POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5689, 7 October 1896, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Oct. 6. „ miscellaneous; The following votes, appearing in the Public Works Estimates, are to be spent in the Ashley electorate : — Tarndale Road .£l5O, Clarence Bridge .£2OO, works at Hanmer Plains .£IOOO, Hanmer Plains Road .£IOOO, Kaikoura - Clarence Road .£SOO, road between Kaikoura and Conway .£3OOO, Kowai-Loburn .£3OO, Ashley Traffic Bridge .£IOOO, Oxford Bush Roads .£300; enlargement of lineman's house, Post, and Telegraph, Amberley, .£120 ; police station, Kaikoura, .£SO; Lower Waiau Bridge .£3OO. Mr Lewis is to ask the Minister of Railways whether he will consider the advisability of readjusting the railway tariff so as to remove the anomalies at present existing between the charges from Christchurch and Addington respectively to Temuka, Timaru, Waimate and other southern stations. Mr Collins is to ask the Minister of Railways if he will explain how it is , that the rates for goods sent from Addington to Timaru, Waimate and Temuka are respectively 4s 6d per ton, 18s 9d per ton and 19s 4d per ton more than if sent from Christchurch. Mr Mills is circulating a petition for signature amongst the members of both Houses of the Legislature, praying that his Excellency, as his final act before leaving the colony, should grant a free pardon to the convict Chemis. [Per Press Association.] A deputation of some thirty members of the House waited on the Premier this evening, and urged upon him the desirableness of bringing the session to a close at the end of this week, as they wished to leave for their homes on Friday or Saturday. Mr Seddon said that it depended on members themselves, and if they would assist the Government in passing some seven or eight Bills at the top of the Order Paper he saw no reason why the desire of the deputation should not be carried into effect. These Bills were,' Native Land Laws Amendment, Native Reserve Act Amendment, Electoral Acts Amendment, Tobacco ExciseDuties.Governmentßailway Department Classification, Consolidated Stock Act Amendment, Mining Act Amendment and Government Valuation of Land Bills. The Premier gave an affirmative reply to a question as to whether it was intended to bring in any banking legislation, whereupon some of those present remarked that it was useless to think further of leaving at the end of the week. They would remain till that point was settled. The Chairman of the House Banking Committee expects that the report of the Committee will be brought down to the House on Friday. The sub-committee has almost. completed, the draft report and part of it is already in print, so that it should be presented to the General Committee tomorrow or next day. It is understood that Mr George Hutchison has a minority report in course of preparation.