The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1887.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8001, 20 October 1887, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1887.

The wasto of money that has been going on in attempting to open a road from Wanganui to oonneot with tho Main Trunk Line is likely to be stopped. Mr. Monk has been enquiring into the matter, and has moved " That a return be laid on the ; table of the House of all sums of money expended in making roads between Wunganni and the North Island Trunk Railway; I also for snagging the Wanganui river and building steamers, boats, punts, &c, and from what fund has the money been obtained. That a return be laid before the Uouso giving the names and areas of the various blocks of land purchased by ttie Grown from the native owners, distinguishing between those to which the Government title is complete, and those pieces to which the consent of all the grantees has not yet been received, the number of names yet required to complete the title to each of such blocks being shown separately, the cost of each block, and the balance, if any, yet to be paid upon it, to be shown separately and in detail, the amounts paid in commission, salaries, fees, or otherwise, and the names of the agents, Government officials, or other persons to whom such sums have been paid; the return to show the total cost and expense to the colony of the past native land purchases since the 31st March, 1884, to tho present date." It is believed the above motion is to get at the cost of services and commilsion of Messrs. Grace and Stevens in the Taupo district. Another land purchase scandal is engaging the attention of the Auckland members in Wellington. It seems that Mr Schwartz Kissling had five acres leased at Point Resolution from the Native School Trustees at £17 per annum, of which 118 years had to run. Tho Defence authorities took three-quarters of an acre for Defence purposes, but afterwards, for occult reasons, changed their minds, and made a declaration that five acres wera wanted for Defence purposes, the price arranged being £6000 in extinguishment of all rights, and obtaining of the land in fee simple, and it was arranged that Mr. Kissling should get back four acres for £4250, and the Government for its three quarters of an acre should pay £1750. Subdivided this was £1118 to Mr. Kissling for his rights in the land and £632 to tho native school trustees for theira. The contention is that Mr. Kissling, by this delightfully unbusinesslike arrangement, so far as the tiustees are concerned, gets his leasehold converted into a freehold for nothing and £1118 to boot, the Government pay £1750 for three quarters of. an acre, and the unfortunate orphan children get £632 for their interest in the fee simple of the whole block, for all time. Sir George Grey thinks (says a contemporary) that the Auckland people will scarcely be satisfied with this sort of thing. He stated at a meeting recently held in Wellington his belief that the declaration of the defence authorities that they wanted five acres for defence purposes is contrary to fact. The whole thing could be upset, and alt the subsequent dealings with the land as to disposal ot tbe freehold quashed, leaving Mr. Kissling to find his remedy where he could. Sir George Grey wishes to see the rights of the orphan children reinstated in the four and-a half acres, and has consulted lawyers relative to the transfer of the Native School trust land to freehold, and is advised that the action ot the Defence authorities is not covered by authority of the law, but is ultra vires. Reform of the Legislative Council haß been engaging the attention of one of its members. The other day, Mr. J, G. Richmond urged the need of some change in the Legislative Council which would have the effect of popularising that Chamber, and admitting within its walls men of ripe culture and experience when those who are now members have passed away. We do not know what qualification Mr. Richmond had that he should be "pitch-forked" into that Chamber, for he never did anything to entitle him to the pension as life member of that body. The Wellington Press says it has a very simple plan for making the Legislative Council popular. It would have the office of Legislative Councillor made purely honorary, with a provision that any member being absent for a whole session without leave, or failing to attend at any time in response to a call of the Council, should ipso facto forfeit his seat." If that were done, there would be no objection to the Government nominating any reasonable number of suitable men to be Legislative Councillors, or even to persons occupying certain positions being ex oflkio Councillors, or being entitled to a seat in the Council on retirement. Thus the Upper House would be honourable in nature as well as in name ; its legislative capacity would be vastly strengthened ; and the whole element of sinecure and ptsnsioner-for-life, which makes it so intensely unpopular at present, would be removed at one stroke." It would be the easiest thing in the world to bring about that happy result, but we fear that that is not what Mr, Richmond is after.