POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 4119, 24 August 1882, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[telegraphed by special correspondent.]

NATIVE RESERVES BILL.

Wednesday, August 23. — The Native Reserves Bill was committed last night, after a division of 41 to 34. It waa strongly opposed in Committee, and made no progress. At 12.30 p.m. the House adjourned till 12 noon to-day, when, after answering questions, the House went again into Committee on the Native Reserves Bill. Mr. Kelly's proposal to give local management was rejected. Very little progress was made this afternoon, but the Opposition is gradually being broken down, the Government being determined to force the bill through.

ROADS CONSTRUCTION BILL,

To-day the Roads Construction Bill is distributed. It is similar to the bill of last session, but improved. The Government will endeavour to force the bill, and also the Land Bill, through the House.

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR.

Mr. Wright's questions re the Harbour Board have been postponed.

MAIL SERVICE WITH ENGLAND.

The Postmaster-General has given notice of motion for extending the San Francisco mail service for three years, and to subsidise a monthly steam passenger and mercantile service to and from England, at a cost not exceeding £40,000 a year ; length of voyage not exceeding fifty days. It will be seen that there are some big questions to be settled, but the Government have not yet declared what business they intend to drop, preferring to deal with the Loan Bills before doing so.

HOW TO EQUALISE TAXATION COMMITTEE.

The Committee constituted to inform the House how to take from each man the exact amount he is entitled to pay to the State for the benefit he derives from railways are deep in consideration, and are almost buried in blue-books. I think the solution of it will be simpler than the originators of it liked, viz., an additional half-penny on the property. The object is to place it on the land, but I do not think it will come off.

[from our exchanges.]