POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9110, 19 July 1888, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. Wellington, Wednesday. AUCKLAND HARBOUR IMPROVE-

MENT BILL.

I understand that some of the members of the Local Bills Committee of the Legislative Council have raised the question of the above Bill being a private Bill. Mr. Peacock attended to-day, but there was no meeting for want of a quorum. The committee meets to-morrow, when the hon. member will again attend. He informs me that he expects to get over the difficulty, on the ground that, although private interests are involved, the time when that objection should have been raised was when the reclamation was authorised in 1886. The present Bill is merely a means for the better carrying out of that matter, and the Bill should be allowed to pass. The mere fact that the private parties are agreed does not affect the contention of its being a private Bill. THE WAIAPU MURDER.

Mr. Taiwhanga is inquiring what steps the Government propose to take for bringing W. Turei, the Waiapu wife-murderer, to justice. THE KORIMAKO.

In reply to Mr. Taiwhanga, the Native Minister said that he could not consent to place a sum on the Supplementary Estimates for the Korimako. The late Government had contributed £100 per annum towards it, and the present Government to the close of the financial year had done the same. Had the Natives supported the paper as they should have done, the gentlemen in Auckland who were benevolently aiding the journal would have continued their support. Still he was aware that the late Mr. Edmonds had given a good deal of time and labour to the Korimako, but he could not see his way to comply with the request made. THE PROPOSED TRANSFER OF

NATIVE SCHOOLS. With reference to the statements which have been published as to this matter, Mr. R. Thompson has tabled the following motion, with a view of eliciting the real position of affairs :— (1) Has the Auckland Education Board agreed to take over the management of the Native schools ? (2) on what condition does this Board propose to take over the said schools? (3) Will the Government be prepared to place the Native schools under the control of the Board, at the earliest date possible ? ■ TREATMENT OF REFRACTORY ORES. In reply to Mr. Cadman, the Minister of Mines stated that to-morrow all the papers relating to mining would be placed on the table of the House. It was his intention to offer a substantial bonus for the treatment of high and low grade ores, and the conditions were now being drafted. Mr. Cadman said as no annual raining report had been submitted this year he had deemed it necessary to elicit the information by question.

NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. This committee met to-day, but little was dona. .The series of amendments by . Mr. Hutchison were not ready for circulation. They are- so numerous as almost to make a new bill themselves. In fact, the Premier at first suggested they should be printed as one Bill. These amendments are to be translated into Maori for the informa-

tion of the native members. The committe then adjourned till to-morrow. '

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID. A meeting ' of members favourable to the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Institutions Amendment Bill was held this' forenoon. Major Steward presided. The Auckland • members present were:—Messrs. R. Thompson and s Graham. It was stated that a majority of -six, at least, in support of the •Bill,, might -be depended upon. Mr. R. Thompson has to-day given notice of some amendments -in the Bill. In 1885, I may explain an amendment was introduced into the Hospitals ,* and Charitable Institutions Act by which the counties of Wangarei, Otamatea and Hobson were severed from the Auckland -Hospital and Charitable Aid district, and added to the Northern Auckland district. Mr. Thompson now proposes to make the above three counties J

into a : separate district. The different County Councils have petitioned the House that each county be a separate hospital and charitable aid district, but Messrs. Thompson and Hobbs found that there was no hope _of carrying this ; Mr. Thompson, therefore, is simply moving in the direction of getting the three districts abovenamed formed into one. The other counties, Hokiangi, Wangaroa, Mangonui, and Bay of Islands, will then remain as originally created, the North Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid District. Mr. Thompson proposes that the new district shall be called

the Whangarei Hospital and Charitable Aid District. This division only affects the constituencies of Messrs. Thompson and Hobbs, and the latter gentleman acquiesces in Mr. Thompson's action. V

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

A return laid on the table of the House

to-day showed that the total number of officers in the Public Works Department (other than working railways) for ISB7-S totalled to 194; the dispensed with or under notice to leave since Ist April, 1887, numbered 70.

THE TELEPHONE RATES. It came out to-day in regard to the proposed reduction of the telephone rates, that the rates in Auckland, on the average, are higher than in other centres of population. The Premier admitted in the interests ot public convenience they should not provide for higher rates than would make the institution self-supporting. He promised to look into the matter during the recess. HORSES FOR THE INDIAN MARKET.

The list of persons breeding horses, as given in the paper attached to the correspondence about breeding cavalry horses for the Indian market, seems awfully incomplete. From the return there does not appear to be any breeders of such horses in the Auckland province. There are, it seems, only fourteen horse-breeders in the North Island, and eight in the South Island namely, Napier 6, Wellington 8; Marlborough 2, Canterbury 5, Otago 1.

| LOCAL BILLS. The Local Bills Committee reported on 'the Epsom and Mount Eden Recreation and Gravel-pit Reserve Bill, that it was a local Bill, and recommended it be allowed to proceed. With regard to the Waikato Model Farm Bill, the committee recommended that it be allowed to proceed, subject to an amendment by the addition of the following clause:—"The said council may, from time to time, apply part of the county funds in carrying out the purposes of this Act, provided that no such funds shall be so applied except in pursuance of a resolution of the council, passed at a meeting thereof, at which at least twothirds of the members for the time being of the council shall be present, and shall vote in favour of such a resolution." CAUCUS OF THE FREETRADERS. A meeting of the Frcetrade party took place to-day arising out of the overtures which the Protectionists have been making to the Freetraders for a coalition of the two

sections, with a view to the displacement of the Ministry or. a direct no-confidence I motion. About fifteen were present, and I some others were accounted for. I hear that the position was very exhaustively | discussed, with the result that the party were quite unanimous in arriving at the following resolution : —" That it is undesirable for the Freetraders to hamper their future action by joining any section of the House, except on a question of principle." Two of the leading members of the Opposition waited upon the Freetraders as a deputation from the party ; but how little prospect there is of a coalition may be gathered from the fact that one of the leading Freetraders proposed that one of the first acts of the joint forces shoufd be the repeal of the Customs Duties Bill. The views of the Freetrade party were duly communicated to the Opposition. At the close of the caucus it was also agreed that on Mr. Withy's amendment, which the House was carrying on in spite of its author, each member should vote as he pleased, probably most of them will not take the trouble to vote at all. It seems that the overtures from the Protectionists owed their origin to the more youthful and ambitious members of the party, but only three or four of the Freetraders seemed disposed to respond. A little consideration showed the Freetraders that nothing was to be gained for

their principles by the coalition. All that would follow was simply that a couple of portfolios might be dangled before the noses of some of their number, and that they might possibly be allowed to have a small share in the spoils of office. The fact was not good enough. THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. The Government have received a cablegram, I understand, from the AgentGeneral relative to the Midland Railway negotiations. The business is progressing satisfactorily, and there is every reason to believe that the contract will shortly be signed and finally settled. THE INS AND OUTS. Mr. Hutchison did not make much by his motion enquiring whether the Government had represented to His Excellency the possible inconvenience that might result in the event of the Government being defeated before his return. The Premier said that they had not made such representation to the Governor, inasmuch as they did not think that a change of Ministry would take place, and then a ripple of laughter passed over the House. THE WASTE LANDS BOARDS. The new clause inserted in the Land Acts Amendment Bill, providing for the continuance of the Land Boards under the present system is to the effect that the Boards shall consist of not less than two or more than four members . besides the commissioner. LEGISLATIVE EXPENDITURE. The Premier to-day intimated that at anearly date he will move that the House go into committee to consider a motion affirming that the Government should be responsible for the Legislative Estimates. A committee of the House went into this matter in 1886, of which Mr. O'Conor was chairman. Major Campbell, Clerk of the House, gave estimates before that committee, and stated that through the question being raised, he had written to Sir Erskine Slay as to the" mode of the Imperial Parliament. The reply, I may say, of Sir Erskine May sustains the position now taken up by the Premier. COUNTRY J.P.'s.

It is said that Mr. Moat's motion, suggesting that Government should appoint postmasters or other persons of good repute to take declarations, will afford great relief to country members. It seems that country members are continually being worried by influential country settlers to get them appointed as Justices of the Peace, the plea being that it was necessary in order to the taking of declarations. One member, who will be delighted if Mr. Moat's suggestion is adopted; informs me that he has "a little list" of no less than 40 settlers: in his district who all desire that he should get them the coveted honour.

THE WAIKATO MODEL FARM BILL. This vests certain land at Kirikiriroa in the Waikato County Council for a model farm, such farm to be under their control. THE SHEEP ACT AMENDMENT BILL. , This measure provides that the Inspector shall give notice to the owner of scabby sheep to clean the same within six months; and the owner, on conviction, shall be liable to a penalty if the sheep are not clean at the expiration of three months thereafter. All convictions ■ made before the passing of this Act shall be deemed to have been valid. " . -a. THE DEBATE ON MR. WITHY'S AMENDMENT. The Retrenchment party are very much annoyed' at the conduct and speech of the hon. member ' for Waitotara last night. They now regard him as simply having been an Opposition : cket in their camp. Mr. R. Thompson has been congratulated to-day for having boldly charged Mr. Hutchison with having agreed to the amendment at a meeting of members and with having said, " Well, you know I could not openly advocate that in the House." The Press thus

[ refers to those who, on Mr. 'Withy's amendment, passed as friends of the working men. It says : If the working man would only look behind the scenes < he would send a great many 'of his ' friends' to learn a little honesty in an enforced retirement from political life. The mere fact of a man .posing as a friend of the working men should make them suspicious. The real welfare of the working men depends upon the wise Government of the colony and the just consideration of the interests of all classes of the community. A man who poses _as the special friend of the ' working man' is his worst enemy. It is by misgovenunent, jobbery, squandering, and taxation that the colony is brought to its present position, and the working-men compelled to leave it by thousands, and no men are more responsible for this than the so-called ' Friends of the Working-man." I may say that the ink was scarcely dry in Mr. Withy's amendment till members were pestered with telegrams against retrenchment. This was especially so as regards the threatened reduction vote. The members of the Government got urgent telegrams from School Committees, influenced by school teachers, to listen to no reduction in the Education vote. The "Second Civil Service," as the teaching guild ifj ,now called in its various branches of primary and secondary education and native schools, etc., now numbers close on 4000 strong, and is becoming as potential politically as that huge labour union, the Railway Employees.

THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE ACT AMENDMENT BILL. A long and stubborn fight took place over this Bill. It was alleged by some opponents that the Bill was simply to enable a Wellington frozen meat company to pay a lump sum of £25 as a slaughtering fee instead of having to pay, as at present, on each head slaughtered, thereby saving a large sum, and that the Bill was, though intended to relieve a single company, made applicable to the whole colony. Messrs. T. Thompson, Withy, Peacock, and Goldie, in consequence, carefully watched the Bill in the interests of the city of Auckland and suburbs, and proposed or supported several amendments with that object. After several hours' discussion the Bill was reported, it being understood that the Bill would be recommitted for the purpose of altering the sum of £25 in clause 3 to £30.

CHINESE IMMIGRATION. The Government are to be questioned as to what steps they intend taking in regard to Chinese immigration.

SUPPLY. I understand that the Government intend to devote Friday to Supply, and it is anticipated some headway wiil be made with the Estimates. MISCELLANEOUS.

Mr. Walker got his Privilege Committee. A rumour having been current that the Government have abandoned the idea of appointing an expert, Mr. Valentine puts a question on the subject. The Crown and Native Lands Repeal Bill is now circulated.

The House to-day ordered that the return about bonuses in the Civil Service should be printed. The Premier was rather opposed to it, as members could refer to the information. Mr. Goldie raised the question, and Mr. R. Thompson moved the motion on the subject.