POLITICAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12584, 20 August 1901, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Our Special Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, August 19.

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL, i When the Local Government Bill Committee met this morning, a protest was read’ from Mr Hogg against Monday sittings. This ■ was followed up by a resolution by Captain Rus- ' sell that the committee should immediately adjourn, and that the Chairman should be instructed not to convene the, committee on Mondays in future when the House i« not sitting. After a heated discussion, .ia the course of which' the Premier made • strong plea for Monday sittings, in order _ to, expedite the passage of the Bill, the motion was carried by sixteen votes to seven*, , and the committee adjourned. The co®. mittee will be? summoned for Wednesday. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council will probably adjourn for a fortnight from Thursday, «ft there ‘will be no business before it during the currency of the debate on the Financial Statement. , A NOVEL PROPOSAL. Mr J. W. Walker, popularly known as “ Long Drive * Walker, waited on the Minister of Mines this .morning with a proposal that 540 acres north-east of the Thames goldfields should be taken out as a gold area. He wanted power to float a company in London or elsewhere, and be entirelv relieved from the'operations of the" Mining Act. Mr Walker offered, in the event of his term® being, accepted, to give the Government li per cent of the profits,and the Thames Hospital a similar amount, and to employ labour to the extent of £SOOO a year. The Minister, who seemed to be taken by surprise at so novel a request, asked Mr Walker to submit his proposal in writing for consideration by the Cabinet. To give effect to what he asked, would, the Minister added, necessitate.au Act of Parliament.