POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9116, 26 July 1888, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

[BY TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Wednesday. AUCKLAND HARBOUR IMPROVE-

MENT BILL.

Mr. Peacock was again before the Local Bills Committee of the Legislative Council to-day. I understand that a compromise has been come to on terms satisfactory to those opposed to the Bill, on the ground of its being a private Bill. New clauses have been drafted providing that the Harbour Board shall deal with the private interests involved through the Public Works Act Compensation Court, the adjustment) of land to be given in lieu of money. MEDICAL BILL. The Colonial Secretary tell me that the Medical Bill— provisions of which I sent some time agowill be introduced in the Legislative Council. REFRACTORY ORES. This question is receiving a good deal of attention, and Mr. Reeves (Inangahua) asks the Government if they will appoint a technical commission to visit the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition, with a view of collecting evidence as to the latest and best methods of extraction of gold from quartz and other subtances. THE TREATY OF WAITANGI. Sydney Taiwhanga has preferred a mild request to the Government to bring a Bill repealing all Native Land Acts in force on all, lands in - the King Country owing to their being contrary to the Treaty of Waitangi. ■ t' • PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE. At different times attention , has been called to the unsatisfactory composition of the above committee, and Mr. Moss, who lias been hitherto active in this matter, asks the Colonial Treasurer when he intends to bring down the proposals . for the better constitution of the committee, to which he referred in the earlier part of the session. LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT. ' A movement is being made in the ■ interest of local self-government, and Dr. Hodgkinson asks the Premier whether the : Government will make the question of decentralisation and reform of local government an integral part of their policy, and will they next session bring down a Bill for the reform of local government on lines similar to those of the Local Government Bill recently introduced in the English House of Commons ? THE AUCKLAND CARTRIDGE > . FACTORY. Captain Whitney, who is at present here, has interviewed the Defence Minister on various matters connected with the Mount Eden Cartridge Factory. The late Government had made certain promises which he is desirous of getting fulfilled. The first is to get the machinery for the factory, twothirds of which has arrived, duty free ; and second, a renewal of the lease of the site. I understand these two points have been practically ; agreed to by the Premier and the Defence Minister. The third is a larger question. In reference to the renewal of the contractfor the manufacturing of ammunition for the colonial forces, I understand that his proposals on behalf of the Colonial Ammunition Company (Limited), are, providing that the quality ? is satisfactory, that the company should have the order to supply all the ammunition required by the New Zealand defence forces for a number of years on the same terms, minus the bonus of £5000, granted by the Victorian Government, namely, all machinery duty free, free use of ■ Government magazines, etc. also, that the Government take not less than one million rounds per annum, the Government supplying the powder from - England, and ■ appointing a competent officer to' test the cartridges weekly or fortnightly, all ammunition not up to standard to be rejected and returned , to; the company. It is proposed to supply the ammunition at £5 per thousand < rounds, instead .of £6 per thousand, as under the previous contract. The company undertake to ; repair arms if required, and make any other arrangement for ammunition as if the factory were a Government arsenal. They are also prepared to undertake the introduction of a new rifle for the rearming of the colonial forces. Captain Whitney informs me that a small arms, factory is beyond the means of the colony, as the plant would cost £50,000.: He is well pleased , with the liberality evinced by the Victorian Government in their conditions, and will shortly commence there the manufacture, not only of small arms ammunition,but of Gatling and Nordenfeldt ammunition, also of the Whitehead torpedo. ' The English' firm with which he is connected, Batley and Greenwood, the well-known contractors for small-arm ammunition to the British Government, are also inventors •of a land-torpedo for discharge from piers in harbour defence, which has received the attention of the British Government. Captain Whitney, on completing his business here with the Defence Office as to the ammunition contract, proceeds to Auckland and thence to Melbourne. ' •'* : ' THE NATIVE FEUD.

The tenor of the telegrams from Whangarei, received by the Native Minister, is that all is quiet, booh parties awaiting the arrival of the Native Minister. It is unfortunate that through the sitting of Parliament the Native Minister is unable to go to the district at present, as, owing to his personal influence with the natives, and quiet, but firm, method of dealing with them, there is little doubt . that .he would soon settle the dispute, as well as end the trouble with regard to the Fitzgerald incident. Mr. Hobbs to-day gave notice to ask the Government whether they will appoint a Commission to inquire into the dispute now -pending between the natives and Mr. Fitzgerald at Kaipara. THE COLONY'S BALANCE-SHEET. Mr. R. Reeves moves that there be prepared and laid before this House during the present session a fair and simple balance-sheet, showing the actual receipts and expenditure of the colony under classification headings for the year ended the 31st March last; the statement to show the balance of the account, debit and credit, at the beginning of the year, and ■ the balances either in hand, in the banks, or elsewhere at the close of business on 30th March last; (2) a statement of the whole assets and liabilities of the colony; (3) a similar statement of accounts for the year ending 31st March, 1889, to be laid before the House within ten days after the meeting of the next session of Parliament. THE PUKEKURA NATIVE DIFFICULTY. It looks as if Mr. E. B. Walker was to get a chance to have his grievances aired and discussed in the House. Mr. Turnbull moved that all papers connected with the Pukekura and Puahoe blocks, Waikato, and Messrs. Grico and Benn's dealings -with native owners thereof, be laid before the House. GISBORNE HARBOUR BOARD COMMITTEE. Mr. James Mills, manager of the Union S.S. Company, has given evidence before this Parliamentary Committee with regard to the Gisborne harbour works. He said if the wharf was continued so as to give a depth of 13 feet at low water, as now proposed by the Harbour Board, the smaller coastal steamers of the Company, which are the Ohau, Taupo, and Australia, would go alongside, but the intercolonial steamers would not; and the result would probably be that they would discontinue calling there. The Gisborne Harbour Board Bill is likely to be severely handled in the Legislative Council, but Mr. Graham believes he will pull it through. MR. FISH INDIGNANT. Mr. Fish felt so indignant at the way he was referred to by Mr. Alex. Bathgate at the Princess Theatre meeting at Dunedin on the Otago Central question, that he sent that gentlemen the following telegram tonight :—"Had I been present at Monday night's meeting I would have personally chastised you for your insulting reference to myself and my occupation. Your action was contemptible in the extreme." PETITIONS. By Mr. Kelly, fro'm Jonathan Brown and thirteen others, for a concession in regard to stamps paid by the Tauranga Railway Company; by Mr. Whyte, from Isaac Reading, for grant of land for military services.

HOME FOR AGED MINERS. In reply to Colonel Fraser, the Minister of Mines said there was . no analogy between the case of the West Coast and that of Coromandel and the Thames, in respect to reserving a block of land as a grant for a home for aged miners. He had no intention of making such a reserve. NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY. The Native Minister informed Mr. R. Thompson to-day that he would, during the recess, endeavour to arrange with the natives for the purchase of blocks of land on each side of the proposed line of railway between Maungatapere and Lake Omapere. INSPECTOR - GENERAL OF HOSPITALS. In reply to Major Steward, who made inquiries as to the terms of Dr. McGregor's engagement and salary, the Colonial Secretary said his engagement was from the Ist April, 1886, to the 31st of March, 1889, and his salary was £200 per annum. The answer was in exact terms in response to the terms of the question, but as Inspec-tor-General of Asylums he receives £1000 a year, making a total of £1200. THE LEGISLATIVE ESTIMATES. It is said that the Estimates of the two Speakers of the Legislature were considered in the Cabinet this morning. They have not yet been brought down ; but, as it is understood those of the Lower Chamber are on last year's scale, the retrenchment party are on the tiptoe of expectation to have a look at them. REGISTRAR OF FRIENDLY SOCIETIES DEPARTMENT. " Mr. Goldie has received communications from some of the officers of friendly societies in Auckland, urging the abolition of this department. It is alleged that a very great expense is incurred annually for fees for secretaries' salaries, and valuers, of which the House knows absolutely nothing, and the returns when obtained are so unreliable as to be comparatively worthless. Yet from these very returns the annual report has to be compiled.., THE NATIVE POLICY BILLS.. The whole of the evening sitting has been devoted to discussing the above Bills. The attack against them was led by Sir George Grey, who was well supported by the native members. Towards midnight Sydney Taiwhanga started stonewalling, and commenced with the landing of Captain Cook, speaking- in Maori. A member tried to fix Sydney by asking for the date of Cook's landing, but he held bravely on till near one o'clock in the morning, when Mr. Hutchison went over to the seat near him. A colloquy ensued, shortly after which Sydney collapsed, and the House got into Committee on the Land Act Amendment Bill. ,

l MISCELLANEOUS. An inquiry is being made as to whether the 5 Government will bring in an Income Tax Bill dealing with professional and other incomes.

The Native Minister is being asked what steps he is taking to complete the formation of a National Park, including Ruapehu, IS gauruhoe, and Tongariro. In order apparently to clear up the Times story about a Government official, Mr. Guinness moves for a return of Government reserves on which buildings or Government buildings are erected, the names of the persons occupying the buildings as residences, and the rent payable by each occupier of each residence. I understand that the Colonial Secretary has determined to cancel the charter of the Newmarket Carlton Club.

During last night's discussion of the Estimates, £20 was saved on some £400,000, the cost <?£ effecting the retrenchment being £100.

Mr. Mrtcarthur appears to be interested in the career of Mr. Hately, a sheep inspector, as ihe desires ;to know why that officer's name appears on the annual sheep return as sheep inspector in the Auckland district, when the transfer of that officer to Auck land only took place in the middle of June last.