JOTTINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2323, 8 September 1898, Page 25

JOTTINGS.

Mr J. W. Thomson has presented a petition from Iho settlers of itatanui, Houipapa, Table Hill, Tahakopa Valley, and Chaslands. in which the petitioners ask that the Catlins River branch railway be extended as far as the Tahakopa Valley. The Premier laid on the table of the House this afternoon letters received from Nath'e chiefs and others in regard to the NatiA"e Lands Settlement and Administration Bill. The writers approved of the principles of the bill, but one of the accompanying documents contained the suggestions agreed to at the meeting at Papawai in June. ' The GoA - ernment Avere dissatisfied with the decision of the Council to alloAV cumulative voting in recjarrl to loans- in the Municipal Franchise Bill, and to-day the bill Avas recommitted with n. A'iew to striking out the proviso which originally was carried only on the casting vote of the Speaker. The Council, however, again decided m fa\"our of the principle by the bare majority of one vote. It is probable, however, that the House will disagree with the amendment, and the Go\ rernment may block it by moving for a committee of both Houses to meet and discuss the point. The delayed volume of Hansard made its appearance to-night. It is an unusually bulky volume of some 300 pages. The map is not inserted in the mace where it is referred to in Mr M'Kenzie's famous speech, but is published as an inset between the coA^er and the first page. The collectox-s of rare and curious specimens are olreadv on the Avarpath, and I am informed that there is a considerable run on the A'olume in question.