POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6330, 10 August 1895, Page 4

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(Mr xmittura.)

(ntOX OUR KfWTK COftMSI-OrrPEST.) Weleawtos. August 8. Reporting on the village homestead Mttta&ents for the past year. Mr J. E. March states that there were 144 such Mttliraeota to the colony, of which 43 are jbx the North and 101 in the Middle Wand. Seven new settlements have been formed daring the year in the North Island and 17 to the Middle Island. The total number of persona settled on the land under this system, including wives •ad families, is 4531. The amount of money advanced by the Government to •ettiars from the commencement of Che mtiia to the 31st March last was L2&,T78, or an average of la* 3d p«r acre-. Last year L 460 was advanced. The arrears on 3!st March bat in the North Island were L 212&, and in tßwßllddl*lsland the- arrears were LM». TBw value of improvements (ww on land Is 163*903 in the North Istand and 1(39>»001 ta the MiddTe Island. Mr March States that there is still » Urge nnruber of ■•factors non-resident on tfieir sections, and the Surveyor General, remarking on thfov points oat the necessity of help being fiveni for a few years in order to make the scheme a complete success. Mr March suggests the establishment of labor colonies Co give instruction to able men who only tick experience. lo reference 1 to the mistake made in the table attached to the Financial Statement respecting; the Canadian customs duties. I understand that the Secretary of Customs (Mr W. T. Glasgow) is responsible for the mistake, and » memo signed by him. to that effect, was laid orv the table of the House, along with the Canadian customs tariff for 1894 by the Colonial Treasurer to-night.. While the Canadian treaty was being discussed by the Cabinet Ministers had the latest tariff before them. The Treasurer's arrangements and discussion* ia Canada were based on the latest tariff. and all remarks on the matter in the Statement are based on the latest tariff With the exception of the table at the end oU Che Statement shewing the possibilities el trade between Canada and New Zealand, which was prepared by Mr Glasgow. everything in connection with the pro-. posed treaty was based on the 18t>4 Canadian tariff.

After prayers this afternoon the Speaker announced that he had received Str G. Grey's resignation. The Premier intimated that he would ask the House, at a later period, to put on record their appreciation of the taCe member for Auckland's services te* the colony.

Before the financial debate was resumed this* afternoon the Premier asked the leader of the Opposition whether ho had been consulted by MrG. J. Smith respecting a motion- that gentleman had given notice of, disapproving of the Government's tarvff proposals!. If so, the Govern - meat would have to take it as a motion of want -of- confidence. Captain Russell intimated that he had not been consulted on the matter. Mr Smith explained that he had moved it on his own responsibility, not! as a want-ofcontidence motion but lor the purpose of allowing members to express their opinion on the tariff proposals. The Domestic Servant* Half-holiday BUI is to be introduced by Mr J. W. Kelly. The Speaker informed a deputation of ladies, who were introduced by Mrs Seddon, and who desired that a portion of the public gallery should be set apart for women, that the Government were considering the matter. The Minister for Railways id heirs asked by Mr Lang if he will make the same reduction in freight."* on, cream and milk carried on the Government railways lor the purpose of beins made into butter aa has been made on the freight of milk lor cheese-making purposes. The eradication of blackberry scrub on the West Coast is asked for by Mr CXRegan. A return showing the amount contributed to the income Tax revenue : (t> Bf tradesmen, merchants, and companies ; (2) by those who may be described as Erofessionat men ; (3) by those employed y the Government, either as Civil Servants or in any other capacity, is being asked for by Mr Buido. The attempt to raise the ag'j of consent from 13 to 16 has again been dropped, as the 'Legislative Council wilt not go last year's figures. The Premier stated that the Council, in refiwmg. had shown itself stubborn, prejudiced, and factious.