POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 176, 31 July 1888, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY. [from our own correspondent.] Wellington, last night. At a Cabinet meeting it was decided spend forty thousand pounds on the Otago, Central Railway during the coming year, in addition to the liabilities already incurred, making the total expenditure for the year roundly, sixty thousand pounds. During the recess they will prepare a scheme for the extension of the railway to a point th e House is to be asked in the meantime to decide.

It is understood that the Premier, with the co-operation of Mr Samuel, is framing a Bill to amend the Harbors Act, so as to provide a remedy for the present impecuniosity of Harbor Boards of the Thames, Waitara, New Plymouth, and Patea. The bill, I understand, will probably be introduced this week, but the details of the clauses have not yet transpired.

The Cabinet have not yet decided as to what steps they will take in regard to the alleged disqualification of members of the Council. With a view to simplifying the present system of audit in regard to Borough accounts Mr Joyce is urging the Government before next session of Parliament to prepare a Bill tor distribution amongst the various Municipal Councils, the object of which shall be the appomtment of an independent expert to audit the borough accounts. Mr Joyce also wishes the Bill to provide that the AttorneyGeneral shall be the only person to sue for a refund of moneys wrongly applied by Borough councillors, under bona fide mistake of the law, his action to be taken on the request of . majority of such Councillors, or a petition signed by a certain proportion of the ratepayers interested. The Native members are moving to prevent prospecting on Native lands without proper authority having first been obtained. A proposal is made that the Government should appoint a Technical Commissioner to visit the Meloourne Centennial Exhibition, with ft view of collecting evidence as to the .ftteat and best methods of extracting gold tom quartz and other substances.