Political Porridge.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 16, 6 August 1895, Page 2

Political Porridge.

List year the Lands department employed an average of four men on 1655 co-operative contracts, at an average wage of 6s 6JJ, with a minimum of 2s 2d and a maximum of 12s 6d. The works which the Railway depart* ment was asked to perform in the three months oE Government control up to the 31st March would have cost LIOO.OOO, and the concessions refused would have meant a long of revenue of many thousands a year. Proposals are to be submitted this session for, the creatioa of a railway servants' superannuation fund. The Fair Bent Sill is to come down next week. The Premier ssys the oheapeit and best railway sleepers to be obtained in the colony are the silver pine sleepers from the West Coast of the Sonth Island. Of coarse. The Minister for Marine hopes to pro* vide shortly that adjusters of compasses of iron ships must be licensed. The Colonial Treasurer says the Advances to Settlers Board considers' ' every application on its merits, and does ' not reject any applications representing unimproved lands. The petition of Frederick Mallard, of DunediD, praying that in the event of a further call on the shareholders of the Bank of New Zealand the proceeds shall be used only for the. purpose of winding . up the affirs of the bank, has been referred to the Government for consideration. The A. and L. petitions Committee has "no recommendntion to made '• on the petition in favor of Bible-reading in schools, or the introduction of the " Irish National Schools Text Book," as it considers this a question of policy. " Directly some individual dies without the assistance of a medioal man, — " said Mr Hogg (a journalist 1) on the Coroners' loquests 811. He got no further.— " No sensible man lives in your district," said Mr McLaehlau to Mr Montgomery. "You live in my district," was the response. Mr Thos. Mackenzie oh Friday afternoon asked the Minister of Railways if his attention had been directed to the resolution carried by the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce, that the 20 per cent, redaction made in the railway freight on agricultural lime for sis ton lots should be extended to one and a-half ton lots, and all other manures placed on the same footing, and, if so, would he do his utmost to comply with that request P In reply, Mr Cadruan said that the Government were doing their best to meet the settlers. .3 he reason why one and a-half ton lots were . higher wa3 that the department could not run trucks' with the minimum quantity only, and the; wished farmers to unite. Mr McNab asked the Government whether they would cause a flying survey to b,e made of an extension of the Seaward Bush line, so as to determine in what direction it shall proceed after the completion of the works as far as Waimahaka fiat. The Premier said he had understood that when the railway reached Waimahaka, the people would be satisfied. The railway ultimately might go to Waikawa asd join the Catling line, but a survey of the line would be very ' costly, and as there was no money to .:"- make new railways, it was out. of the ' question. . . ; "„ Toe Public Petitions Committee report ■' that J". W. Ede, Invercargilj, who seeks compensation fqr loas of offtce, and Annie "' E. Jacquiery, Inveroargill, who applied for compensation, said by her to have been duo to her' late husband, have no claim against the colony!' t , The Colonial Treasurer says no bank- '/ ing legislation will be introduced this . -'' session further than what deals with tbe'l , ' Bank of New Zealand Estates Company. The Hon. Mr Bigg says if he was. an innocent mac, he wonld rather be tried by a Judgethan by some of the juries he has §at on, . ■ • _■ ;r