POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9082, 16 June 1888, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday. REMOVAL OF GORSE. Mr. Lawry has received letters from country settlers complaining that the powers of tho Road Boards to compel owners to clear gorse on roadsides are not sufficiently cloar and defined. Mr. Lawry has had several interviews with the Hon. Mr. Hislop on the matter, and the Minister has promised to give it consideration. TAE NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY. Some of the Wellington representatives, Messrs. Bruce, Newman, and Wilson, have interviewed the Minister for Public Works to complete tho Main Trunk line of road from Huntorville on to the Hautapu Valley, and as far as Turanganni, near the Manavvatu, so as to secure all tho traffic of that country to tho Wellington lines of railway. They suggested that as the Government had determined to stop any further contracts for railway works at present, a sufficient sum should be taken out of the recently raised North Island Main Trunk line loan to complete this trunk road to tho point named. The Hon. E. Mitchelson promised that the subject should be brought before the Cabinet, and would receive careful consideration. STATE FORESTS ACT. The hon. member for Marsden, Mr. R. Thompson, asks the Minister for Lands whether ho intends to bring in a measure to repeal the State Forests Act ? VAGARIES IN RETRENCHMENT. Mr.Hamlin to-day gave notice to ask tho Premier if he would state how it is that in carrying out the scheme of retrenchment some persons, who were not legally ontitled to compensation upon loss of oilice, were awardea sums as high as a thousand pounds, whilst persons in humble positions —such as the boatmon in tho Manukau harbour pilot service, who have served from ten to sixteen years, were awarded nothing at all upon their discharge ? NATIVE SCHOOLS. To-day Mr. Goldie asked the Minister for Education when he would lay on the table the report on native schools for tho year ending May last ? Mr. Goldie is anxious to have it before the House before tho discussion on educational matters comes on ; further to see how far the general Government have retrenched native schools during the

past year. MR. LAWRY ON LARRIKINISM. Mx. Lawry, referring to the question of larrikinism, made a playful defence of the Remuera larrikins, who came and appropriated his plums. Ho thought there was less larrikinism in the country than was alleged. He doubted whother he and other members were not as great larrikins when they were boys as many who were now claimed as such. A number of lion, members with a fragrant recollection of their youthful experiences gave him a sympathetic cheer. SETTLEMENT OF OHINEMURI. Mr. Cadman is asking for a return showing the number of persons settled, with permanent title; by the Government, or Waste Lands Board, on lands in the Counties of Ohinemuri, Thames, and Coromandel since January, ISSO ; also, a return giving the owners, areas, and locality of the various blocks of native land in the Counties of Ohinemuri, Thames, and Coromandel upon which restrictions are placed preventing owners disposing of them other than by the Board. THE TOTALISATOR. A petition against the totalisator was presented by Mr. Whyte from the Waikato County Council. Tho petition said it was one of the causes of the present depression. A second petition from Christchurch was presented with over 4000 signatures, by Mr. Perceval, to tho same effect. THE PROVINCIAL AUDITORS. From the repor; of the Public Petitions Committee it appears the opinion of the Solicitor-General has been obtained with regard to Mr. J. Ollivier's case. It is stated he adds that the petitioner is entitled, under 33rd section of the Civil Service Act, 1886, to a superannuation allowance of half his present salary—namely, £250. PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE. The committee reported in the case of George Clarkson, of Auckland, claiming £5000 reward for discovery of the Thames goldfield, that it should be referred to Goldfields Committee; re Tapu settlers, Thames, should be referred to Waste Lands Committee ; re petition G. T. Welsey and others, praying for road to connect with special settlements, referred to Government for consideration; re S. Rountreo and others (Shop Hours Bill), no rocommenda-

tion ; re Charles Robinson, of Ohinemuri, no claim against the colony; re Thomas Smith, of Kaitaia, re payment of money due, special settlers' luggage, committee recommend account to be investigated with view to settlement; re Donald McGregor and others, Whangarei Heads, for grant for road, referred to Government; re Thomas Walker, Auckland, claim for military services, no recommendation ; re W. C. Gearon and others respecting amendment of clause 60 of Education Act, 1877, as regards alteration of boundaries of school districts, referred to Government; re G. C. Carr and others, Auckland, praying that present system may remain unaltered, same decision. PETITION. By Sir George Grey, from John Flatt, of Auckland, praying consideration for long service. He was gardener at Government House, Auckland, and subsequently at Dunedin. PRISON V. FREE LABOUR. A return, moved for by Mr. Goldie, has been furnished showing articles and materials of all kinds prepared by the prisoners for the past year for other than gaol purposos, and the cost of the same to the colony, the prices at which they have boon sold, and the cost and character of the machinery used in their production. In Auckland the prisoners seem to be almost wholly employed on stone-breaking, etc., at a cost of materials of £'20 to the colony. In addition they made 53 coffins for Hospital paupers at a cost of £11 10s 6d to the colony, and the Srice obtained was £24. At Wellington aol half a million bricks for the Printing Office and the Asylum, at Wellington, cost the colony £386 4b, and wore sold at £1367. At Lyttolton Gaol, the- printing done cost £50, and realised £400. WORKS ON INSECT PESTS. There were laid on the table to-day " A Manual of Injurious Insects and Methods of Prevention," and " A Guide to Methods of Insect Life," both by Miss E. A. Omerod, the entomologist. They are exhibited in connection with the Hessian fly controversy. CLUB LIFE.

The return of clubs, moved for by Mr. Goldio, was laid on tho table to-day. In the list of clubs against which subsection E of Hection 2*29 of the Licensing Act, 1881, haa been onforced, is tho Waipu Working Men's Club, cancelled 17th August, 1885; the Tauranga Working Men's Club, cancelled 17th Fobruary, 1886. Applications for charters received, but not granted, during three years, ondod 31st March, 1888: Omaha Working Men's Club ; Frankton, Waikato; Newton Working Men's Club ; National, Auckland ; Waipu Working Men's Club. Only two clubs meet in hotels—one in Blenheim, and tho other in Napier. TE KOOTI'S PETITION. Recently Te Kooti petitioned the House bo give him a helping hand, as his house had been accidentally burned down. The day hae been when To Kooti's name was one to conjure with, but not now. The Native Affairs Committee to-day reported they had no recommendation to make.

A number of East Coast natives have petitioned the House that the Government would prevent Tβ Kooti from making triumphal progress through the country, as he and his followers were eating them out of house and home. The Native Affairs Committee reported to-day on the matter. They sympathised with tho petitioners, and recommended that the Government should do their utmost to prevent Te Kooti'e monthly meetings by introducing euch legislation as should enable the authorities to prevent what was a deliberate and crafty system of loafing on the resources of thrifty and well-disposed natives.

NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. Paora Parau, a petitioner to the House, objects to pay taxes, rates, and duties which have been imposed on him by the Governmont. He alleges as his reason that he is the owner of the soil. There are a good many Europeans who endorse Paora's sentiments who nave not the good fortune to be owners of the soil. The Native Affairs Committee report that as the petition interferes with the policy of the Government, they have no recommendation to make. The Native Affairs Committee reported in the case of Honi Mohi Tawhi'a, and others, as to a road from the Hokianga River to the special settlements, that it be referred to the Government. Re the petition of Thomas Fincb, hotelkeeper at Alexandra, claim for food and board supplied to Tawhiao and party in 1881 and 1882, by order of Major Mair, the Committee recommend that the account be paid, and the Government requested to place the amount on the Supplementary Estimates. Re petition of Thomas Hawkins Smith, the Committee recommend the Government to pay him £50 and reasonable interest in settlement of his claim for compensation for losses sustained. Re the petition of Kainawa Ruiripi and others, respecting a road taken by the County Council at \Vha,ngaroa, the Committee referred it to the Government for enquiry. The old Maori warrior, Hohaia Pawhau Ringare, a native, who petitioned the House for a pension of £12 per annum for services rendered by him to the Europeans during tho battle of Ruapekapoka, has found the " roar for retrenchment" too much for him. The Native Affairs Committee reported on the case that they had no recommendation to make.

A European scout, named John Blain, who has been petitioning for relief for services rendered to the colony by watching the movements of tho Ngutihako tribe after the disturbances at Ohinomuri in 1579, has had better luck, as the Committee referred his case to the Government for enquiry and consideration. THE LAND AMENDMENT ACT. The amendments which the Minister of Lands at present is engaged in framing in the present Land Act deal for the most part with the pastoral leases. The facb that the Canterbury leases will expiro in a couple of years has induced Mr. Richardson to make an effort to devise moans Ly which the pastoral tenants of the Crown may have a certain security of tenure, in order to encourage them to expend money on improvements. NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY. The member for Marsden (Mr. R. Thompson) has I believe given up the hope of getting through his Bill in connection with this measure owing to the press of Government business. He has returned the maps and plans to the Surveyor-General (Mr. McKerrow), with a view of getting completed all the information as to Crown lands on each side of the projected route of railway. STATE FORESTS. The Surveyor-General has promised to work out the acreage of land available and the value of State forests, so that at the close

of the session Mr. Thompson may take all the information back with him to Auckland which a syndicate would require before embarking on the enterprise, and so that the lion, member would be in a position to bring forward his Bill at the earliest period next session. NEWMARKET RAILWAY WORKSHOPS. I understand that tho Hon. E. Mitchelson. Minister of Public Works, has forwarded the allegations made by Auckland mem hers respecting the changes in the Auckland Railway Department and workshops to Mr. Jackson, the successor of Mr. Elliott, for his explanation and comments, and such further information as ho may wish to forward on the subject. A TRADE CONSPIRACY. A serious matter as affecting one of the industries of this colony, has been brought under the notice of the Minister for Lands. It appears that on the first of this month there appeared in the columns of tho LanncestOn Examiner and the Daily Telegraph an anonymous advertisement to tho following effect:—"The public are cautioned against buying or eating New Zealand butter, as disease has been prevalent amongst cows for somo time in that colony." Messrs. Wood Bros., produce exporters, of Christchurch, have written to the Minister that the direct effect of this slanderous advertisement has been

the receipt by them on Monday last of telegraphic advice stopping a shipment of butter which had been ordered. It is needless to say that the advertisements in question are without foundation. There is no disease among cows in this colony at the present time. The last outbreak of disease in the colony was pleuro in the Waikato district only, in 1882. - The Minister of Lands informs mo that he is taking steps to deal with the matter, whicn he regards as a most scandalous business on the part of those concerned. THE SHIPPING AND SEAMEN'S ACT. The office-bearers of the Marine Certificated Engineers' Association of Dunedin, Wellington, and Auckland are petitioning the House that foreign cargo-carrying vessels be made to comply witn the provisions of the Shipping and Seamen's Act in respect to the employment of certificated engineers. SIR G. GREY. Sir G. Grey informs me that he has consented to open the Masterton Exhibition about the end of next week. He will also vipit Greytown, and give a political address if the citizens so desire it. NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY LOAN AND ROUTE. The Wellington Post is still keeping an eye to tho central route. The Post contends that the railway loan having beon placed on the market under tho North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Allocation Act of 1886, the effect is to earmark it for the line, and irrevocably determines the question of route in favour of tho central line. It quotes clauses two and three, and eays : —"It will be seen from the clauses that the central line is not only clearly defined but that the proceeds of the loan must bo kept separate, and spent on this line only. It is not open to the House to divert a sixpence of it, and the power of even considering any such division is taken away. Parliament may suspend the expenditure as long as it likes, but the money must remain

intact until ifc is spent ih the manner specified. Even the expenditure on surveys of alternative lines does not come within tho limits of the Act, and tho Minister of Public Works will be unable to charge the coat of his expensive Taranaki surveys to this loan." THE MOKAU JONES DEBATE. The whole of the afternoon was pretty well given up to that now historical.personage, " Mokau" Jones. A long and bitter debate took place, in which the names of Messrs. Morrin and Russell, of Auckland, were brought up in connection with some Mokau lands by Mr. Seddon, though I understand that Mr. Morrin has nothing to do with the matter. The most fiery speech of the debate was that of Mr. Hamlin, who produced some letters and telegrams in connection with the " Mokau" Jones business which caused a mild'sensation. He mado a strong attack upon the Chief Judge of tho Native Lands Court, into which he imported the namee of the Attorney-General and Mr. Edwin Hesketh, of Auckland, whose legal opinions ha alleged sustained his own views of the case. Colonel Roberts and ex-Judge Davy having accepted their appointments, propose to set about thoir work at once, but another embroglio has arisen. Mr. Jones has communicated with the Native Minister, intimating that he does not accept the Commission, but is desirous of having his case

gone into in Parliament, and of getting a Parliamentary title to his land. There is little prospect, from what has transpired, that the Government will ever accede to this ; so we may expect the " Mokau" Jones business to reappear with melancholy regularity with each successive session of Parliament, as it has done for the last eight or ten years. During the debate Mr. Joshua Jones was in the gallery, and was the observed of all observers. THE TARIFF. Messrs. Kirkcaldie, Richardson, and J. Smith, together with Mr. Archibald Clark of Auckland, Mr. Wilson (Messrs. Wilson and Richardson), and the Inspector of Customs, had an interview with tho Premier of some two hours' duration to-day, during which the anomalies in the tariff were discussed. The Premier promised to eoe what could bo done in the way of relieving the

oppression complained of, more especially as regards the passing of entries, and tho defining more strictly of the term "apparel." The deputationists were apprehensive that everything through which a needle passed would be charged the higher rate of duty. It is said that the Colonial Treasurer has agreed to make concessions to the manufacturers of several classes of goods. Certain kinds of rough material for carriages, tinware, and upholsterers' fittings, are to be added to the free list, and a drawback is to be given to the makers pi agricultural machinery on their imported fittings, while a concession is also to be allowed to the makers of soda crystals. The House at its evening sitting started on the tariff, and made excellent progress. The first division was on apparel, when some amusement was caused by Sydney Taiwhanga, a Freetrader, getting into the lobby with the Protectionists. Mr. Seddon, amid great laughter, went into the lobby after the hon. member, and restored him to the Freetrader fold. On the item of twopence per lb. on bacon and hams Mr. Ward caused much merriment by stating that the duty collected during the past year on these imported articles was 9s 4d. In the matter of candied and drained peel Sir George Grey had received a telegram from Mr. Waters, confectioner, of Auckland, stating that drained peel was formerly free, and that the new duty of 3d per pound would prevent a number of persons from having employment, and injure the industry. The Premier promised to give the matter consideration. Mr. Moss represented strongly to the Premier the necessity for consideration of letters he had sent to him from constituents on the boot and shoe duty, and the Premier said he would give them further consideration, but meantime he had decided not to allow any alteration in the duty. When the House rose carriages, etc., cordage, and fruifc were held over for further consideration. The Freetraders owing to the steady mnjoritios against them, are seeing that it is idle to offer factious opposition, and have refrained from offering it. The Premier hones to get the tariff through on Tuesday, but the statement was received with laughter and incredulity, and he was asked when he would be prepared to answer the fifty questions on the Order Paper. DINNER TO MR. BRYCE.

A number of members of both Houses entertain tho Hon. John Bryce at Bellamy's to-morrow evening.