WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11654, 29 September 1900, Page 3

WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

[PEOM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] [BT TELEGRAPH.] Wellington, Friday. THE VICTORIA. COLLEGE. A whole sheaf of petitions was presented to-day by Captain Russell, Messrs Hogg, Atkinson, Graham, Guinneßs, Hutcheaon, and other members, all praying that the Mount Cook reserve be vested in the Viotoria College Council. Some atnußement waa caused by the petition in Mr Hogg's charge, inasmuch as it was headed by the lion, gentleman's own signature. Mr G. W. Rvuisell aßked the Speaker whether an hop. member was in order in presenting a petition from himself, to which Sir Maurice O'Eorke replied that it should in that case be presented by some other member. Mr Guinness said he should be happy to take charge of the petition on Mr Hogg's behalf. The Speaker ruled that the member for Grey must state the purport of the petition, which Mr Guinness proceeded to do with due solemnity, stating that it was from A. W. Hogg, M.H.R,, and several others, and was to the same effect as the proceeding one. THE HATUMA ESTATE. Mr Hall to-day asked the Minister for Lands whether, seeing that there are three townships, situated on the east, north, and south of Hatuma, oloee to the estate, the Government will reconsider its intention to survey a new township on the estate P He said the Hatuma estate was just about to be surveyed and offered for sale. There were no fewer than five iownßhips of great age in the neighborhood, and he asked whether it was wise to create a new township under those ciroumstances, and, as it were, to starve the old ones out of existence. Mr Duncan replied to the effect that the object of acquiring the estate was to open up the country, and a township was a most necessary adjunotfor this purpose. He did not see how anybody could complain of a new . township being formed, and the settlers in the vicinity would demand some conveniences if it were formed. Mr Hall hoped the Minister would not put the township too cloee to Waipukurau, to which Mr Duncan replied that he was sorry the people of Waipnkurau were afraid of a new township. He thought they should be able to hold their own against any other township that might be formed. MRS FRIEND'S PETITION. Mr Wilford to-day presented a petition from Matilda Friend, widow of the late George Friend, who was Clerk of the House for many years. The petitioner states that she received a grant of .£9OO as a compassionate allowance on the death of her late husband, but she respectfully submits that in view of the faithful services rendered to the colony by her late husband, and of the fact that his death was hastened by the arduous duties pertaining to his post as Clerk of the House, £900 was not under all the circumstances adequate compensation to the petitioner. She therefore asks for such relief as she may be entitled to. CROWN TENANTS. Captain Russell asked the Minister of Lands this afternoon whether he will consider the advisabieness of amending the Land Act, 1892, so as to afford relief to Crown tenants by exempting all these who have effected substantiahmprovements on the land to the value of 20 per cent within two years from the date of their license or lease, from further paying their rent half-yearly in advance ? Mr Duncan replied that he proposed to introduce a bill in a few days, which he hoped would meet the necessities of the case. TRADING STAMPS. The Public Petitions Committee reported to-day on the petitions of W. Cook and another, of Wellington, and of H. Angus and 673 others, of Lyttelton. Petitioners pray that the Trading Stamps and Coupon Abolition Bill now before the House be postponed for three weeks, and that petitioners be allowed to attend and give evidence, with the view of suggest ing amendments to the bill, whioh will have the effeot of regulating the trading stamps system without totally abolishing the same. The committee report that they have no recommendation to make. THE JURY SYSTEM. Considerable comment has been caused by the Minister for Justice (Mr M'Gowan) having Btated during the discussion in committee on the Indiotable Offences Summary Jurisdiction Bill that the jury system was obsolete, and should be abolished. Several members protested against suoh a revolutionary sentiment, on the ground that it was altogether opposed to Liberal and Radical principles. Mr Ward took occasion on the third reading of the bill to defend his colleague. He said:— "lt was suggested in the i course of debate by some members that a desire on the part of the Administration existed in favor of the abolition of trial by oonimon jury in this country. Sir, speaking on behalf of the Government, I should like to say that no suoh views are entertained ' by ' the Government, nor has any such proposal v been at any time brought up for consideration in the Cabinet. The Government are not favorable to any such revolutionary proposal." The Minister for Justioe also spoke as follows i— "lf a wrong impression has been made of my remarks I am sorry for it, because in the heat of debate I speak strongly, but I certainly had no intention of condemning the jury system altogether as a system. The poßition I took up was this, that the amendment of the member for Christchurch City gives to a criminal the choice of appealing to a jury, whereas in the amendment X propose the cases j}re deajt with by j;hij Stipendiary Magistrate, and in my opinion in these oases the Stipendiary Magistrate is a better judge than a jury. Under these oircumstanoes I have nothing to retract from what I said." THE NAPIER TRIP. Although late in the session, Mr Fraser has been successful in inducing a fair number of m£l)?l" a to ao «>Pk * c Mayor's invitation to visit Napier to-morrow. It is doubtful, owjrig to irpportnnt' legislation now before the House, whether any Minister will accompany the party. Mr Ward and Mr Carroll both intended to proceed to Napier if pogsible, but I hear to-night that neither of the Ministers ai'6 likely to go. A few members who had arranged to visit Napier will also be detained, owing to the fact that they are specially interested in certain bills coming forward this session, but the large majority of those who promised to take the trip will do so. Mr Fraser has obtained the Premier's permission to take with him several of the Mauser rifles and carbines recently captured from the Boers by our troops and presented to the Government by the Cape Colony authorities. They will no 4 0U bt be regarded with much interest by Napier residents, several of the weapons having the names of Boer ownorß qarved on their spooks, JOTTINGS. Mr Lewis has given notice to move for leave of absenca for the remainder of the session for Messrs Masaey and James Allen, on aocount of ill-health. The Minister of Lands to-day, in reply to Mr Hall, said it was not the intention of the Government to compensate James Walsh, of Tiratu, Dannevirke. The House commences Monday sittings next Monday evening. Mr Wi Pere says that he remembers the time when his vote was of muoh more consequence to the Premier than at present, when Mr Seddon has such a large majority.