GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4900, 31 July 1877, Page 5

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[Kr.OM OUR SPECIAL COKRESIONJDEST.] GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, Wellington, Monday. OPPOSITION CAUCUS. No little gossip and paragraphing have been about, touching some supposed meeting of five or six leaders of the Opposition, au they were jailed, and it was stated positively that such a meeting had been held on Saturday to finally arrange a programme. There is no truth in the statement. There was a meeting of a few persons concerned iu the bill for preserving the rights and ro.tcs of the Road Boards, of which the substance was telegraphed, but that was all. LIGHTHOUSE ON CAPE MARIA VAN DIE.UEN. The Stella has left Ditnedin for Welling- j ton. On her arrival here, she will be immediately sent north, to proceed at once with the erection of the lighthouse on Cape Maria Van Diemen. MRS. McMANUS'S PETITION. In reference to the petition of Mrs. McManus, regarding the uniust imprisonment of her son, it appears that a considerable time ago, Government intimated to the magistrates who sat on the Bench that the conviction of the boy was illegal and bad, and it was supposed they would take steps to satisfy the persons concerned for the wrong suffered. Meanwhile they have received intimation that, failiDg a settlement o£ the case, ex- I planations will be received by the com- I inittee, and they may appear before the committee, but it must be at their own expense. The Auc/land members who know the facts of the case think that the matter ought to have been settled, and the injustice remedied long ago by the parties concerned. THE FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BILL. It is believed Government intend to withdraw the Friendly Societies Bill at the request of members o£ both Houses, with the purpose o£ re-introducing it in another form. MR. STAFFORD. Rumour has it that Mr. Stafford is going homo at the close of the session, and it is further whispered that he will probably succeed Sir Julius Vogel in the AgentGoneralahip. It is alao assorted that the j Canterbury members desire this consummation. The atory is given an narrated. Perhaps the question rtg.irding Sir Julius Vogel's tenure of office, put by Mr. Stevens the other day, may be the first overt movement in this direction, that is, if the thing is any more than a rumour. SJIIJ. VOGEL AGAIN. It is again affirmed liis.t the purchase of the Olago Times is more or less directly iu the interests of Sir Julius, but that too has been denied, and I have reason to know that Mr. Reynolds avers that he is the solo purchaser. The transfer has not yet been made, but will bo next month. A cash payment of £5000 as earnest money was. made a f . the time of the purchase. PROSPECTS. The remnant of the members of the Assembly are nearly all arrived, and the week now begun will be a busy one. The Opposition are watching and waiting, and the Financial Statement to-morrow night is looked forward to w the base of operations. On it much of the action of the Opposition will depend. It wi-1, say soim;, either make Ministers, or "undo them quite." THE LAND FUND. Some kind of compromise regarding the Land Fund, and other respective; claims of the North, which was dispossessed, and of the South, which is iu possession, ia expected to be proposed, so as, if possible, to satisfy both parties, or at least to do both justice. Only a miracle, however, i 3 likely to accomplish this, and I fear that Sir G. Grey is not disposed to try the laud question first, but to light tho battle of Separation before all else. In this he is supported by several Auckland members, amongst them Mr. Recs, Mr. Dignau, and Mr. Tole. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. From privato sources comes, a statement to the effect that the finance will not look nearly so bad as lias been indicated iu the public journals, and that Government will be able to meet current liabilities aud proYidu for carrying on the business of the country. To-morrow will dechiro. An ample "summary of tho statement will be t-.-l'.-jjraphcd 10-nioimw night. 6.30 p.m. Tho inhabitants of a large portion of Mangonui County—that extending from the

northern shores of Rangaunu Bay and across •westward in one direction to the North Capo, and containing3oo,oooacres—arc petitioning Government to make thorn a separate county. Tho grounds are, that distance renders it impossible for the sparsely located settlers to attend the meetings of the. County Council or any election meetings, which are usually over before notice of their beinj; held can reach the people ; that the district is a purely pafitoral one—half of it of shifting sane! ; that they can in nowise benefit from the operations of the County Act ; they net nothing from Government, and don't nslc for :inj thing; and that they wish to be l«ft to themselves. A glance at tho map will show the part of the country referred to. To-day Mr. Swansmiaml Mr. Williams interviewed the Government ou the subject, pointing out that the petitioners had claims to consideration, especially f;o:n tlir> fact that there were no roads in tho country, and none required, and that their highway is tho sea. They have nioro than tin; requisite area of land specified by the Counties Act, but not the proper number of population. Ministers, however, told the two members that the petitioners had hotter communicate with the settlers within the more populous southern part of the Count}', and if they woro agreeable to cut tho painter, Government would take.the subject into consideration and be disposed to treat it favourably.