POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 860, 24 August 1888, Page 16

POLITICAL NOTES.

Tho following were the charges _ and expenses in connection with the raising of this year’s £2,000,000 loan —Discount (owing to the loan having been sold at £97 15s 7d), £44,500 ; loss of interest by dating the loan Ist May and taking payment of purchase money in instalments, £24,000; commission to Bank of England, £10,060; brokerage, £5000; stamp, duty, £12,500; advertising and other expenses, £4281; total, £100,281. The cost of raising the previous (1886) loan of £1,350,000 was £59,447.

It is suggested that the Government shall permit a rebate of the duty on the cement used for wharves, breakwaters, and similar works.

In the event of money being voted for im. migration, it is proposed that the Government shall give, as was formerly the oase, free passages to young women belonging to separated families, that is to say, to near relatives of settlers already in the Colony.

Mr Monk is going to a3k the Government whether, during the recess, they will prepare a Bill having for its object the conservation of our forests from the fires that every summer are seriously wasting them, and introduce it early next session; also, whether, instead of the Australian gumtrees with which many of the railway stations are now stocked, they will arrange to plant some of the most suitable stations entirely with New Zealand forest trees, confining the experiment to the varieties most valuable for industrial purposes.

Notice has been given by Mr Buchanan to ask the Minister of Public Works whether the information in possession of his departinent proves that a short tunnel on the Wel-lington-Masterton Railway would cut off five miles of the most dangerous part of the line ; and, if this can be done with satisfactory commercial results, whether he will DUt the necessary amount on the Supplementary Estimates with a view of carrying out this work. Mr Hutchison’s contention that in the event of a general election 95 and not 74 members would be elected, caused a small sensationin theHouseon Wednesday. Strange as it may appear, however, lawyers differed on the point, and the subsequent “opinions” offered by Mr Samuel and Mr Stewart considerably lessened interest in the matter. The Government Insurance Department Estimates have been circulated. The total vote shows a reduction of nearly £3OOO- - that of last year, the amount asked for this year being £45,517, as against £45,47S voted and £46,75S expended last year. The most noticeable reduction in salaries is in that of the Commissioner, who is reduced from £950 to £SOO, putting him on a level with tho Actuary and Principal Officer. Tho votes for the various agencies do not show reductions generally, but the vote “other charges” is reduced £2BOO. The Publio Trust Office Estimates were also circulated. The vote for this department is £5050, as against £5330 voted last year and £5047 expended.

Mr Verrall wants to know whether the Premier has read the papers relative to his grievance in connection with the Propertytax, and if so, whether he will appoint a Property-tax Commissioner in whom the public would have more confidence.

Dr Newman is going to point out to the Government that by an Act passed in November, 1887, Queensland assumed the protectorate of New Guinea, and therefore that the contribution by New Zealand of £2,669 a year to the Government of New Guinea is no longer needed. The same energetic member wants to know why, in the Public Works Statement, Mr Mitchelson made no mention of the investments of the North Island Main Trunk Loan and the new £1,000,000 Loan, and if he wiil now tell the House how these moneys are invested.

An address of condolence to bo presented to the widow of the late Dr Mcnzies, M.L.G., is now being signed’ by members of both Houses. . Q

The First Offenders Act in force in.this Colony, says an exchange, is an admitted copy of an American State Act, John Bull copies New Zealand, and the real framers of the measure aie overlooked, and we get the credit. S,uch is fame.

The management of railways in New South Wales seems not quite perfect. All the collieries in the Lithgow district, Sydney, were again thrown idle recently through a scarcity p.f Government trucks. The men are indignant at this state of affairs. The'midday train to Wanganui on Wednes day met with a mishap. The guard s van left the rails owing to some repairs under way near Turakina. This was the cause, of a delay in the down train on Wednesday night, and the Manawatu train was about 4o minutes late in arriving in town. The nautical inquiry into tho circumstances attending the stranding of the Kate Tatham at Cloudy Bay will be. held this morning at 10.30 a.m. The will be held before Mr Robinson, R.M., and Captains England, of tho ship Selene, and Fraser, late of tho Jane Douglas. The Wellington Amateur Gardeners’ Society, which was formed some time ago, will hold the inaugural meeting of the season during the first week of next month, when it is expected that addresses will be given and several papers read. The Society is now in working order, several meetings having been held, at which rules were drafted and other business transacted. The annual show of the Society will take place in November, and the exhibition bids fair to be a most successful one.

Victorian agricultural implement makers complain that British and foreign manufacturers exhibiting at the Exhibition have closely copied the colonial made implements. Constable O’Connor, of Masterton, arrived by Wednesday night’s train,having in charge a prisoner named Frederick Charles Gurote, who has been sentenced to two months’ imprisonment by the authorities at Masterton for assaulting Constable Salmon.

The barque Clan McLeod, from New York, brought a quantity of locomotive machinery and plant for the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company, as follows: Two locomotive engines and tenders complete, including 18 boxes extra parts.

The ceremony of conferring the degrees taken by the Wellington candidates at the New Zealand University, which takes place to-morrow at the Girls’ High School, will be performed by the Rev J. C. Andrews, Vice-Chancellor of the University.. Addresses will be delivered on the occasion by his Excellency the Governor and Sir Maurice O’Rorke. Three cabmen, named respectively Thomas Walker, Patrick Maloney and Patrick McCafferty, were brought up at the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning before Messrs G. S. Graham and T. J. Gale, justices, on three separate charges of breach ol the city by-laws. The two first named persons were charged with leaving their horses and cabs unattended at the Wellington anc] Manawatu railway station, and the latter for having plied for hire without a license. Walker was fined 20s and coats 9s, and Maloney and McCafferty each 10s and costa 9s. This was all the business before the Court. W 3 We learn that Mr W. B. Williams, of Flag Creek, Tinui, and afterward manager of the Mataikuna StatioD, is now in Victoria, very rich, but reported to be dying, says the Wairarapa Star. When he leit New Zealand a couple of years ago his fortunes were at a low ebb, but Mrs Williams invested £l5O, which remained, in Broken Hill shares. These, of course, went up, and Mr Williams found himself the possessor of between £40,000 and £50,000. Wealth and health, unfortunately, do not always travel in company. Mr J. W. Butler, formerly of Tirumea Station, is also reported to be in Victoria, doing fairly well. Serious discontent has been prevalent amongst the sailors aboard the barque Clan McLeod, which arrived here from New York last Tuesday, throughout the voyage, and. it culminated on Wednesday in the menrefusing duty. Complaints of ill-treatment of the men by the officers during the passage are rife, and yesterday eight of the sailors instructed Mr Skerrett to take proceedings on their behalf for the recovery of wages, as they have left the ship. Their names are Gimoncini Vincenzo, Henri Fagliaferro, Gustave Krohn, Otto Reichel, Paul Shultz, Hermann Raevel, Charles Kentriok, and Peter Vincenzo. There is a probability that an information for assault will be laid by the men.

A youDg man, a son of Mr Taipua, M.H.R., met with an accident while plough, ing at Otaki a few days ago, by which he received an injury in the groin. He was brought into town and attended to by Dr Henry, bis harts not being very serious. The necessity for the services of a medical man is frequently apparent in the neighbourhood of Otak', and it is to be hoped that the Government will very soon make arrangements for a doctor to take up his residence in that district. Some time ago the Native Minister promised that the Government would be preDared to subscribe £SO toward getting a doctor to reside at Otaki if a similar amount was found by the Natives. The Maoris kept their part of the understanding and have subscribed the money, bat the Government, we understand, are not prepared to fulfil their share of the agreement. As the district is a populous one this is to be regretted. Mr Frank Graham, a member of the firm of Cuff and Graham, of Christchurch, has lately returned from California, and records his impressions in the Lyttelton Times. He says most people in California look upon us and our mail contracts as very small things indeed. I have a copy of a Californian newspaper, in which Australia is spoken of as “the rabbit-infested island,” and NewZealand as “ one of the islands off the coast of Australia.” In orfier to realise what a small place New Zealand really is, one has only to go out of it. At the same, time I must say we might take, a leaf out of the Californian’s book in one respect. Many of us seem never tired of crying “ stinking fish.” We don’t believe in our country. The Californiiaua are not like that. The lose no opportunity of trumpeting the poises, of their country. They encourage immigration, both by their private exertions and by public organisations. They don’t depend on the Government so. much as y?e do. In America everybody seems to- have been trained to, look after himself, and he does it remarkably well. Business seems to be good, and everybody, or nearly everybody, contented. The Wellington Philosophical Society held its ordinary monthly meeting at the Museum on Wednesday, when there was an unusually large attendance. Mr WV M« Maskell, president, was in the chair. A new member, Mr A. B. Key worth, was putup for election, and was elected. The first paper read was on “ The Oil-bearing Strata of the North Island,” by Mr J. Park, F.G.S. The localities in which oil is to be found, according to Mr Park, are Taranaki, the East Coast of the Wellington province, and Poverty Bay* Even on the East Coast of the Wellington province, and at Poverty Bay, he thought that oil was not to be found in payable quantities, and the Taranaki district, he said, had yet to be proved. He thought that something might be mace of tho oil shale at Orepuki, in the Qtago district. A very interesting discussion followed, in which Messrs McKay, Higginson, Paterson, Gordon and the President took part. Mr Lee contributed a paper on “A Curious Feature in a Marsh Plant,” and Mr W. Skey one on “The Preparation of Mineral Chromes for Ornamental Purposes. Both I the papers were listened, to with a great deal of interest. Specimens of mineral chromes were exhibited, and at the conclusion of the meeting they were examined by the members, Mr Park giving brief explanations,

A woman named Eliza Ruster waa committed to the Asylum yesterday by Mr Robinson. Resident Magistrate, on the cartifioates of Drs Cole and France. A man named Thomas Temperley was brought up befote Mr H. W. Robinson, R.M., yesterday, charged with having threatened to commit suicide. He was remanded to the 30th inst.

The Magistiate’s Court waa presided over yesterday by'Mr H. W. Robinson, R.M. Margaret Smith, oharged with drunkenness, was fined 5s or six hours’ imprisonment. For being drunk and disorderly Robert Taylor was fined 10s or in default 12 hours’ imprisonment. Edward M. Hankins was charged with drunkenness, but did not put in an appearance. He was fined 53, with the alternative of 12 hours’ imprisonment.

Judgment for plaintiff with costs was given by Mr Robinson, R.M., in the following civil oases yesterday M. Cosgrove v Robert Little, £5 2s and costs 10s ; Isaac Hunt v R. O’Connor, claim £5, judgment for £1 and costs 12s ; Nelson, Moate, and Co. v J. Jones, £1 7s 6d and costs 6s ; J. H. Smith v F. Downer, claim 10s, judgment for 2s 6d without coats ; B. Blower v A, E. Schultz, £1 12s and costs 7s ; S. J. Birch v A, Ure, £2 ISs and costs 6s ; G. Bradley v Walter Cole, £1 2s lOd and costs 7s, to be paid in weekly instalments.

Mr Hugo Gorlitz, theatrical manager and husband of Miss Amy Sherwin the prima donna, was violently assaulted in the Melbourne streets by Avon D. Saxon, a vocalist, and a member of the late Sherwiu Opera Company. Mr Gorlitz received a terrible blow od the head which stunned him. He has applied for a warrant for Saxon’s arrest. The assault occurred through a law dispute. In the statement of liabilities and assets filed by Mr Gorlitz in the bankruptcy court the liabilities are set down at £2775, and the assests at £I7IS, leaving a deficiency of £1056.