Political Gossip.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIX, Issue 6049, 14 September 1894, Page 4

Political Gossip.

(Br TELEGRAPH.) (prom OCR ovrs CORRESPONDENT.) \VeluLl>"oto>\ September 13. Sir R. Stout wants to know what steps the Minister of Education proposes to take to provide accommodation for inebriates when Judges of the Supreme Court refuse to commit them to asylums. Major Steward wants the Government to refund to local bodies the additional expenses they may be put to in furnishing a return of the unimproved, as well as improved, value of land in their assessments under the " Rating Act, 1593." The Labor Bills Committee of the Council has gone back on its former resolution regarding Saturday half-holi-day, and has left the provision in the Shop and Shop Assistants Bill giving local authorities full power to fix a day for a half-holiday. The Hon. Mr MacGregor will, however, move that shopkeepers who may have observed the Saturday for 12 months shall continue doing so. After disposing of the Licensing Bill the following Bills were read a second time : Mining Company Bill and Bankruptcy Act Amendment Bill. Speaking of the Mining Company Bill Sir Robert Stout said that mining companies should be included under the Companies Act, as the conditions which necessitate a separate Bill no longer existed, and if mining companies were constituted under the Companies Act it would do away with wild cat companies. The Borough Loan Validation and Empowering Bill passed its second reading without discussion. The Council sat for only a quarter of an hour this afternoon. Most of the 'Government measures are still being considered by Select Committees. The Tramways Bill was reported from the Select Committee to which it had been referred, but so m-iny amendments have been made in it that it has been found necessary to reprint it. The Harbors Act Amendment Bill and the Rating Bill were reported from the Select Committee with amendment.. The amendment m;ide by the House in the Destitute Persons Bill was agreed to. The Premier stated in reply to Captain Russell that the Public Works Statement would be brought down as soou as the Government knew what moneys were available for the purpose, which would not be till the cheap money Bill was disposed of. According to the Minister for Lands 24 claims have been made for the two bonuses offered by the Government for improved methods of treating flax, but he cannot state how these have been adjudicated npn. "he Westland and Nelson Coal Fields Adnmnistration Act Amendment Bill, and the New Zetland Comp-my's Land Claiman'; Act Amendment Bill passed their fina\ stages this afternoon. September 14. Daring his speech on the Licensing Bill last night, Mr Saunders resented the tone of the extreme Temperance party towards the Premier and voiced- the entire nonconcurrence of the temperance members in the coarse abuse heaped upon him with regard to the Bill. The Premier agreed that from men who preached Christianity and charity they should expect something better than scurrility, but that would not

■Jeter him.