POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 165, 5 July 1888, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

(jßOif OCR OWN COnRESPONDKST.) Wmuxeros. Isst night. Mr Oliver, the New Zealand Commissioner to the Chinese Conference, has returned to Wellington by the Wakatipu. It it reported that the public works esti. nates will show large reductions in salaries. Amongst others it is said that Mr Blaekstt, Engineer.in-Chief, is to be reduced from £looo' to £BOO, end that Mr Blair's salary is also to be reduced by £l5O. Several other reductions are also contemplated. The new Land Act Amendment Bill to be brought down by the Government will contain provisions for vesting all the power now Md by the Waste Lands Boards, which it is proposed to abolish, in the Commissioners cl Crown Lands for the various districts. The Premier has promised to inform the House in a few days whether Sir Dillon Be l accepts an extended term of office as AgentGeneral. Some members affect to believe that Sir John Hall will join the Ministry, to which he has been acting as wet nurse, before the next Motion. Dr Newman is asking the Minister of Works if be has authorised a reduction in the pay of day laborers. The State Forests and Public Bodies Powers Bills have been read a first time. Mr Moss intends to ask the Colonial Secretary whether the following sums, amounting in all to £140,691, which were part of last year's expenditure, but for which no provision was made in the estimates for 1888-89, are included in the savings of £258,093 referred to in the Financial Statement, namely:— Moiety to local bodies under special Acts, £46.675; rates on Crown lands, £38,343; purchase of arms and ammunition, £13,555; electoral department, £10,455 ; savings under Parliamentary Honorariums and Privilege Act, £18,799; introduction of fish ova, £l3sBaids to prospecting, £2123; exchange and commission, £6,075 ; expense connected with Crown Lands and Bating Act, £2,000 audit of County and Road Boards' accounts, £Bl5O.