Political Gossip.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIX, Issue 6048, 13 September 1894, Page 1

Political Gossip.

(by telegraph.) (from our own correspondent. ) Wellington. September 12. In the Council this afternoon the following Bills passed their tinal stages : Timaru Harbor District Rating Bill, Oaths Act Amendment Bill, and. Hamilton Domain Empowering Bill. The Lako Forsyth Drainage Bill passed its second reading. Nelson Bros., meat exporters of Tomoana, Hawke's Bay, are petitioning Parliament for an inquiry into the freights charged for the conveyance of frozen meat over New Zealand railways. Their petition, which was presented to-day by Captain Russell, alleges that railage rates in New Zealand are excessive as compared with those of Australia, and this places New Zealand at a disadvantage in competing with Australian frozen meat in the Home markets. Reporting 011 the petition of J. J. Gilmore, of Lyttelton, praying for compensation for loss of the licenso of tho Railway Hotel, the Petitions Committeo say that he has 110 claim against tho colony. The same report is made in tho cuseo of three ex-hotelkeepers of Dunedin, whose licenses were cancelled under tho local option vote. Mr G. \V. Russell gave notice to-day that when the Lunatics Act; Amendment; Bill is in Committeo he will uiovo : "That official visitors may bo cither male or female, also that official visitors shall constitute a board of inquiry to report on disputes between attendants, or appeals against dismissal, etc., by superior officers. Captain Russell proposes that; the Board should take down evidence ill writing, and send the evidence and its recommendation to the Minister, with whom the final decision shall rest. Ho considers that in this way aggrieved attendants would get their cases 011 record, and in the event of Parliamentary inquiries written evidence would bo appealed to. The Ngaire and Other Blocks Nativo Claims Adjustment Bill passed its final stases in the House this evening. The Criminal Code Act Amendment) Bill, providing that the age of consent should be raised to 15 years, passed ita second reading in the House this evening. The Premier, in the absence of Mr Reeves, moved the second reading of tho School Attendance Bill. Mr Moredith took exception to much in the Bill. After some slight discussion, tho second reading was agreed to. The House adjourned at) 12.30 a.m.