POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Mail, 21 July 1892, Page 30

POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. From a paper laid on the table of the House on the motion of Sir John Hall, the following particulars are learned as to the present members of the Upper Chamber, the date of their appointment and the Ministry who nominated them ;—One member (Hon Dr Pollen) was appointed in 1861 by the Stafford Ministry ; one (Hon Sir G. S. Whitmore}, 1863, Domett Ministry ; two (Hons Acland and Miller) In 1865, Weld Ministry ; four, 1863 68, Stafford Ministry j three, 1870 72, Fox Ministry ; one, 1873, Vogel Ministry ; one, 1877, Atkinson Ministry ; four, 1877-79, Grsy Ministry ; four, 1881-82, Hall Ministiy ; two, 1883, Whitaker Ministry; nine, 1885-87, Stout Ministry; five, 1891, Atkinson Ministry. Of the total of 37 members it will be seen that 16 have been appointed within the past nine years, and 14 within the past five years. APPRENTICES IN GOVERNMENT RAILWAY WORKSHOPS. A paper laid on the table of the House last week, on the motion of Mr Sandford, contains the following particulars regarding apprentices and improvers in Government railway workshops : —Since the Railway Commissioners took office 58 apprentices have completed their apprenticeship terms ; of these 14 have received appointments as journeymen and 31 as improvers. During the same period ll improvers have been Introduced from; outside into these workshops. The value of work done in the Govern, merit railway workshops since the Com-* missioriers took office is stated to be £9988 17s sd. REPORT ON LUNATIC ASYLUMS. On Thursdiy the annual report of Dr Mac Gregor on the l unatic Asylums of the Colony was presented *o ihe House of Representatives. From this it appears that at 31 mt December last the total number of registered insane persons in th< Colony was 1849, who were distri 1 uted as follows : —Auckland, 387 ; Ch:is'chnroh, 414 ; Puneriin. 511 ; Hokitika, 100: Nelson 114; Wellington, 287 ; Ashbnrn Hall Private Asylum, 36. As to sex, 13 15 i f *he lunati'B were males and 734 females The proportion of lunatics to be total population of the Colony was 1 in 365, as compared with 1 in 377 in New South Wales, 1 in 304 in Victoria, and 1 it, 341 in England and Wales. The admissions of lunatics to New Zealand asylums last year were 349, and the re-admissions were 86, while 383 patients appear under the pathetic de. soription of “discharged by death.” The cost ol maintaining patients last year was £2O 16s 2£d per head, being an increase of 5s over the previous year. Dr MacGregor remarks on the non-success of the experiment of boardiug-out lunatics in the Colony, which is owing to the aversion of private people to undertake the responsibility of looking after insane persons.

The Minister of Lands sees difficulties in the way of legislating on the subjeofc of bush burntug, and will not introduce a Bill dealing with the matter this session. The Minister of Lands undertakes to have soils analysed, if sent from any part of the country to the Lands Department at Wellington. A return laid on the table of the House last week shows that Ministers’ travelling expenses last year amounted to £982 10s ; Ministers’ travelling allowances for same period, £IOO4 5s 9d,