POLITICAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVIII, Issue 12934, 30 September 1902, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Our Special Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Sept. 29. ' OUR LATEST POSSESSIONS. Mr T. Herd;, landing waiter at Auckland, is to replace Mr Millar as Postmaster and Customs Agent at Rarotonga. PARLIAMENTARY CHESS MATCH. Considerable interest was displayed in the parliamentary chess match, twenty men aside, played on Saturday night between teams representing the Wellington Chess Club and tho Legislature and Civil Service combined. The Club team proved successful by eleven games to nine. In its ranks were such well-known players as Messrs Barnes (this year's champion), Mason and Mackay (ex-champions) and two Congress players. j TREES AND HEDGES. I The question with regard to the removal! of trees and hedges overshadowing roads or streets is to be raised by Mr Meredith,, who will propose that Section 15 of the Act of 1900 should be. extended, so that a local authority may have power to order that trees or hedges so overshadowing a street as to cause it to be wet or muddy for. a loneer period than would otherwise have been the case should be removed, lowered . or trimmed. ! THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. Provision will be made before Parliament closes for meeting the claims of the Midland Railway debenture-holders, who have agreed to accept £150,000 in satisfaction 'of all claims. This ds a slight advance on the amount offered last session. THE FROZEN MEAT COMMITTEE. The Parliamentary Committee to whom the question of frozen meat export was referred, have completed their labours. They will report that the frozen meat trade will never be on a sound footing till a Central Board is established in London to fix prices from day to day, and thus regulate the control of sales, so as to prevent " slumps" through the caprices of individual salesmen. The committee urges that inquiries should be instituted as to the prospects of direct shipments to other ports than London. MR JUSTICE EDWARDS'S CLAIM. The long-standing claim of Mr Justice Edwards, whose petition for redress has for several sessions been favourably reported on to the House, -will, I understand, be recognised by a substantial vote on the Supplementary Estimates. Mr Edwards withdrew his claim for compensation for being deprived of a judgeship, and latterly has merely based his right to compensation for , not being allowed to act as Native Com- ' missioner, after being so appointed by the Atkinson Government. MUNICIPALITIES AND GAS WORKS. [From Our Correspondent.] Mr Ell has given notice of ai new clause to be moved in committee on the Municipal Corporations Bill. It is as follows : —l7 A (1) The Council of the district in which any of the gas works established under the Acts named in the schedule hereto are situated may at any time after giving twelve months' notice in writing to the company of its intention so to do, purchase the gas works, including all plant, land and rights connected therewith at a price to be determined by arbitration. (2) The provisions of the Arbitration" Act, 1890, shall apply to any arbitration held under this section, and this section shail be deemed to be a submission within that Act, if and when the Council gives notice to the company of its intention to exercke the power of purchase hereby conferred'. The schedule is as follows:—The Wellington Gas* Company Act, 1870, the Christchurch Gas Act," 1870, the Auckland Gas Company's Act, 1871, the Thames Gas Company's Act, 1873, the Napier Gas Com- ' pamy's Act, 1875, the Napier Gas Company's Act, 1875, Amendment Act-,. 1885, the'Timaru Gas Act, 1876, the Hokitika Gas Company's Act, 1877, the New Plymouth Gas Company's Act, 1879, the Gisborne Gas Company's Act. 1874, the Lyttelton Gas, Coal and Coke Company, ■Limited, 1874. PRESENTS TO OPPOSITIONISTS. [Per Press Association.] The Opposition party in the House ias arranged for a presentation to Mr Pirami and Mr Hutcheson, who are retiring from active paticipation in politics at the close of the session. The presentations will be made to-morrow. In Mr Pirani's case the token of esteem from the party will take the form- of a gold watch, and Mr Hutcheson will receive a set of carvers and fish slicers. Miss Allen, daughter of Mr James Allen, will also be the recipient of a presentation from the Opposition party ■ on the eve of her marriage.