POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4773, 13 October 1893, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

>» [Psb Pbbbs Association.! WELLINGTON, Oct. 12. The New Zealand Government haß decided to join in the protest from Australasia to the Imperial authorities against the proposed removal of restrictions upon the visits of foreign warehipß to British ports. For some time past the New Zealand Government has been in communication with the Australasian Colo* nies, urging them to support a request from this Colony to the English Government that the boundaries under the Naval Defence Act be altered so as to allow warships on the Australian station to take in the Cook group in their cruises. For a time the South Australian Government Btood out, but the support of all has now been obtained, and Lord Glasgow has cabled to England the wishes of the Colony, whioh will beat once .conceded by the Home Government. . The regulations fixing the terms and conditions for the occupation of rural lands leased under "The Cheviot Estate Disposition Act, 1893," and "Land Act, 1892," are gazetted. Messrs W. Hall-Joneß (Timaru), F. J. Smith (Cheviot) and J. G. Ward (Invercargill) have been appointed Justices of the Peace. Mr H. Seth Smith is gazetted Chief Judge of the Native Land Court. Mr E. Thomson has been re-appointed smember of the Auckland Land Board. Mr £. H. J. Beeves and William Mahr have been appointed members of the Weßtport Harbour Board, and Mr Daniel Shelby has been appointed a member of the Greymouth Harbour Board. A despatch conveying the Queen's thanks for the congratulations on the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of York is gazetted. The Gazette notifies that the public offices will be closed on Labour Demonstration Days bb follows:— Wellington, Oct. 25} Otago, Oct. 28. A bonus of £2, per ton will be paid on 100 tons of starch manufactured in<the Colony in each of the years 1894 and 1895. The Public Trustee notifies that he intends to take lands in Tauranga, Poverty Bay, Hawke'a Bay and Sydenham under the Unclaimed Lands Act. The immigration and emigration returns for the Colony during September show the arrivals at 1381 persons and the departures 612. The arrivals were :— From the United Kingdom 268, NewSoufeh Wales 695, Victoria 376, Tasmania 64, other places 78, total 1381. Departures— To the United Kingdom 100, New South Wales 303, Victoria 132, Tasmania 29,! other placeß 48, total 612. Daring the month 13 Chinese arrived and 14 left. The following regulation under the Government Insurance Act is gazetted : — Policies ah all become void i? the person whose life is insured shall die by suicide, whether sane or insane, within six months from the date of the policy, provided nevertheless that it shall be lawful for the Commissioner in his absolute discretion to pay the tram assured, if he is satisfied after careful inquiry that the person whose life is insured had not at the date of the policy any suicidal intention. DUNEDIN, Oct. 12. A deputation from the City and Suburban Tramway Company waited on the Hon J. G. Ward to-day, when the question of electricity as a motor was threshed out. The Minister expressed his willingness to go to the extent of £8000 in providing a metallic circuit for. the telephone wires, the Tramway Company paying £4000. Ho refused to promise, however, to give JEBOOO if the cost was less than J812,000. The unfairness of asking the Tramway Company to pay for improving the Government telephone system was pointed out. The Minister admitted that a wrong system had been adopted, but said it was a question of money •with the Government. It had to make the money it had go as far as possible. The Minister at length promised to obtain the services of independent experts to go into the whole matter, and also that whoa the question was settled an Order-in.Council would bo issued giving the Company a title,