remarked that Wellington was the wealthiest corporation in the dominion. Its tolls and revenue amounted to £159,000, and was thousands ahead of the amount raised in Christehurch or Auckland. "This is a horse leech of a town," he said. "There is no town which I know of that clamours so loud in its endeavour to get money out of the public chest. They say that Lyttelton is famous for its flounders. I would rather represent a town famous for its flounders than a town famous for its flounderers. We have no slums in Lyttelton." Mr Fisher: —"They are all slums." END OF THE SESSION.

The House of Representatives attacked its business to-day in a manner that spoke of a desire to get done with the greatest possible speed. Bills were put through in rapid succession, some that would have been debated for hours a month ago receiving but a few minutes attention. The order paper was very materially reduced in size. The indications all point to the session closing not later than Saturday or Monday, but delay may arise in several ways. The Native Land Bill that was brought down at such a late stage is before the Native Affairs' Committee, and will probably come back with extensive amendments. A group of northern members might occupy a good deal of time when the bill is before the House. A vote for J. J. Meikle on the Supplementary Estimates would probably produce a stonewall. Anyway the home going fever has sealed the House and the members will not easily be kept in Wellington.