POLITICAL. (BY TELEGRAPH.) (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, September 19.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8082, 21 September 1894, Page 3

POLITICAL. (BY TELEGRAPH. ) (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, September 19.

The Linda Improvement nod Native Lands Acquisition Bill authorison tho Government to raiso half a million, of which L 250,000 may be spent in tho construction of roads find bridge and tho preparation of tho lands for Hettlcmont, and L 250,000 may be applicablo for tho purchase of native lands. Wkuinuton, September 20. Tho Premier informed the ITouso that ho intended to bring in a Representation Bill to readjust electoral boundaries, and to provide that no alterations take place until thoro is a cortain proportion of an increase of population. The Minister of Education promises that in his Education Bill next session ho will deal with tho question of the distribution of scholarships to uniformity of examination. Tho railway workshops of tho colony start running full time on Octobor 15. The Shopa and Shops Assistants Bill unexpectedly received a decided check in tho Council this afternoon. Mr M'Lean moved that tho Chairman do lcavo tho chair, with a viow to practically giving tho moasuro tho •• happy dispatch." But ho subsequently withdrew this, stating that if tho Bill went through Committee ho would leave no ( stono unturned to inako tho halfholiday a day of complete cessation from labor, evon to the closing of hotels and banks, making, in fact, no exemptions whatever. Then Mr Reynolds moved to amend tho interpretation clause in the direction of excluding from closing all those who kopt no employees but merely carried on thoir own business. The M struggling small traders" found doughty champions m Sir G. Whitmoro and Messrs Bonar, Bowon, Shrimski and Swanson, while tho labor clement in tho Council doclared that tho amend mont attacked a yital part of tho Bill, and that if it woro carried tho moasuro might as well bo abandoned, and throw the responsibility on tho majority of tho Oonncil of continuing tho unsatisfactory <jtato of affairs which has existed for tho past throo years. Mr Kerr admitted tho claims of email Bhopkeepeicfl, but ( contended that tho Council nad to logi»lato in tho direction of tho greatest number. Just upon 5 o'clock a division was taken with tho renult that Mr .Reynold's amendment was Carried by 17 to 13. Tho following in tho division list on tho question that the words " where any person works for hire" be addod to clause 2, defining tho moaning of shops — Ayes (17): Roynolds, L. Walkor» Richardson, Whitmore, Bonar, Swanaon, Shrimski, Taiaroa, Dignan, Ac land, Oliver, Bowon, Ormond, Stevens, Graco,Whyto,Barnicoab. Noos(18): Bolt, Stewart, M'Gregor, Korr, Kolly, Rigg, Jennings, Jonkinson, JBWwick, M'Cui* lough, M'Loan, Buckloy> Montgomery. Sir P. Buckley, who was in charge of the Bill* appoarod to bo quite taken by surprise at the result of tho division, and at once moved to report progress, saying that ac tho vital principlo of the Bill had been interfered with, he did not think it dooirablo to procood furthor with it ab present. Tho Premior told P*rata that I}r K"Jarl&nd (of Qamaru) and !Qr Barclay (of "^Taimato) had been asked to act as medU pa,\ dpctors to t}}o Maoris, each at L 55 pee annum, Major Steward Jntonda to ask the flovornment (1) Whether workers unions come under (ho provisions of 'iho Mining Act, ]#I} 2, in tho same way no the mining associationn, county counoito, anJ road boards, (2) Jf not, what steps aro required to bo taken to effect 1 this. A'so, to ayk the Minister of Agripulturo whethor, in oocordanco witjj. th» reqnosb of settlors in the districts of Awftmoka, Horth Otago, ho has given or will give directions to one of the dairy experts to procood to that locality to advioo eettlorw aa to the beet 3tep9 to be taken with a view to the establishment of » dairy factory*