POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9131, 13 August 1888, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

[IIY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Saturday. NATIVE LAND BILL. One of the native members told me to-day that there might possibly be further stonewalling on the Native Land Bill, though he hoped not. The Government were defeated by three votes on the motion of the Native Minister last night to strike out clause 5, which abolished restrictions on native lands. A provision by Mr. Hutchison, which was afterwards withdrawn, to the effect that natives acting as trustees for others, and those for whom reserves were set apart, should be excepted from the clause, would have met the objection? of Sir George Grey, who holds that trustees cannot divest themselves of their responsibilities ; and in the event of their selling under the authority of this Act, they would be successfully impeached in the Supreme Court for breach of trust. Some members fear that with the abolition of restrictions the natives will go on impoverishing themselves until they become mere vagrants and a nuisance in the community. Surprise has been felt in some quarters that the Government did not exercise the iron hand in this last stonewall, but if such had been done sympathy would have been aroused for the two Maori stonewallers, and a contrast drawn between the treatment of the Maoris and the Otago Central stonewallers. Sydney Taiwhanga intimated yesterday "in debate that he was exposed to the edge of the sword, but he feared not, for it was better that one man died than the whole people, and he might be that man. To-day the suffering political martyr is going about the lobbies little the worse for the perils he lias gone through. The natives say the stonewall will greatly increase his fame in the North among his people, and will secure his re-election, which is probably what the unsophisticated Sydney contemplated. I hear to-day that the native chiefs propose in the event of the native policy Bills being passed, to petition the Queen. There is said to be an understanding between the. Maori stonewallers and those opposed to the Crown and Native Lands Rating Act Repeal Bill for the former to return the aid afforded to them by certain gold fields members the other' night. Speaking of the late stonewall the Times says : — "lf the House is not yet convinced that a revision of its procedure has become as needful as it has been found in the House of Commons it must be outside the pale of reason altogether. As matters stand the plain fact is that Parliamentary Government is rapidly becoming utterly impracticable. Parliament, by its own showing, is no longer able to conduct the business of the country. Long suffering as the public proverbially is, it surely cannot stand many more such sessions as the present one."

THE HON. W. J. LARNACH.

The Hon. Mr. Larnach resumed his Parliamentary duties yesterday. He informs me he has returned as soon as the sickness in his family would permit, and will fulfil his duties as a representative till the olose of the session. It appears that one of Mr. Larnach's daughters had to undergo a dangerous operation, and he did not feel justified in leaving his home until assured of its success and her recovery. The medical men have informed him that it will not be possible to remove her to his new home in Melbourne for some six weeks to come. When the circumstance became known Mr. Larnach received the cordial sympathy of his fellow members in the Assembly.

PARIS EXHIBITION.

Sir Dillon Bell, Dr. Grace, and Mr. Montgomery (late member for Akaroa) have been appointed commissioners for New Zealand at the Paris Exhibition. The Hon. Dr. Grace, M.L.C., accompanied by Mrs. Grace and their three daughters, left by the Takapuna to-day, to join the San Francisco mail steamer at Auckland, en route for America and Europe. Their trip will probably occupy a year.

"FACING THE MUSIC."

I understand that as soon as possible on his return to Auckland, Mr. Withy intends to address his Newton constituents, and let them know how business is done in the " Korerorium," and how completely befooled the people are by professions of retrenchment at hustings, which are not carried out in the Assembly. Mr. Lawry also intends on his return to have an evening with his Franklyn North constituents, in order to take them into his confidence on political matters at Wellington. SCAB AT MIRANDA. The Sheep Department, have received intelligence from Superintendent Bayley that he has visited Hales Brothers' estate, Clevedon, Southern Wairoa, and gone on to the Miranda to investigate the origin of the outbreak of scab there. VILLAGE SETTLEMENT. Mr. Lundon has been interviewing the Minister of Public Works and Sir Frederick Whitaker respecting the promotion of the Village Settlement Scheme. MOKAU JONES. As soon as the Mokau commissioners' report is laid before the House, Mr. Jones, who has arrived here again, will take further action to have his grievances ventilated.