POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 54, 15 October 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(FaOM OUB OWN OOBBBSBONDHNT.J WblMngtoN, last night.

A large number of natives from various parts of the North Island are now here representing various districts. They will hold frequent meetings with the Maori members to consider what action they should take in Parliament affecting ths natives, but it is probable that the only legislation this session will be to enable native land buying to go on till next session. Carroll's equalisation motion was very well received by the members.

The Government are alive to the necessity for reform of th« electoral laws, and have decided to introduce a bill providing that every man shall register his own voteThis will have the effect of preventing the barefaced roll stuffing which was such a scandal in connection with the recent elections.

A petition was presented from Mati Paeroa and 37 others, of Gisborne, praying that certain Maoris sentenced to imprisonment because it was stated they killed Nuku and Hiria on account of Nuku bewitching Mahare Pareke, be liberated; on the ground of i s being a native custom to kill natives who practise witchcraft, and there is no law in force in New Zealand by which persons killing others for practising witchcraft can be put to death.

Mr Ballance intends to bring in a Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill; giving corporations power to impose business license fees up to £lOO on Chinese doing business within their boundrios.

Sir G. Grey gave notice of a batch of Bills, Law Practitioners Bill, Limitation of Votes Bill, Eight Hours Bill, and his Land Acquisition and Settlement Bill.

Mr Hamlin is the Government nominee for the Chairmanship of Committees. The report of the Surveyor-General shows the reduction made in the last three months have effected a saving in the annual expend!ture of £6200, Current charges show £85,000 a year. £15,000 will be recovered for services performed, leaving £70,000 chargeable to the Crown lands. In Auckland 43 miles bridle road and 50 miles of cart road have been formed, 49 miles of roads and tracks graded for construction, thereby assisting to open up for occupation au area of 100,000 acres cf Crown lauds at a cost of £19,055.