POLITICAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIV, Issue 12323, 13 October 1900, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Our CoEREsroNDENT.] WELLINGTON, Oct. 12. THE MINING BILL. The Goldfields Committee has made two or three amendments in the Mining Act Amendment Bill affecting dredging interests. In the proviso in Clause 3, which empowers the Minister under certain circumstances to extend the limits of dredging claims, the words “ when the average width ’of the stream between the banks does not exceed thirty feet” are struck out and replaced by. “ when .the total area of the claim does not exceed fifty acres.” The provision under .which a claim is deemed abandoned if a dredge is not working in two years, is somewhat relaxed by the addition of the : words' “'or in course of construction.” Two new clauses dealing with stay of proceedings and appeal are added, and a few minor ; amendments made. THE SESSION. The session will not end before the middle of next week, though it is freely rumoured in the lobbies that the Government has determined to close down to-morrow night. SOME BILLS. The Crown Tenants Rent Rebate Bill extends to Crown tenants in general a similar benefit to that just conferred on the Land for Settlements tenants. The interpretation clause defines “State tenant” as follows: —“Any holder of a deferred payment capitalised license held under Section 126, or any holder of a perpetual lease granted under Part TV. of the Land Act, 1885, or aray lessee or licensee of Crown land held under lease or license granted under Parts IH. and IV. of the Land Act, 1892, or any holder of a lease dn perpetuity under the Cheviot Estate Disposition. Act, 1893. ” The Act is to remain in force until the expiration of the ’ first session of the next Parliament. The schedule of the Railways Authorisatd'olu Bill" authorises (I) - in effect the completion of -the Wliangarei-Kawakawa line; (2) the proposed light line from Strafford eastward to Wangamomona; (3) Midland—--an extension from Belgrove to Tadmor, length about twenty miles, an extension from Reefton to Ina/ngahua, length about thirty-two miles, also the section between Otarama and Jackson’s by way of the Waimakariri, Bealey, Otira and Teremakau Valleys, about fifty-eight miles; (4) a duplicate line between Dunedin and Mosgiel. The Public School Teachers’ Salaries Bill is little more than the machinery necessary to constitute a colonial scale of staff and salaries. The Governor (otherwise the Minister of Education) is empowered to make regulations in which will be prescribed the scale decided upon. THE MINES JOURNAL. -A return obtained by Mr. Collin® gives the following information regarding the “ New Zealand" Mines Record,” published by the Government Mines Department : Number of copies printed 1000, annual cost of printing £2BO, number of subscribers and copies sent to agents 97, gratuitous 'dis-tribution—Agent-General 100,” members ' of Parliament 120, general 480. RAILWAY TO.AKAROA. Mr B. H. Rhodes gave notice this afternoon to ask the Government whether, during the recess, they wjll <l cohsider the .’feasibility of constructing a light line of railway from Little River to Akaroa, due .consideration being given to the following:— (1) That this is an authorised line;; (2) that by ’Acts of Parliament passed in 1876 and in 1878, certain-lands were set. apart, the proceeds of which were to be devoted, to ■ the construction of this iiije; (3) that the Public Works Act of 1894' re-enacts the Act. of 1878, and further authorises the construction of the said line; (4) that the route has already been surveyed, and. the report shows that'with'the exception of the tunnel, which, will not bo necessary for in light, line, there are no formidable difficulties to be overcome.