POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9144, 28 August 1888, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

[BY TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Monday. ROAD BOARD ACT AMENDMENT BILL. This measure was rather roughly dealt with by the House this morning, though it passed its second reading by a majority of two. It was stated during the discussion that the necessities for the Bill arose from a misconception of the provisions of the Road Board Act, 1882, whose powers the said Board have exceeded. Many members informed the Government that they did not object to the amendment so far as it was meant to grant relief to the local bodies indicated, but they were determined to resist any amendment of the Road Board Act of so radical a nature as that contained in the general provisions of the Amendment Act. The local bodies had been consulted, but some members who voted for the second reading expressed their determination to oppose the granting of any power to local bodies to increase the rates in the event of a receiver being appointed, as proposed by section 8 of the proposed Amendment Act, and it was understood the Government had promised to accept this. At any rate, however, the Government have ascertained that the amendment would bo strenuously and effectually opposed in the Council; they have, therefore, resolved to abandon the Bill. I understand that through this decision the Mount Eden and Eden Terrace Highway Boards will be unable to levy a water rate, and will have to make other provisions for the financial obligations incurred. EPSOM AND MOUNT EDEN RECREATION RESERVES BILL. The Local Bills Committee of the Upper House has sent down a report directly opposed to the Epsom and Mount Eden Recreation Reserves Bill. It is, therefore, almost certain that it will be thrown out in the Council. THE LABOUR SETTLEMENTS VOTE. The vote of £10,000 for labour settlements was reconsidered to-day. As already stated, it is a sum placed at the. disposal of the Government to purchase private lands, and resell them in 20-acre lots to small settlers, in the vicinity of the large runs in Canterbury and Otago. These settlers would be able to live on the land when not wanted by the runholc'lers during the wool and grain seasons, but would be available in the vicinity of the runs when their services were required. Of the Auckland members, Sir George Grey, Messrs. Thompson, Peacock, ana Monk strongly opposed the Bill. Mr. Samuel did not endorse the imputations made against public men at the time of the Stark purchase, but this plan of Government purchasing land for re-sale would be fruitful of similar imputations and similar scandals. On a division the vote was defeated by 32 to 30. The following is the voting of the Auckland members on the labour settlement question :—Ayes : Messrs. Cadman, Goldie, Kelly, Lawry, Mit-chelson, Moss, Thomas Thompson, Taiwhanga. Noes: Sir G. Grey, Messrs. Graham, Hobbs, Jackson, Monk, Peacock, Whyte. Withy, R. Thompson. THE MOKAU JONES CASE. At the request of the Premier, Mr. Joshua Jones has submitted to the Government a Bill drafted by his solicitors, to give him the relief he considers himself entitled to in connection with the Mokau affair. This measure is now under consideration of the Cabinet. It is understood that it proposes to restore Mr. Jones to the position which he occupied prior to the passing of the Native Land Administration Act, 1886, and to empower him to proceed with his negotiations, the Government in the meantime being authorised to make an advance to him of JL'2OOO on the security of his property, so as to avoid foreclosure before Mr. Jones can make arrangements for rendering the lease reproductive. Mr. Jones, on his part, agrees that if his position in regard to the lease is assured he will absolutely waive all claims to compensation for the loss and injury he has sustained.

I understand ;that the Government have declined to accept the Bill submitted by Mr. Jones' counsel for the settlement of his case, and that a fresh Bill is being prepared by the Colonial Secretary. It will, I learn, be submitted this session. THE POINT RESOLUTION BILL. Sir G. Grey is said to be particularly irate at the action of the Legislative Council in throwing out the Special Powers and Contracts Bill, one object of which was to reopen the Point Resolution Lands Purchase, of which so much, was heard last session. To-day he suggested that a Royal Commission should inquire into the matter during the recess. The Premier said lie thought all the facts had been already brought out by the inquiry made by the Select Committee. He would, however, look into the matter, and give an answer to the hon. member to-morrow. Mr. Moss assures me that on the select committee he acted generally in support of Sir G. Grey's action, and that his opposition was confined to an addendum to the last paragraph of the report made by a Southern member. LONG SERVICE MEDALS. Mr. Joyce is to ask the Minister for Defence next sitting day, if members of the Permanent Artillery and police force of fourteen years' service are entitled to goodconduct and long-servico medals, and if this is the case will the Minister have the regulation enforced without delay ?

VILLAGE SETTLEMENT ROADS. Mr. J. Lundon the other day petitioned the House for certain road works in connection with village settlements. The works referred to were metalling a road from Hukerenui settlement to Kawakawa, promised by the petitioner ; also a road from the Hereltino settlement to Victoria Valley as promised by the petitioner on the authority of a telegram from the late Minister of Lands. The above petition was referred to the Waste Lands Committee ; and I understand that that committee will recommend the petition to the favourable consideration of the Government. THE CLOSE OF THE SESSION. Members are on the move homewards. A batch leave to-morrow, as the Estimates being passed and the votes allocated, there is nothing more worth fighting about. The prorogation is expected about Thursday. The Hon. E. Mitcnelson, Minister for Public Works, will not bo able to return to Auckland for some weeks yet, owing to several important questions having to be dealt with in connection with his department. The first is the setting up of the new Railway Board of Management; the second is the abolition of the Public Works Department and its absorption into the department of railways. It was originally contemplated that when the Minister of Public Works returned to Auckland at the close of the session, he should be accompanied by the Hon. T. W. Hislop, Colonial Secretary, in order that the latter might take over the Department of Native Affairs, and also at the same time take advantage of his visit to look into matters at the Avondale Asylum. In all probability this arrangement will be altered, as the Minister for Lands is desirous of visiting the Northern Special Settlements, and the affairs of Government will scarcely admit of three Ministers being away together in Auckland. NATIVE MATTERS. The Native Land Bill came on to-night for consideration of the amendments of the Legislative Council. Sydney Taiwhanga made a final protest, but did not stonewall, as it was understood that he would be put down with the iron hand. He caused some amusement by expressing his readiness, in defence of his people, to walk into the fiery furnace and undergo all the perils encountered by Shaarach, Meshach, and Abednego. Sir George Grey also made a solemn, although Tie feared a hopeless, protest against the Bill, as the House would bake ibs own course, bub he deemed it his duty to do so. Mr. Reeves (Inangahua) has attracted the attention of bke natives since he aided Sydney Taiwhanga in stonewalling the Native Policy Bills. He has received an invitation to attend the great native meeting at Waitangi. The " white chief" intends to accept the invitation and attend the meeting, with the Chairman of bha Native Affairs Committee, Mr. Kelly,

PAPERS. There was laid on the table of the House to-day Part 11. of the statistics of the colony, (population and vital statistics); also a report on the surveys of the colony. During the year 1050 square miles have been brought under minor triangulation. Of this an area of about 180 square miles in the Auckland and Wellington districts was broken down from the major triangulation, to afford starting and closing points for the settlement surveys. An area of 302,895 acres has been, in the settlement surveys, subdivided into '2484 sections, at an average cost of 4Jd per acre, being at a rate of nearly one-third less than the average of the last few years. Fine country maps on the one-mile scale were p-epared by the Auckland office, and published there by the trade. In Auckland 17 miles of cart roads were formed, 12 miles of bridle road were felled and cleared, 38 miles were formed, 19 miles ot roads maintained, five miles of drains through swamps cut, the total cost being £15,762, and the area of Crown land given access to about 80,000 acres ; and 21 miles of road were graded ready for contract.