JOTTINGS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4732, 14 August 1902, Page 7

JOTTINGS

Tim Public Works Act Amendment ,1 i io contain an amendment or secions 29 and 21 of the Public Works ci of 1900.

'the Minister of Ju-tioo cannot pro;Vnior Steward that -the quorum for meet lines of Licensing Goinmitcees will he reduced Hus session, as no amendment of Hie licensing law is to be proposed. it is intended bv Hie Government to n-i-.ig down a Bill' tins session to give effect to the recommendations of the recent Municipal ( .'Difference. The creditors (mainly Wellington s ratiesineii) in tlie bantu upt estate of ’niter James Hunt, late sawmillcr, ot ..aikauae. are petitioning Parliament hat compensation be granted to Walter •lames Hunt, on account of bis havi.ig oemi made “a victim of retrospective land le"islation” (a remark applied to his case ny tho late Mr Justice Richmond). . ... ~ In respect of the petition of \V. G. 1;-,di-rald, of Wellington, for payment of balance of costs incurred by .inn in a civil action brought against him as a public vaccinator, the A to , I'milicus Committee reports that it has nothing further to add to its report of 1899 on the matter. in respect to the petition of John Cummins, of Auckland, a reoonunondaHon has been made to the Government >y the A to L Petitijns Committee that i his is a case of hardship, petitionei being absolutely debarred from earning , living through injuries be received vliile discharging bis duty as a police constable, . . . therefore an annual appropriation by Paiiiament should be made for the maintenance of petitioner and his family." , For tho future. Air Ell was informed yesterday, persons wiio arc mentally afflicted, and are so charged in the Courts, will not be included m the’ criminal statistics of tlie colony. “It is one of tlie most difficult matters that I have ever had to deal with, says Sir J. G. AVard, in speaking of tlie task bo has undertaken this session in preparing a Bill dealing with food trusts. A sidelight on Parliamentary methods was afforded by Mr G. J. Smith last night, when he remarked to the House, “This is private members’ day, and I suppose that this Bill (Rings and Coinbines) must bo talked round until midnight, or else the Libel Bill will come on!” Air Pirani has boon reminding the Government of the necessity of a building for tho technical classes in Palmerston North. At.present, he says, tho classes are carried on in different places. Cookery is taught in a private kitchen, plumbing in a private workshop, and the various other operations in as many different places; and yet this instruction is supposed to be under tho supervision of one man. Ho therefore wants a suitable building provided. Petitions against the use of totalizators in tho colony continue to bo presented to Parliament daily. So far no move has boon made by the racing clubs to have counter-petitions signed by “gentlemen, who bet at ease.” 'The troubles arising from rings and combines will, in tho opinion of Air Hornsby, result in tho question of suppressing them being made a leading plank at the coming general election. Blue-tinted voting papers, thicker than those hitherto used, arc to be employed at the general elections, Mr Arnold was informed yesterday, when he asked that some means should bo "employed by which the roll number on the gmmned-down corner should not be scon.

It was suggested by Air Atkinson yesterday that tho Government shovjd introduce a Bill to give parties to proceedings for compensation under the Psiblic Works Act, 1894, tho samerights of rehearing and appeal which they would have in an ordinary action in tho Supreme Court. Air Hall-Jones replied, however, that there was too much other work before the House this session.

A3r Hogg wants better accommodation provided for passengers on the late night train between Alasterton and Woodvi 11c, but the Railway Department replies that this is a goods train only, and that a special passenger car cannot bo put on. At present passengers are put into a part of tho guard’s van. The monetary receipts from Rotorua, Hanmor Springs and the Hermitage (Mount Cook) tourist resorts this year show a substantial increase as compared with the figures for 1900-1901. The receipts at Rotorua increased by t-sud •is Id (£2193 14s lid, £2995 19s;, those at Hanmor Springs by £269 0s lOd (£1027 6s Bd, £1896 7s (id), and those at the Hermitage by £238 13s lOd (4-.8 16s Gd, £597 10s 4d); total increase. £l3lO 18s 9d. The first animal report of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts mentions that a preliminary issnie of 100,000 coloured postcards illustrative of New Zealand kcenory is now being lithographed. They will bo ready for sale at a small price shortly.