PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7645, 24 May 1886, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. — OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Saturday. TAWHIAO. It is understood that this chief will be offered a seat in the Legislative Council, when he comes to Wellington. NATIVE BILLS. I understand that the Hon. Mr. Ballanco'a Native Bills will be brought down at an early day next week. ALIENATION OF LAND BILL. This Bill, drafted by the Premier, may best be described as a proposal to deal with land as if it were personal property, reserving one or two special provisions arising out of the nature of the trust when bequeathed, or dealt with by executors under wills, or administered by the Public Trustee. The main object is to facilitate its transfer by sale or otherwise, or its subdivision among joint heirs or next of kin. Clause 3 pro- | vides as follows: "Every trustee and administrator shall have power to soil any land vested in him, or which he may be called to administer, in the same manner as if it had been personal estate." NATIVE LAND DUTY. Mr. Wi Pere will on Tuesday ask the Government whether they propose to introduce this session a Bill making such an amendment in the law relating to the payment of native laud duty, that duties may be paid yearly? HOURS OF POLLING AT ELECTION. On Tuesday afternoon next Mr. Barron will ask the Government whether, in fulfilment of the promise made, and recorded in Hansard, on the 26th June, 1885, and in .consideration of what occurred at; a recent election at Sydenham, they will this session introduce a Bill to extend the hours of polling at Parliamentary elections ? WOOLLEN MANUFACTURES AND JAPAN. An interesting correspondence has taken place between the Treasurer and Japanese professor travelling with the training ship Tsukuba, now in Wellington harbour. Sir Julius Vogel deserved the credit of initiating the correspondence. Sir Julius writes in the first instauce to Dr. Hector, suggesting that some trade in woollen stuffs might be opened between New Zealand and Japan. He , therofore invites M. Shega Shigetaka to be the guest of the Government during a visit to the woollen mills at Kaiapoi and Mosgiel. ' The Japanese professor regrets that the captain of the Tsukuba cannot remain in New Zealand for a period long enough to enable ' him to make an inspection of these interesting manufactories, but he gives an interesting ' account of the Japanese as probable im- . porters of woollen fabrics. He informs Dr. Hector as follows :—" Mr. Shigetaka stated that the climate in Japan is not suitable for ' the best breeds of sheep. Grass is abundant in the northernmost island of Yezolat, 4245 degrees N., but the cold is too severe to enable animals to feed out of doors in ' the winter. The same applies to other ' islands as far south as 33 degrees N. In the middle portion of the North Island the snow lies two to three feet deep for five months on the plains, and for seven months on the hills. The middle island is all good ' laud, but the valleys are fully occupied and ' subdivided, so that there is not much 1 likelihood of the establishment of large 1 flocks of sheep. At tho same time a great demand for woollen cloth has sprung up of 1 late years. Up to 17 years ago people wore ' cotton and silk. Tt then gradually became ; the fashion to use wool. About six years ' ago the Government established a cloth ' factory at Shengi, in the vicinity of Tokio. This is the only woollen mill in Japan, and several hundred people are employed in making coarso woollen cloths. It is the general opinion, and has beon advocated by i the Press, that the European form and i material of clothes should be used by the : people as being more conducive to health s than the old style. Cheap labour (about Is 6d a day), water power, and coal, are abundant in Japan. The Professor believes that the finer woollen fabrics, if introduced into Japan, would soon become the fashion with tho people.