POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9064, 26 May 1888, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wrllinoton, Friday. ELECTORAL BILL. There is a good deal of hostile criticism going on among a section of tho Members, respecting tho now Electoral Bill. The principal objection is that, while the districts aro small enough to be canvassed, and to be engineered, they are too large to bo worked by men who do not possess independent means. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Another attempt was made to-day to got out of the Premier tho date for tho delivery of the Financial Statement. Mr. Walker, the Opposition whip, made the attempt by asking if tho statement in the morning paper, that tho Financial Statement would not bo delivered till Tuesday, was correct. The Premier replied, " tho hon. gentleman must use his discretion ;" and with that answer Mr. Walker had to bo content. The Times says it is generally believed that the Government will not suggest a duty On sugar, though they may propose one on tea ; the latter, however, is deemed by some to be improbable, as not only many Ministerial supporters, but also one or two Ministers, are practically bound by their hustings pledges to oppose an increase in the duties on either tea or sugar. THE FAIR RENT BILL. Tho Premier was somewhat tart in replying to Mr. Seddon's motion that the correspondence between Sir George Grey and the Government, relative to the Fair Rent Bill, bo laid before the House. He said that the matter was a little movement outside the cognisance of tho House, and ho declined to have tho -table of the House burdened by its production. The Premier's Fair Rent and Price of Land Bill is now circulated. Its provisions aro made to apply to lands leased from any public authority, also to lands held under tenancy, also to lands purchased from tho Crown on deferred payments. The appointment of commissioners by tho Governor is provided for, and any public authority or tenant may apply to tho Commission to fix a fair rent. In the absence or disability of an applicant, in dofault of r.n agent, tho public trustees shall act as such ; and applications shall , be heard and determiner by a commissioner sitting with two assessors. Then follow regulations for tho hearing of such applications, and tho powers of the commission, whose decisions are final, subject ro appeal. Tho rent fixed is not to be altered for three year?. Parties may agree a.s to a fair rent, subject to confirmation by the commission. Selectors of land on deferred payments, tho Commissioners of Crown Kinds being- respondent, may apply to liavo a fair rent fixed. The Bill concludes with regulations for appeals, and penalties for false evidence, etc. THE PENSIONERS' SETTLEMENT SCHEME.

This question is receiving attention at tho hands of Mr. Peacock, and to-day he moved, "That any correspondence which has passed between the Government and Lord Sandhurst, and such other gentlemen as have been interesting themselves in tho establishing of pensioner settlements in Now Zealand, be lain on the table of tho House." TREATMENT OF REFRACTORY ORES.

In reply to Mr. Peacock, tho Minister of Mines said the quostion of obtaining a more effective treatment of our refractory gold and silver ores had not been overlooked by the Government. They had been in communication with parties at Swansea and Freiberg, in Germany, with a view to inducing them to establish work-3 in the colony, but no answer had yet been receivod. Mr. Peacock, in supporting his question, said the best method of helping the mining interest was to assist in the treatment of refractory ores. Several gentlemen had lately cometotho colony in connection with this subject, but he thought tho bringing out to the colony of an expert metallurgist would be a desirable step, and ho would be glad to hear that the Government had moved in this direction.

AUCKLAND GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL. The Speaker has decided that the Auckland Girls' High School Bill must bo treated as a local Bill, and must be advertised for ten clays in tho Auckland newspapers. This course, he says has become necessary in consequenco of the repeal of a standing order, or resolution, of the Legislative Council, under which a Bill, introduced by a Minister, became a general Bill and not a local Bill. The Bill, like all other local Bills, will now have to be advertised in the Auckland papers. Mr. Goldio got a deputation of Auckland mombers to wait upon the Speaker to get him to alter his decision, but he said he could not do so.

THE PROPERTY TAX. At to-day's sitting Mr. Moat presented a petition relative to the proposed abolition of the property tax, but the prayer of tho petition seemed only to afford subject for laughter and merriment among some members. Mr. Moat followed up tho petition by moving for a return of the values put by the property tax assessment upon lands picked out here and there from tho parishes of Matakohe, Omaru, Kaiwaka, Karaka, Waikomiti, and Karangahape. The object of this is to compare the values of these districts with tho prices obtained where sales have taken place in such districts. THE TARAWERA NATIVES. In reply to Mr. Carroll, who called the attention of the Government to the necessity for providing h> nd for the Tarawera natives driven from their homes by the recent volcanic eruption, tho Native Minister said tho Government had the matter under consideration, find had instructed the R&sident Magistrate to enquire into and report as to a suitable block on the East Coast, on which such natives might be placed. Mr. Carroll said there was a fishing station of 40 acres on the East Coast, on which some were squatted, but from which they might be evicted at any moment. It might be purchased for £30. The Native Minister said tho Crown had amplo lands there, and did not propose to purchase any. ENDOWMENT OF HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. In reply to Mr. Goldie, who asked xhen the Government proposed to give effect to the Act of 1885, endowing these institutions with a quarter of a million acres of land, tho Minister of Lands said the statemont made- by the hon. momber in asking the question was quite- correct. The Act did make provision that as soon after passing the Act as possible, the Government should net apart 250,000 acres of bind m an endowment for the purposes of the Act; and within two years or its passing, nine-tenths of the flaid land was to bo allocated by the Controller and Auditor-Goneral to the several District Boards. That time expired in September last, so that it was tho duty of the lato Government to have done this. They had not done so, and the present Government did not propose to do so eibher. Mr. Goldio intends to give a further notice of motion upon the subject.

THE KANITIO BLOCK. With reference to the deputation of Sydnoy Taiwhanga and some nativo chiefs to tho Native Minister, respecting tho Kanitio Block, adjoining tho Kawakawa coal mine, which the natives are desirous should bo utilised, ho ha? been requested, on producing tho requisite authority, fco put in an application to have the land surveyed. When this is done, the Native Lands Courb will investigate the title and adjudicate upon it. CALIFORNIAN THISTLE. I am informed by Major Jackson that tho Californian thistle is all through the Waikato districts and the Piako. He that some years ago, when thero was a great demand for good grass, ono of the loan companies imported a quantity of Californian seed, and thab this post was imported in ib, as in all the districts where the seed was used the thistle is now flourishing. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. Mr. Joyce asked whether tho Government will be prepared to legislate so as to allow the Bible to bo read in schools, with a conscience clause, and to grant aid to schools with more than 200 scholars, furnishing education up to the sixth standard, and examined by the Government Inspector ? PETITIONS. By Mr. R. Thompson, from a number of Auckland County Councils, for simplification of the law relative to exchanging land (orroads; by Mr. Hobba, from natives ab

Kaoo.Mangonui, and Whangaroa.relative to land ; from Francis Simmonds, for grant of land for military services; from Hohaia Pauwau Pungare, praying for pension of £12 a year for services rendered at Ruapekapeka; by Mr. R. Monk, from citizens of Auckland, praying for the abolition of the property tax ; by Mr. T. Thompson, from Chinese residents of Auckland, relative to antiChinese legislation. PAPERS. Among the papers laid on the table of the House to-day was a return showing tho cost of collecting Customs duties at ports of entry. The Auckland rate per cent, is £2 8s lid ; Thames (sinceclosed as a port of entry), £9 llsSd; and Russell £24 Is. Other papers were : Regulations for Depasturing stock within mining districts, and relative to importation of stock. MR. BADDELEY. In an interview to-night with the Minister of Justice (the Hon. Mr. Forgus), he informed me that the offer of Mr. Baddeloy, R.M., with regard to the stipendiary magistracy at Auckland and Onohunga, could not be entertained, and he has been communicated with to that effect. The Minister stated that the local justices in rotation will have to assist the Resident Magistrate, as is done in the other centres of population in the colony, I understand that the Government do not recognise his claims to a larger pension than that awarded by the Assembly last session. In the present temper of the House, if the quostion is re-opened, the hist state of Mr. Baddeley is likely to be worse tnan the first. MISCELLANEOUS. There is considered to be little prospect of the re-opening of the Thames as a port of entry to satisfy local agitation. The revenue has dwindled, it is said, from £4000 to £SOO a-year. Mr. Cadman gave notice to-day of a series of questions relative to the contract for the erection of tho Government printing office. Mr. Taylor has returned " the badge of servitude," namely, tho free railway golden pass, to the Minister of Public Works, with an endorsement on the enclosure that he " does not feel justified in accepting it in tho present financial condition of the colony." Mr. Kolly is moving to get the land lately purchased adjoining Mount Mangonui, at the entrance of Tauranga harbour, proclaimed a reserve for recreation purposes, under the control of the Tauranga Borough Council. Tho Auckland Torpedo Corps, the Minister of Defence thinks, will be sent back to their station next woek.

I understand that the non-taxable area of nativo land, which the Government intend to put in the schedule of the Native Lands Act, is the King Country proper, which will be exempt from taxation till July 1, 1801 ; while in the other portions of tho colony in which natives reside, they will bo subject to taxation in liko manner as Europeans, after July 1, 1889.