POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 914, 6 September 1889, Page 28

POLITICAL NOTES.

The Premier has informed Mr E. Thompson that the Government wouid give consideration to the advisableness of introducing a Bill next session to deal with an income-tax.

At a meeting of the Joint Stock Committee it was decided, on Mr Lawry’s motion, to recommend the Government to declare Motuhihi, in Auckland Harbour, a quarantine ground for imported stock.

The Chemis papers were declared by the Premier to be'in the hands of the House, Mr R. Reeves had asked a . question on the subject, and the Premier said that unfortunately the type of the Judge’snote and the Resident Magistrate’s Court proceedings had been distributed. The Acting-Speaker said he would make inquiries as to why the papers had not been circulated.

A Committee has been appointed, on the Premier’s motion, to report what steps should be taken to assist in obtaining Responsible Government for Western Australia, the Committee consisting of Sir George Grey, Sir John Hall, Mr Ballanoe, Mr Seddon, Mr Larnaeh, Mr Downie Stewart, Mr Scobie Mackenzie, and the mover. Mr Bruce remarked that he . considered the motion an unwarrantable interference.

In answer to Mr Seddon the Premier said that the Beer Duties Act was working with comparatively little friction. The difficulty was that there were so many people who professed to know nothing about the law when it was not to their advantage. When the law made them pay it .unfortunately happened that, many .people would not learn law, and the best way of dealing with them,, he thought, was to make them pay when they were found out. He assured Mr Seddon that he knew, without doubt, that some breweries bad a regular tariff for buying stamps that had been used. As to abolishing the beer duty, the Premier said he saw no probability of doing that—the duty, he thought, was more likely to be increased than abolished. He promised to look into some special cases which had been mentioned. .

At a meeting of members interested in Bibb-reading in schools, held yesterday week, there were present Messrs Fulton (in the chair), Downie Stewart, WJ J. Steward, Tanner, Rhodes, Buxton, Joyce, l Anderson, Harkness, Ross, Hodgkinson, Cowan, and T. Mackenzie. Many other' members had intended t > be present, but were unable to leave the Chamber, as the House was sitting at the time the meeting was- hold. As it was evident, the Government haviDg taken private members’ days,- that -the Bible in Schools Bill, introduced a few weeks ago by Mr Tanner, could not be proceeded with this session, the following resolution was carried unanimously : —“ That Mr Tanner be requested to give notice at the earliest possible date next session to move for leave to introduce a Bill for the purpose of providing for Bible-reading in schools, with a timetable and conscience clause.”

A copy of Mr S. Locke’s report on his recent trip to the Urewera district has been presented to Parliament. Mr Locke was requested by the Government early this year to proceed to the Urewera country and endeavour to make such arrangements as would lead to the opening up of that part of the North Island for prospecting for gold and other minerals, and for utilising the forests, which are said to contain a large quantity of totara. Accordingly in April last Mr Locke proceeded rto Whaka* tane, Bay of Plenty, at the back of which the Urewera country lies. The district is probably the least advanced, in point of civilisation, in New Zealand, and Mr Locke sfc'tes that when he reached the vih* lage of Ruatoki (to which the chiefs invited him when he informed them from Whakatane of his mission) he was received in accordance with old Maori custom. The result of some two or three days’ discussion was that the chiefs agreed to their country being prospected and ‘ otherwise partly thrown open to the Europeans.. The success of Mr Locke’s mission is somewhat important, having relation, as it has, to about the wildest country in the North Island.

Mr Hamlin again took the chair in the House on Friday, and Mr Seymour acted as Chairman of Committees. , Sir Maurice O’Rorke, we understand, was suffering from very troublesome boils.

Mr Hutchison is asking the Government to arrange with the Admiral of the Australasian fleet for a sham attack on some fortified port in the Colony next Easter, so as to test the adequacy of our defences.

Mr Harkness wishes the Government to reduce the parcel post rates so as to allow 21b parcels to be forwarded for the same rate as is now charged for lib, or that the latter may be sent for sd, and the former for 7d.

James Hislop and others, of Dunedin, recently petitioned for abolition of the pro-perty-tax. The Public Petitions Committee recommended that the petition be referred to the Government for consideration.

We are indebted to the Minister of Lands for the following particulars of the amount of land now open for selection in the Wellington province : —Surveyed, 50,000 acres ; unsurveyed, 52,000 acres ; small runs, 72,000 acres ; village settlements, 277 acres. Total, 174,277 acres. ;

It is now almost certain that nothing will be done in the matter of the Otago Central this session. Provision is already made for carrying the line to Middlemarch, and with the possible exception of a small sum for surveys on the Supplementary Estimates no proposals are likely to be madq at present.

Apropos of the proposal that Ministers should ""visit the route of the North Island trunk railway during the recess, the following requisition was forwarded to the Premier

on Friday —“ Sir, —Wo liope that you and the Ministers for Lands and Native Affairs Will, during the coming recess, visit with us the country through which the North Island Main Trunk railway will run.—We are yours faithfully, A. Stewart Mentoath, JJ. S. Fitzherbert, J. Ballance, G. Fisher, H. Taipua, C. B. Izard, G. Hutchison, W. R. Bussell, D. IL Maearthur, B. C. Bruce, A. K. Newman, James G. Wilson, W. C. Buohanan.

The Native Affairs Committee have made amendments in the Native Lands Frauds Prevention Bill, which was reported to the House last Friday- The Committee propose new clauses enabling a Trust Commissioner to use evidence taken by another Trust Commissioner; also providing that the Trust Commissioner shall inquire into the nature of the consideration given in respect of any alienation, and may refuse a certificate “if, in his opinion, the consideration is r not reasonably sufficient.” Another amendment made is a provision that the clause in the present Act, limiting the number of grantees of a block to twenty, shall not apply to land (not exceeding 5000 acres ■in area) held before the passing of that Act. - '

Reports on the New Zealand Defence forces were laid on the table last Friday. The strength of the Volunteer force on the 31st December last was 7685, 140 corps. This is an increase of 91 men on the previous year. Lieut. • Colonel Hume reports that many of the corps were under officered, and he also feels it his duty to state that there were instances of officers being unfit to command, the remark applying equally to captains and subalterns. He conafders that the system of allowing Volunteers to elect their own officers has' a pernicious effect. He expresses strong approval of the rank and file, especially in country districts; but says he found a number of good non-commissioned officers and a number of bad ones, and various shades between the two classes. He is of opinion that if the present mode of paying by capitation is to be continued, the amount per man must be inoreased. Of the corps inspected there were present on parade 4127, 1037 being absent. The corps which from their drill, physique, cleanliness, and general smartness, deserve special mention are the South Franklyn Mounted Rifles, Wellington and Wanganui Naval Artillery, the A, B, D, and E Batteries Artillery, Auckland Guards, Hawera Rifles, Hastings Rifles, Kumara Rifles, Rangitikei Royal Rifles, Waimate Rifles and Wellington City Rifles. Of the cadet corps the Wanganui Navala, Nelson College, and Kaiapoi cadets are specially mentioned. The mounted sword drill in the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry and Otago Hussars was very indifferent, and had evidently been neglected; and the Heretaunga Light Horse is in all respects very far behind any other cavalry oorpsinspected. The new accoutrements and appointments were dirty, their horses ill-oared for and anything but fit for a hard day’s work, and the officers and non-oommissioned offioers were, to say the least of it, indifferent drills.

An unusually exciting scene took place in the House while the Public Works Act Amendment Bill was in committee on Friday night. Shortly after 10 o’clock Mr Hobbs commented upon the absence of several members —-Mr Seddon and others —from the Chamber, and assumed that. 'were enjoying themselves at Mr Seddon, who. cgme ju very soon afterward, Strongly resented this remark, aud reminded the House that Mr Hobbs had once prayed for members, “though I think/’ he said, “no body wants praying for more than the hon gentleman. The prayers of the righteous,” Mr Seddon continued learnedly, “ayailofsh much” they were told, bqt iq this case hk didn’t think they would aykUae’all',' because the Bill, fvao gding'fc'b/pa'ls. Then Mr Fish rose. A’hiiqmsity has always existed between Eisfi and Mr Seddon, and always will exist. Consequently Mr Fish rose to the occasion with cheerful and voluble alacrity. The devil, he said, could quote Scripture to suit his own purposes. In this respect Mr Seddon greatly resembled • his Satanic Majesty, The Chairman * (Mr ' §jeyha6ftr) imniediately called on Mr 4 ta withiiraw that remark//but Mr'Fisk "being heated, aficl laojqg moreover apparently well satisfied s|th his siihile, refused to do so, and coolly ahked what words he was to withdraw. Mr S.eymour said the “offensive words "just used to the 'member for Kumara;. Amidst dries of “chair”, and “order” Mr Fish asserted that he had said nothing offensive and would not ! withdraw." Mr Seymour asked thq member. for Dunedin* South whether would'' defy the authority of the chair.Mr Fish replied that he would qot withdraw the words, then sat looked 1 round him obhlgdestffy. * My was evidently considering he should rß* Mr Seddpft rose and suggested that Mr FijSb, have tirqe to He psqred M r Seymour grandiloquent!v Vhat the .House would maintain hi* au thoritv AziaMv Fish’s opinion him, he regarded f?UPh espreggioßß f rorQ such a quarter as p ra i ae> Mr Fish made use of exactly similar words with reference to Mr Seddon, and then the supper adjournment was taken, after which the House resumed the even tenor of its dreary way.

The Law of Libel Bill is 1 poked as pertain to be one of the cl&ughtered innocents ”■ of the session if; the Bill is hot »bandonpd by tba Government it is unlikely to get tiftroftgfeMr Robert Campbell, M.L.C , while going home late on Saturday afternoon, was at. tacked with hemorrhage of the liver, and has been under medical treatment sinoe. Dr Martin is attending him.

Hia Excellency the Governor was pntertaired at a banquet in the Legislative Council Chamber aa Saturday night by members of the Council. There were 35 gentlemen present, namely—The guest of the evening, the Premier, the Colonial Secretary, and the Ministers for Defence, Public Works, and Lands, Mr Stevens, and a number of members of the Qounoil. Sir Frederick

Whitaker was unavoidably absent, being indisposed, and Mr Robert Campbell was also prevented by illness from taking part. The chair was occupied by Sir Win. Fitzherbert (Speaker) -aud the vice-chair by Captain Baillie (Chairman of Committees), who during the evening proposed and seconded his Excellency's health. Lord Onslow, in responding, made a very able speech, in the course of which he expressed warm appreciation of the sympathy shown with him. and Lady Onslow during the recent illness’of Lord Crauley, and ex pressed in telegrams received from all parts of the Colony. He added that he looked upon these expressions not merely as being made toward him* but also as indicating the feeling of the people for her Majesty’s representative. He should take care that his appreciation of this sincere sympathy should be shown on the records of the Executive Council.

In the course of his speech at the banquet on Saturday night, the Governor is reported to have said that he had no doubt the present was the best Government, and this the best Parliament, New Zealand had had ; and he should be prepared to say the same of the next.

Sir Maurice O’Rorke has recovered from his recent indisposition sufficiently to be able to take up the duties of his office, and was in the chair on Monday.

We undeistand it is not the intentiou of the Railway Commissioners to undertake reclamation for the purpose of straightening the railway line (referred to by the Minister for Public Works on Monday) at present.

The Wellington Corporation Empowering Bill has passed all its stages in the House, The only amendment made in the Bill was the striking out of clause 6, which provided that the minimum width of private streets to be laid out hereafter should bo forty foot.

The story of Mr Scobie Mackenzie having gone to Wanganui to arrange a plan of campaign for the next election, and assist Mr Bryce against Mr Ballance, turns out to be what everyone expected, a pure invention. Mr Mackenzie delivered a lecture on behalf of the Public xibrary there.

The House was in a working humour on Monday. During the afternoon fifteen local Bills passed their final stages, and six or seven Government Bills then passed second reading and were passed, among them being the Offences Against the Person Bill, which raises the age of consent to fourteen pears.

In Committee on the Public Works Bill (which is to be re-committed) Mr Ross will move a now olause providing that whenever it shall be agreed between a Harbour Board and the local body having jurisdiction over reclaimed land to construct streets on such reclamation, it shall be lawful for the Board to pay its share of the cost of construction out of ordinary revenue. The object pf this clause is to dispel doubt as tq whether; a Harbour Board has pqwes- So' expend,’ its revenue in eonsSy-ecting q treats'.'

i Jjhtblfc Works moved the second reading of the Thorndon Esplanade Bill, explaining that its object was to vest in the City Council of Wellington the Esplanade, which formed part of the Thorndon reclamation. Mr E. Richaydsq.q whether there was a re%orvasi£yji' 0 v &nd for straightening the railway/ "The Minister | said there V7§js, no>qch provision in the Bill, f Tfie‘ C°xqrn,i s siQT>B!'s, however, were ■ going to reclaim a largo portion of the harbour 1 beyond *ho point affected by this Bill, r As Mr Richardson would be aware, this had long been in contemplation, and plans had now been prepared in connection with the proposal. The Premier explained/'Sjb4k a general reservation was qlysady "made. Mr T. Thompsop Vetter to make the reservation fri this Bull, and said he should ijorqbably move in that direction in committee. The Bill was then read a second time. Subsequently it was committed and progress reported, in order that elapses might be inserted making necessary provision in connection with r.OJ/A- a.opess. to the Esplanade, and matters.

Eugene McCarthy, of Wellington, having petitioned the House for payment pf £7Q,dti,e tip him as wages wh.en the yeaspl Hannah Mokau was. seized iq, 18,80, fha Rubliq Petitipfis Copimi'<iJiie.P, rppprt. th4t £s£ » dttß to thje "

A return Win laid on the table on Tuesday shewing the positions up to the date of the last valuation of the various friendly sooieties. According to this return the position of the societies is as follows:—Members, 24,352 j present value of benefits, £1,015,778; present value of contributions, £584,878 ; value of accumulated fnnds, £312.902 ; deficiency, £117,998 ; average deficiency per member, 4’84. Tfie oqjy society showing a surplus is tfie independent Order of Oddfellows (£2995).

Mr T. B. Hannaford, of Auckland, has, again petitioned 1 Parliament for recognition of bis patent beaconi Sir Raziaaford says there, are “rosier times’-’in front of that beacon, if tbo germ is only planted in New Zealand waters. He refers to Admiral Fairfax . stepping forth from a bevy of pleaders and. advocating the cause of the beacon among the Lords, and finally cautions the House that it is for it to say whether or not the beacon shall become a gigantic, native industry. Apart from its subjectmatter the petition ia intereßtjing reading!

Serious injustice is alleged to have been caused in Auckland by proceedings taken for the recover y of rates. The matter having been referred to the Petitions Committee of the Hous3 in the form of a petition, the Committee recommended that the Rating Aat be amended in the direction of providing that personal service of summons for rates shall be a condition-precedent to recovery of

rates and sale of land for non payment of rates ; also, that such non-service of summons shall not be a bar to tho local body recovering the rate after the lapse of two years.