POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9117, 27 July 1888, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. ] Wellington, Thursday. THE NATIONAL PARK. In reply to Dr. Newman, the Native Minister said he was nob taking steps to complete the formation of a National Park, including Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro. The fact was the , Government had simply got the mountain tops ceded to them, and any park lands acquired would have to be got in the usual way by putting them through the Native Lands Court, an arranging with the natives for the purchase of them. It was desirable that further lands should be acquired. Dr. Newman expressed the hope that the work of forming a National Park would go on. THE PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT. In reply to Mr. Goldie, the Premier stated that it was intended to bring in a Bill this session empowering the Government to take borough ' valuations as the basis of assessment in such districts for property tax purposes. It was calculated that some £5000 could be saved by the alteration thus made. MOUNT EDEN CARTRIDGE FACTORY. I understand that Captain Whitney has completed his negotiations with the Government. All machinery and raw material necessary to be imported are to come free, with the exception of primage duty ; he gets a provisional lease of the Mount Eden site; and, lastly, the Government have agreed to a renewal of the ammunition contract for the colonial defence force for one year, subject to the stipulations submitted, namely, that not less than a million rounds be taken, all ammunition not up to standard and not approved, to be taken back by the company, tests to be according to Woolwich regulations—3oo yards with fixed rests. KOHIMARAMA INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL. The Minister for Education informs me that the Government have nob yet closed with the trustees of the Kohimarama reserve for the renewal of the lease. The dormitory is not in good condition, and is too limited. If a fresh lease is agreed to, a new dormitory will require to be built. I understand that but for the sum required for buildings, which could not be spared at the present moment, it would be preferable to remove the children to the Mount Eden reserve, where the institution would be more accessible to visitors and under the public eye, and where the children could receive medical attention promptly, which cannot be done at present by sea in stormy weather, nor by land through lack of a proper road to the institution. Mr. Fisher also informs me that he has agreed to give a contribution to the purchase of a steam launch for the school, so that the Government may have .proper control over the vessel and its management. LOCAL BILLS PASSED. ' The Ngaruawahia Cemetery Reserve Leasing Bill and the Waikato Model Farm Bill passed the House to-day. Some opposition was shown to the latter by Mr. O'Callaghan, who wanted the laud vested in the Agricultural and Pastoral Association instead of the County Council. Mr. Turnbull made particular inquiry as to when and how the reserve was made, in his capacity of protector of reserves ; and when Mr. Whyte told him the land was covered with briars and very wet, the hon. member expressed the belief that the reclamation of the reserve would be good practice for the pupils.

STATUTORY DECLARATIONS. In putting his question as to the Government appointing persons of good repute in country districts to take declarations, Mr. Moat said he had been induced to call the. attention of the Government to this matter, owing to being continually appealed to by settlers and members of local bodies in outlying districts, requesting him to aid them in endeavouring to get Justices of the Peace appointed in their neighbourhood, so that they might not be, put 3 to the loss of ; time and - expense to which they were at present subject in travelling to the residence of the nearest J. P. to make the necessary statutory declarations. As a rule Ministers did not feel justified in acceding to these requests, naturally objecting, unless where it was absolutely necessary to add to the present; long roll of Justices. It appeared to him the difficulty might be met, and the necessary relief afforded by adopting his suggestion. The Minister thanked Mr. Moat for calling his attention to the matter, and stated that a clause had been prepared in accordance with his suggestion, and . placed on the Supplementary Order Paper, which would be incorporated in the Justices of the Peace Act Amendment Bill. PROSPECTING ON NATIVE LANDS: In reply to Mr. Taipua, the Native Minister said the Mining Act gave ample protection to the natives if persons prospected native land without authority. A penalty of £5 could be inflicted for a first offence. All that the natives had to do was to institute the prosecutions. RAILWAY FENCING. During a discussion on the maiming of cattle on the Bluff-Invercargill line by the trains, through the line being unfenced, Major Jackson said the cost of the cattle killed on the Waikato line between Ngaruawahia and Hamilton would defray the expense of fencing that section. The Minister for Public Works said the cost of fencing the unfenced railway lines of the colony would be about a quarter of a million sterling. As the result of the discus- | sion, Mr. Seddon has tabled a motion for a return showing the mileage unfenced, and the cost of various classes of fencing per mile or chain as specified by him. THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE. In reply to Mr. Moss, who asked a question concerning the better constitution of the Public Accounts Committee, the Colonial Treasurer said it was not the intention of the Government to set up the above committee, as the experiences of the past two years showed that it was valueless. The English precedent would not be applicable to the colony, neither did he think it advisable that the Speaker or any other person should nominate the committee, as suggested by the hon. member. Next session the Government would bring in a measure for the better audit and supervision, not only of the accounts of the colony, but of local bodies. In connection with this subject, Mr. Joyce has tabled a question, asking whether the Premier will afford members of the House and local bodies an opportunity before next session of Parliament of considering the proposals of the Government in relation to the auditing of borough accounts ; and will the Premier in such proposed Bill provide for an independent expert to be appointed by the Government to audit such accounts, limiting the duties of such expert to showing the Government, the ratepayers interested, and the public generally, full particulars of each audit; that the only person to sue for a refund of monies wrongly applied under a mistake of law by members of such local bodies acting bona fide, should be the Attorney-General, upon a request of a majority of the members of a local body, or on a petition signed by a certain number of the ratepayers interested.

the licensing ELECTIONS

The Bill which provided for making the 'lections of Licensing Committees triennial, instead of yearly, may now be regarded as hopelessly lost. Major Steward endeavoured, without notice, to get it placed on the Order Paper for further consideration in Committee to-day, but the move was not noticed in the buzz of conversation till a question by Mr. Barron attracted Mr. Goldie's attention to the matter. He at once called out "No," when the question was put from the chair, and the Major could only say like Bunthorne, "Crushed again." He informs me that Mr. Goldie's " No" has cost the country £7000, which would have been saved by the passacre of his measure for making the licensing committee elections triennial. Mr. Goldie fails to see it. VOTING IN THE HOUSE.

Mr Feldwick created a small sensation in the House last night by refusing to sign the list of a division in which he was a teller. Members, he said, would not go into the lobbies, and thus confusion and takes were inevitable. Members were in the habit of voting on either side, a Act, 1880.

they happened to be nearest to the " aye" or the "no" lobby. Being ordered three times to come up and sign the list, however, Mr. Feldwick did so,-Mr. Turnbull remarking, en parenlhese, that he had seen one of the worst disturbances that ever occurred in the House over the same thing. 1

PENSIONS "CONTINGENCIES." Mr. Goldie is still thirsting for information on these vexed topics, ana accordingly asked the Colonial Treasurer when the return moved for, giving the names and the amounts that would he paid by way of pensions to Civil servants now in the employ of the Government if discharged during the present year, and also when the details of the amount' set apart for contingencies for the financial year ending March 31, 1888, which were ordered to be prepared on the 29th of June last, will be laid upon the table. . NATIVE LAND QUESTION. In reply to Mr. Taiwhanga, the Native Minister said it was not intended to bring in a Bill to repeal the Native Lands Acts as affecting the King Country. In reply to another question the Minister said he saw no reason for postponing the Native Policy Bills owing to the native disturbance in the North, and the Government did not intend to refuse to entertain any application by the natives for surveyors to survey the native lands in question. The Government have still under consideration the request made by a deputation of Ngapuhi chiefs in reference to the dog tax, and the native trouble at Whangarei. Sydney Taiwhanga to-day put a question on the order paper with a view of eliciting the information as to when the : Native Minister would proceed North to investigate the native outbreak at Poroti, near Whangarei. THE LAND ACT OF 1887. In order to elicit further information as to land, settlement in Auckland, Mr. Thompson (Marsden) asks the Minister of Lands how many blocks of land have been opened for free selection in the provincial district of Auckland, in terms of the provisions of the 48th section of the Land Act of 1887 ; where are the said blocks situated, and what is the area of each block. SURVEY OF RUKUHIA. In reply to Mr. Goldie, who asked many questions concerning the re-survey of the late Hon. James Williamson's estate, near Hamilton, the Minister of Lands said the survey was made on the authority of the late Minister of 'Lands, given personally to the Assistant Surveyor-General in January, 1887. It was usual in such cases to require payment from the owner of h&lf the cost of the survey, but Mr. Williamson declined to do this. The old maps were so defective that the plans on the Crown grant could not be depended on for the purposes of the Land Transfer Act, and a new survey had to be made. It was proposed to require Mr. Williamson's executors to refund half the cost before allowing the plans to be used for their private purposes. The total cost of the survey was about £380. CHEMISTS VERSUS DOCTORS. A leading Christchurch chemist has written to Mr. Taylor, informing him that there is a clause in the new Medical Act Amendment Bill which makes it an offence for dentists and druggists to prescribe. The effect of that will be that for the slightest and most trifling ailment the public will have to pay a doctor a fee of 5s or 7s 6d, instead of Is or 2s for medicine at . a chemist's. Even providing an eye lotion, for instance, would bring a chemist under the operation of the section. What is known as " counter practice " is allowed in England, and has always been recognised in Australia. Mr. Taylor means to stonewall the Bill when it makes its appearance in the House. THE NATIVE FEUD. During an interview with the Native Minister regarding this question, he informed me that he nad received further telegrams from Mr. Clendon, R.M., to the effect that the chief Taurau and . his party are remaining perfectly quiet, awaiting the arrival of Maihi Paraone Hawiti, and chiefs from the North. A number of the relatives of Naha, who was killed on Eru Hiri's side, arrived from Kaikou, and fired over the spot where Naha was killed. It is believed .that matters will be peaceably settled as soon as the Northern chiefs have an opportunity of meeting and discussing the grievance which brought about the collision. THE MOKAU JONES AFFAIR. %lr. Kerr gave notice of his intention to ask whether the Premier will accept Mr. Hamlin's challenge, and appoint a committee, before which that gentleman will have an opportunity of substantiating his charges against the Chief Judge of the Native Lands Court. ' RAILWAY MANAGEMENT. The railway returns are published in this week's Gazette, and the Minister of Public Works, I understand, regards them as fairly satisfactory. If the same average is maintained throughout the year, the receipts will be about £1000 over the estimates, and the working expenditure about £5000 under the estimates, or a total to the good in the year of : £6000. This is in addition to paying off the cost of the repairs to the Petone section caused by the late gale, amounting to some £2000. THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

This afternoon, Mr. Seddon, without

notice, asked the Minister of Public Works whether he intended to deliver the Public

Works Statement to-morrow night. The Premier answered the question by stating that the Government were unable to have the Statement ready for to-morrow evening. I understand that a substantial sum will be

placed on the Public Works Estimates to purchase land for settlement on : either side of the North Island Trunk Railway. This was likely to have been the great drawback in connection with the prosecution of this important colonial work, namely, that the Government do not yet possess an acre of land along the route. The Government now propose to redeem that mistake as soon as possible, so as to get the land settled up along the line, and thus furnish traffic to the railway. The votes for the roads on the East Coast are principally continuations of last year's votes, and embrace the Katikati-Te Aroha road, the road from Tauranga to Opotiki, and from the latter settlement to the East Cape. Although the allocation of the loan is larger this year than for the two succeeding years, through the legacy of liabilities left by the late Administration, it will, as at present laid out for apportionment, stretch over what may prove " the years of famine," carrying the colony, so fai as public works are concerned, well into the middle of 1891. Unlike some preceding Administrations, they do not intend to spend all within their reach, leaving their successors only a legacy of liabilities, but whether they go sooner or later, the money will be in the treasury to meet all outstanding engagements.

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

The Government have received a cable-

gram from the Agent-General, in reply to their message about the Midland Railway contract, that the last stipulations of the directors as to mutual running powers were absolutely inadmissible. Sir F. D. Bell has now cabled an amended proposal on the part of the Midland directors, which, it is believed, will prove entirely acceptable, and will remove all remaining difficulties in the way of signing the contract. The proposal has been submitted to the law officers, and if they find no latent flaw of a legal character, the proposal, it is understood, will be accepted by the Government, ' and then the contract will be signed and sealed forthwith. SICKNESS IN THE LEGISLATURE. In no previous session has there been so much sickness among members of the Legislature. The Hon. Colonel Brett is lying ill with bronchitis in aparments at Parliament House. The Hon. Mr. Lahmann had an operation performed on his eyes yesterday, and is kept in a dark room. The Hon. Mr. Reynolds is confined to bed, his complaint being erysipelas in the head. In the Lower Chamber, Mr. J. C. Brown is still ill, Mr. Lawry is confined to his room from bronchitis, Mr. Hobbs is suffering from the same complaint, and is under the care of Dr. Kemp, while the Hon. T. Fergus has been obliged to keep to his residence during the last week from an attack of bronchitis. PUBLIC RESERVES BILL. The Waste Lands Committee have reported on the Public Reserves Bill, that it pass with amendments. One of the amendments in the schedule is that the Auckland sections 108, 109, 110, 111, and 112, Parish of Komokorau, Waikato, be re-conveyed to the Crown in terms of clause '2 of the schedule to the Special Powers and Contracts

THE NATIVE POLICY BILLS. Sir G. Grey has received a telegram from the Ngatimaniapoto, sincerely thanking him and other members "for their strenuous opposition to the iniquitous Native Land Bills," and hoping the opposition will be continued. The telegram is signed by Taonui Hikaka. EPSOM RECREATION RESERVE. A good deal of discussion took place this afternoon on the Epsom and Mount Eden Recreation Reserve Bill, in which Sir M. O'Rorke and Messrs. Turnbull, Tanner, Moss, Samuel, Bruce, and Newman took part. Messrs. Turnbull and Tanner spoke strongly against tampering with an endowment of the Lunatic Asylum, and devoting' it to another purpose. The latter gentleman held that an equivalent should be given to the Asylum elsewhere. Mr. Turnbullliept up the debate till half-past five, when the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson, who was in charge of the Bill, moved to report progress, with a view to the Bill being further committed on next local Bill day. It was reported in the lobbies that Mr. Turnbull was, in acting as he did, killing two dogs with one stone, namely, keeping out the discussion on the Auckland Girls High School Bill. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS BILL. Mr. Goldie is writing to the Charitable Aid Board, to ascertain how many children are in the various charitable institutions who have been committed under sab-section 3 of section 2 of the Industrial Schools Act, in order to ascertain what will be the financial effect on local bodies if this class of children are saddled on them under the proposed Amendment Bill. It seems the Costley Institute has to take some children at £15 per annum, whereas at present the local bodies are charged £19 10s for each child. The Government, however, do not favour such children being transferred. They claim that tho trustees must work under the Costley Act, which provides only for children being taken from the Industrial Home of an age fit for apprenticing; also, that by boarding the children out to foster parents in many cases the ' State is relieved of the charge after the age of 12. The Minister of Education is opposed to the Costley Institution competing with the Industrial School or foster parents. ; THE ABT SYSTEM. A memorandum from Mr. Maxwell, the General Manager of Railways, to the Minister of Public Works, was laid upon the table to-day. He states that he has received information privately from a gentleman in charge of a large system of Indian railways, that a length of two miles of the Abt system did not stand the test satisfactorily. It was thought that the idea of having it on.the Bolan Pass would be given up. It did not work well on the curves, and the engines could only climb, hills, provided that their heads were kept straight. The Abt system, Mr. Maxwell remarks, is probably unsuited for very short curves, and that in this respect the Fell system, which can work with facility upon five chain drives, is superior.

THE TOTALISATOR. Mr. Whyte presented to-day a petition from certain residents at Cambridge praying for the abolition of the totalisator.