POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9075, 8 June 1888, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

I [BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. THAMES HARBOUR BOARD. Colonel Fraser asks the Minister of Marine—(l) What were the reasons which induced the Government to circumscribe the boundaries of the port of Thames, and whether the Ministry is aware that such action will cripple the resources and revenue of tho Harbour Board, and prevent its meeting its liabilities? (2) Has the Government any objection to allow a committee of the House to inquire into the matter ? COLONIAL HARBOURS. A return was laid on the table to-day which shows how liabilities are being piled up to to make harbours in the face of Nature. It relates to the Hokitika harbour works, and states that £40,000 is required to complete them up to the point shown on Sir John Coode's plan. But it must not be supposed that even this expenditure would complete the work in the manner provided by him. To complete forming banks and harbour works throughout of a character as permanent as that being adopted at Greymouth and Westport would cost probably from £150,000 to £200,000. On only 157 days of the year was there 12 feet of water on the bar, and the whole tonnage of goods landed at the wharf was but 96b7 tons, exclusive of railway material. THE TEMPERANCE PARTY. The temperance party have been consulting as to the best opportunity of bringing their Alliance resolution before the House. I understand as soOn as the tariff business is disposed of they will avail themselves of a favourable occasion for bringing it. on. Mr. Fulton (Taieri), as the senior member of the party in the House, will bo entrusted with the task of introducing and moving it. It reads, " Whereas the enormous direct expenditure on intoxicating liquors in this colony, amounting annually to two million sterling, contributes largely to the existing depression, adds materially to crime and poverty, and reduces tho capital available for reproductive industries, and whereas the people under the existing law are powerless to remove the principal cause of these evils, it is in the opinion of this House imperative that the Government should, without delay, introduce a Bill giving power to the people by direct vote at the ballot-box periodically taken to prohibit the sale of such liquors within the district in which they reside." ANNUAL SHEEP RETURNS. The annual sheep returns of tho colony show a total number of 15,155,620, being a decrease of nearly nineteen thousand on tho previous year. Tho district of Auckland showed an increase of over twenty thousand. The superintending inspector concludes by saying : "The excess in the number of sheep boiled down and frozen leads to the idea that a larger number of stock has been cleared. The short shearing musters in the high country further shows that the severe winter and spring had told disastrously on the stock, while from the steady increase in tho North Island it is evident that the available country is being improved and stocked. It is in this direction in future that I look for our largest annual increase. I can report tho flocks throughout tho colony as being healthy, and again, as far as known, free from scab ; and I do not anticipate any further outbreak if the unstocked rough country known to bo infested with wild sheep is thoroughly dealt with." Complaints were made to-day at the delay in furnishing this return, which should be furnished closo up to date to bo of any use to the community. The Minister of Lands promised to look into the matter, and brush up the Sheep Department, so as to remedy any complaints.

PETITIONS. By Major Jackson, from Ropata, Oniepe, and 38 others, praying that quarter-castes — that is, the children of half-castes—may have the power to appear in the Native Land Court to prove their title to the land of their Maori ancestors ; by Mr. Peacock, from George Clarkson, of Auckland, goldminer, praying that he and his partners in Hunt's claim, the Shotover (Messrs. Win. A. Hunt, Wm. A. Colley, and John Ebenezer White), may bo awarded the £5000 reward offered by the Government for the discovery of gold at the Thames. Further petitions have beon presented in favour of the Shop Hours Bill. A petition from Christchuroh in favour of tho abolition of the totalisator was presented to-day. POLICE PROMOTION. Tho Commissioner of Police has issued an order entitling Sergeants Pratt (Auckland), Morice (Wellington), and McDonald (Christchurch), to hold the rank of Acting-Ser-geant-Major. The whole of the officers in charge of the central police stations in the four principal cities now therefore hold the rank of Sergeant-Major. From enquiries I havo made, I learn the higher grade will carry no additional pay. THE POLITICAL SITUATION. There has been little of moment to record to-day. Both parties abstained from holding caucuses, and the Government maintain the same attitude as heretofore on tho tariff. There have been no further secessions from the Government party than the eighteen Freetraders, who have already gone either permanently or temporarily. The debate was resumed on the tariff this afternoon by Mr. Goldie, and as the day advanced it was rumoured that the Freetraders contemplated moving an amendment further on in the debate, to the effect that the financial proposals of the Government are not entirely satisfactory. They are said to desire to take a division on the amendment rather than to vote against the Custom Excise Bill, and it is hoped its terms will catch some stray votes. For fear of a surprise division tho Government whips aro keeping their men well in hand. Some others predict a division to-night, either on the second reading of the Customs Excise Bill, or on the threatened amendment of the Freetraders. Otherwise debate will go on till to-mor-row night, as a number of members desire to speak upon the tariff. The telegrams and letters received by the Government on the questions of the tariff and Protection would fill a goodsized express. Some people want raw material taxed, and others the manufactured foods, but all want in some way or other rotection for themselves, whatever may become of their neighbours. Some tradesmen in their businesses actually want to be protected against other tradesmen in other localities. An attempt will be made to place certain classes of machinery which cannot be made in the

colony on the free list, and also to give a rebate on machinery ordered and shipped before the introduction of the Act. In framing the tariff the Treasurer inadvertently omitted tho item of honey, bat at the request of the New Zealand Beekeepers' Association the error has been roctified, and ic is now proposed to place a duty of 2d per lb on this article. RETRENCHMENT TROUBLES. Messrs. John Olliver and McAllister, provincial auditors, who were retrenched, but who contend that their offices are life appointments, have their cases at present before the Public Petitions Committee for compensation for dismissal. Mr. Olliver was examined to-day. A section of the House are of opinion that the higher class of officials have not been retrenched in anything like the same proportion as those of the lower class, and some members will, it is believed, when tho Estimates come under review, endeavour to remedy the anomaly by reducing the higher salaries. Sir R. Stout, in conversation to-day, expressed the opinion that the retrenchments in tho Civil Service were too drastic, and pointed "out a number of cases which he regarded as glaring injustices." CODLIN MOTH BILL.' Most of the Auckland members appear to be in favour of the Codlin Moth Bill, though agreeable to such modifications as may meet the wishes of the fruit-growers. They state the experience of Tasmania proves that legislation is necessary, and its operation will be productive of beneficial results. THE CALIFORNIAN THISTLE BILL. Mr. Hutchison will move in committee a series of amendments and new clauses in the Californian Thistle Bill, which will completely alter it, namely, providing for extirpation of " other noxious growths, to wit, the Canadian thistle, the variegated and hybrid thistle, and such other growths as may by Order-in-Council be from time to time declared to be within the operations

of this Act. Mr. T. Mackenzie is greatly incensed at the proposed mutilation of his Bill, and says all thistles, other than the Californian, are very much eaten by stock, and what is more, no person could ever exterminate them, even if they were foolish enough to try. He regarded the question as one of importance to Northern settlers. THE MAORIS RELIEF BILL. The Maoris Relief Bill of Sydney Taiwhanga is intended to reinstate certain rights for the natives given by the treaty of Waitangi, but which are believed to have been abrogated. It proposes the appointment of a committee of Maoris by the four Maori representatives of the Assembly as they may deem expedient. How this is to be accomplished is- not clearly made out. The preamble sets out that it is one of the grievances of the Maoris that they are precluded from making representations to the Queen or her advisers. INCIDENTS OF THE TARIFF DEBATE. As was anticipated as the debate progressed personal feeling has increased, and the breach between the Government and its former Freetrade allies is steadily widening. Mr. Allen, in opposing the tariff, said a tax on sugar was coming in as much as the property tax assessments were falling, and it would have to fill the gaps or else the increased value of properties in the North would have to compensate for the decline in the South. Mr. Monk caused a diversion by remarking, "It's the other way about." The member for Dunedin South (Mr. Fish) was very rough in his speech on Mr. Allen, but in turn was liberally vivisected by Mr. Scobie McKenzie in terms which are rarely heard in Parliament, and which caused such a sensation that a pin might have been hoard drop. After the supper adjournment, he made an apology language he had used outside Parliamentary usage. The scene which took place between the Hon. G. Fisher and Mr. Menteath was almost as remarkable an episode, and arose out of the political vendetta between these two politicians. A number of Maori chiefs have been present at the evening debate today. One grand old chief, Ngatune, of Wairarapa, presented himself in a kiwi mat, with parti-coloured skirt, shining belltopper, and minus boots. He created a sensation.

NATIVE SCHOOLS. Mr. Goldie scored a point in his speech, judging by the manifestations of approval in his reference to the expenditure on native schools. He showed that the average attendance was 1846, and that considerably over £14,000 was spent on them, or some £7 15a per head, as against £3 15s per head in the public schools of the colony. The teachers' salaries came to £10,000, and the removal of teachers cost last . year £336, while the Board of Education, in a case of promotion, makes the teacher bear the expense. The retiring allowances amounted to £845, none of which are allowed by the Board. The Minister of Education, in referring to the matter, admitted that native schools were conducted in too costly a fashion, and that, if the Education Boards wero not abolished, they would bo handod over to their control and supervision. He could say for the present Government, that they had not spent any money on musical instruments and games. MISCELLANEOUS. In order to comply with the standing orders, Mr. Thompson (Marsden) has been obliged to send the Whangarci Drill-shed Bill to Whangarei, to deposit with the Resident Magistrate's Court, and advertise for three weeks. Smuggling is believed to bo carried on largely in some of the Auckland districts and elsewhere. Mr. Goldie intends to bring tho matter up in the House in one form or other, so that the subject may be ventilated. I understand that the report) of the Public Petitions Committee is as unfavourable to Inspector Buckley's petition as to Inspector Shearman's. It is reported that ho intends to settle in Christcnurch and start in business.