POLITICAL NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3425, 19 September 1885, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

(By Telegraph.)' (fkoji our own cohke3pondbnt.) ■Wellington, Bcpt. 18. Tlio rumor relative to Dr Bailor's appointment as Joint Exhibition Commissioner next year, m consideration of his political services m connection with tho Maori voto, is virtually con Gr mod this evening by tho Post. The House sits to-morrow and tho Council also, hoping to get through business, but rumors are afloat of coining disputes over nmendmcnU made by tho Council to the Land Bill, and a Monday silting is generally anticipated. The prorogation is still expected to take placo on Tuesday. Sir Julius Vogcl just managed to carry his San Francisco service resolution by 4, after a very tough battle Ho admitted, m reply to a question from Mr Bolleston, that it was not intended to seek tenders or wait for the Puciflc Mail Company, but that tilings would bo arranged by private negotiation. This elicited a meaning smfle and aouio suggestive winks. Tho Supplementary Estimates are clown, and the Housa is putting them speedily through, jfhey are expected to bo finished to-night. Tho only South Canterbury items nvo tho following : — Additional salary to tho Ashburton Besidont Magistrate, £50 ; South Canterbury Commanding Ofllcor of Volunteers, £50 ; road from Waihao to Hakateramen, £1000. The report of the NaUvo Affairs Cornmil tco on tho transaction m which Mr Tniaron, M.L.G., was concerned, and m respect of which ho conceived himself to bo tlio subject of grave imputations as to his administration of a trust imposed m him by tho Government and by his tribo (tho Ngalntu), wns presented to-day. Aftor reciting the gonoral facts, tho Committee ttatc that Mr Tftiaroft refused to sign a roccipt required of him boforo the payment of tho monoy m quostion bacauso it oxprosscd tbat the amount was to be m ilual settlement, whereas Mr laiaroft wanted £BQQO m round

figures. Tho money remained m the Bank i for nearly two years, during which time Mr f Taiaroa persisted m his refusal. After this long resistance the receipt was signed under I a threat from the Native Minister (Mr 1 Bryce) that tho money would be recalled by ( the Government, which it would appeal 1 ( ho conceived thoy were m a position 1 to do by means of a power reserved | to the Colonial Treasurer of prevent- j ing any operation on tho account without i his sanction. Of tho existence of auch a I power tho natives were not aware. Tho i deposit was then released, and tho Govern- ' ment claimed interest which had accrued 1 upon it amounting to £506, and the schedule i of distribution which had been bused on the 1 supposition thai- this interest would bo m- I eluded had to bo proportionately reduced. I Mr Taiaroa subsequently petitioned eevcrtyl i times for payment of this interest, and it is m connection with this claim that animad- : versions had been made on him. The Com- ' mittec said that after full consideration of all tho evidence they were unable to find any grounds for casting imputations on Mr Taiaroa m connecton with this transaction discreditable to him as trust co for his people, or unworthy of a member of the Council. They consider ho did not exceed his duty to his people m his reCusul to compromise their full claim while thero was any prospect of a favorable result, but they consider that the action of tho Government was unjust, if not invgrular. Thoy think that a misconception of Mr Taiaroa's conduct may have arisen from his taking Iho form most always used of making a tribal claim whero it was personal and individual. The Committee think that the practice of requiring Maori witnesses to sign an Knglish translation of their disposition is objoctionablo. They recommend that this report be printed m the Journals of tho Council.