POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9146, 30 August 1888, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. THE LUNDON PETITIONS. On the motion of the Minister of Lands, it was resolved that if the Government found, after fully enquiring into the claims, and if they were just and reasonable, they should be authorised to pay them. A number of other claims were enumerated in the same category. Some discussion took place, in which Sir J. Hall, Messrs. Seymour, Goldie, and T. Thompson took part, as to how far this motion interfered with the action of the Public Petitions Committee, but the motion was ultimately agreed to. REFRACTORY ORES. The Minister of Mines said that earlier in the session he had intimated that it was contemplated to offer a bonus for the treatment of these ores. Since then, he had received fuller information from experts in the colony, also from the Agent-General, and other sources. In all probability the Government would appoint an expert to visit the Melbourne Exhibition, in order to inspect and report upon the latest processes for the treatment of refractory ores to be seen there. He desired, therefore, to qualify the statement he had made as to the offer of a bonus, pending that report and additional information. THE NATIVE BILLS. A compromise was come to between the two Houses with respect to these Bills. Mr. Taiwhanga asked when the Bills would be presented to His Excellency for his assent, as a number of influential chiefs desired to interview him respecting them. The Premier said they would be presented to-morrow. MINISTERIAL RESIDENCES. It transpires from a return presented to the House that the amount realised by the auction sale of furniture at the big Ministerial residence on the Tinakori Road was £494 16s 9d, while furniture estimated to be worth £73 5s was removed to other Ministerial residences. The return of expenses of the Ministerial establishments for the five months ended 10th of May, 188S, was laid oil the table of the House, and showed a marked reduction of the figures as compared with those of previous years. The total amount drawn by Ministers as travelling and house allowances was £367 10s 4d. The sum expended on repairs to Ministerial residences was £15 18s 3d, and the outlay on furniture and fittings was £37 16s 3d. CASUALTIES OF THE YEAR'S SHIPPING. The Marine Department reports the shipping casualties on the coast of the colony tor the last year numbered fifty-three, representing a tonnage of Hi,420 tons, as against 00, affecting 11,417 tons in the previous year. There is a decrease in the number of total wrccks within the colony of 19 vessels, but an increase in the tonnage of 5020 tons, as against 22 vessels of 2676 aggregate tonnage in the previous year. There is also a decrease in number of lives lost during the year, being 33 as against 62 in the previous year, those lost in the colony being 31 as against 45 last year. Of the lives lost on or near the coast of the colony 3 wore lost in the wreck of the s.s. Boojum, in the s.s. Go-ahead, all hands in the s.s. Sir Donald, 2 in the Clematis, 4 in the Columbia (all hands), 5 in the Rosarina (all hands), 3 in the Bessie, 3 in the Pleione, 1 from the s.s. Staffa, and 1 from the Gleaner. Of those lost beyond the colony one each was from the Pleione and the Kirkdale. Fifteen lost in the wreck of the Derry Castle on Enderby Island in the Auckland Group, in March, 1887, while on a voyage from Melbourne to London, are not included in the return, nor is that vessel included in our returns. The survivors (8) were lescued by the sealing schooner Awarua, and conveyed to Melbourne.

THE END OF THE SESSION. The Times says: — " Long-windedness and legislative larrikinism have been the salient characteristics of the Parliamentary session now happily drawing near its close. Seldom if ever have idle verbosity and tedious prolixity been rampant to so grievous an extent in the Lower House. It must be sorrowfully confessed that the New Zealand House of Representatives has grievously fallen from its high estate of yore, when it was a pattern to all colonial Legislatures." The Press is scarcely more complimentary, for it says:—" It appears to be agreed on all sides that the New Zealand Parliament never fell so low in tone, or presented such a contemptible spectacle of disorganisation, disorder, and incapacity as they have during this session, which is now dying a malodorous death, like a tallow candle burning out in its socket for want of snuffing. The Ministers say there has never been anything like it before, and that but for a sense of public duty life would not be worth living on the Treasury benches. The Opposition, having no sense of public duty to console them, declare that life is absolutely not worth living in their part of the House." THE TOLE COMPENSATION CASE. For some time past Messrs. Peacock, Lawry, and Moat, have been interesting themselves in the compensation case of Mr. D. A. Tole, ex-Commissioner of Crown Lands. At the time Mr. Tole's services were dispensed with, on the score of retrenchment, he was awarded £800 as compensation for loss of office. This Mr. Tole refused to take, as although not claiming a pension, he claimed that his compensation should count on his provincial as well as his General Government service. It appears that the Government admit that his provincial service would count were he entitled to a pension ; but that it does not count for compensation. The Law Officers and the Audit Department alike held to the opinion that Mr. Tole has no further claim beyond the compensation already rded. To-day Mr. Peacock saw the Premier on the matter, to ascertain the final decis : on of the Government, and he was informed to the above effect. PETITION TO THE QUEEN. Captain Mair, the interpreter, informs me that a petition to the Queen, asking her to disallow the Native Policy Bills, will be presented to the Governor to-morrow by a number of chiefs for transmission to Her Majesty. THE LATE PROTECTION BANQUET. A good story is told in the lobbies about the late Protection banquet. The banquet was all that could be desired in point of numbers and enthusiasm, but as usual the little bill which came in afterwards was the fly in the pot of ointment. It seems there is a deficit, and the hat was passed around among the Protectionist members, who, by the way, were invited as guests, with a view of getting it wiped off. The feelings of those members may be more easily imagined than described. Some of them flatly refused to pay, while others paid, but now have rather mixed notions concerning Wellington hospitality.

THE PROPOSED FREETRADE BANQUET. The Freetraders intended to have a banquet also in celebration of their principles, but warned by the experience of their rivals, they prudently abstained from carrying out the project. It seems some of the Freetraders were willing to talk Freetrade, but not willing to make any sacrifice to further their political creed. They have been spared a deficiency by their caution, and therefore claim that they have had the best of it in the new phase of political economy. MOVEMENTS OF MEMBERS. Mr. Cadman left to-day for Napier, where he joins the Tarawera. Messrs. Peacock, Whyte, Monk, Goldie, and Hamlin left by the Wanaka, to-night, for Auckland. Sir G. Grey, I understand, will in all likelihood leave by the Takapuna, to-morrow, as does Mr. Moat. Mr. Withy will join the Takapuna at Nelson. Messrs. T. Thompson and La wry proceed by train to-morrow morning to visit friends in the Wanpanui district, catching the Takapuna at New Plymouth. Messrs. Moss and R. Thompson leave by the Tarawera on Friday. Sir M. O'Rorke and Mr. Kelly also leave on Friday, but I believe the latter will go overland to Taranaki. Major Jackson will go for a run South before returning to the Waikato. Mr. Graham leaves for Napier on Friday en route for Gisborne. As already stated, the Hon E. Mitchelson will be detained here for a few weeks, as several important questions have

to be settled, among them being the constitution of the New Railway Board, the abolition of the Public Works Department, the appointment of a puisne judge, &c. Sir F. Wnitaker and the Hon. Mr. Stevens will also be detained here through the same cause. Dr. Newt ' ill visit Auckland, en route for the M . no Exhibition. Mr. Beetham, I also learn, will be a visitor, being interested in mining matters at Te Aroha. Mr. Hobbs, who has some local matters to attend to in connection with his district at the Government Departments, does not leave till Friday by the Tarawera. Most of the Southern members, as well as those from the West Coast, left to-day for home. PETITIONS. During the session some 500 petitions have been presented to the House, a large proportion being from Auckland. About 200 native petitions have been presented, principally referring to rehearing of cases in the Native Lands Court or disputed land claims. THE PROROGATION. The business is not yet finished, and the House, after adjourning several times today to await the result of the progress of legislation in the Upper House, finally adjourned at half-past nine till noon to-mor-row, as the Gisborne Harbour Bill has not passed yet. The Government whips will have great trouble in keeping a quorum, but believe they will be successful. The Lords " are reading the Lower House a lesson on going through with their legislation in a deliberate, business-like fashion. They refused to-night to push the whole of the business through, and decided to adjourn and sit again to-morrow. Parliament will not be prorogued by Commission, but by proclamation in the Gazette. THE AGNEWS. The Agnews are still watching the entrance to the Government Buildings and Parliament House. It is hoped the prorogation. proclamation will start them en route for Dunedin. MOKAU JONES' BILL. This Bill went through all its stages today. After some delay it was so altered to meet the views of native members who practically stonewalled it, that Mr. Jones declared that the concessions it gave to him were of very tle, value. On going to the Upper House it met with some opposition, and its consideration was left over till tomorrow. It is doubtful whether it will become law, and probably the Mokau Jones case will appear with the same monotonous regularity next session as for the past eight years.