SATURDAY, JULY 12. MR MITCHELSON'S REPLY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 17 July 1890, Page 17

SATURDAY, JULY 12. MR MITCHELSON'S REPLY.

The Hon. Mr Mitohelson tells me that in his speech in reply, closing the financial debate, he intends to go fully into the Rotorua land purohase, and will give explanations whioh will effectually dispose o£» Mr Kerr's accusations against him of having acted as the agent of the Bank of New Zealand in doing its dirty work. He will also inform the House that during his 10 years of publio life the Bank ofj New Zealand has never, either by word or deed, attempted to influence his actions. Mr Mitchelson complains bitterly of the abuse and reckless accusations whioh have been hurled against the Ministry, and points out that such conduct does not encourage good men to enter politics.

MR HUTCHISON'S INDICTMENT.

Members of the Ministry express great confidence in their ability to disprove Mr Hutchison's charges, and declare that he has put himself in a very awkward position. The Government have suooeeded in pinning him down to certain written accusations, and they will confine him to these and insist on his proving them. If he fails to do so they will probably demand that he be called before the bar of the House and made to tender an apology. Mr Hutchison, however, seems as confident as the Ministry, and is circulating bis speech in whioh the accusations occur, headed "The Indictment of the Ministry." It is /thought probable that Mr Withy will be appointed chairman of the committee,

THE COMING ELECTIONS. - It ia rumoured 'here that Sir Robert Stoat is about to stand for a Wellington city seat, and that Mr Seddon is going to fight Mr Fergus. Mr Bunny is going to contest Wairarapa with Mr Buchanan. EXTENDING POWERS OF RABBIT INSPECTORS.

INSPECTORS. The bill to amend the Rabbit Act, whioh the Minister of Lands is to introduce shortly, is a measure which will give the ' inspectors considerably enlarged' powers compared with those the now have in dealing with the rabbit nuisance. It will also establish heavy penalties for wilfully damaging, and for taking the skins of rabbits poisoned at other people's expense, a practice whioh appears to have prevailed a good deal 'of late. Provision will also be made to enable rabbit fencing to be carried aoross main roads with gates. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Wilson wants the Government to place the aum of £10,000 on the Estimates for the purpose of carrying out the promise of the Premier to give a bonus for the improvement of flax-dressing machinery. Mr Allen has given notice to ask the Minister of Mines whether there has ever been a bonus offered by the Government for oil manufactured from New Zealand shale, if it has lapsed, and if it has will they renew it ; and if there never has been a bonus will the Government now offer one?