POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6048, 8 December 1897, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From: Our Correspondent.! WELLINGTON, Dec. 7. OLD AGE PENSIONS. The Old Age Pensions Bill is in jeopardy in the Upper House, as it is claimed that heads have been counted, with the result that the Hon J. A. Bonar's amendment for laying it aside will have a majority of three. Nineteen votes certain are said to have been promised in support of the amendment. THE RIFLE ASSOCIATION. Major. Sommerville has been in town for a couple of days arranging matters in connection -with the next meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association at Oamaru. It is proposed to begin the shooting in the second week in March, so that at its close competitors from the north, if so disposed, will have an opportunity of witnessing the festivities . at Dunedin connected with the jubilee of the S2ttlement of Ofcago. The Commandant of the Forces will appoint an officer to have charge of the camp, while Major Sommerville will, as usual, superintend the range arrangements. The probabilities are that members of tho Permanent Force will be appointed to act as markers. Volunteers are to have more consideration than hitherto, and two or three matches will be included in the programme open to efficient volunteers only. THE PUBLIC WORKS LOAN. When the Financial Statement was brought down some weeks ago, indicating an intention to borrow .£250,000 for the purpose of rolling stock, construction of school buildings and technical education, members claimed that, reading between the lines, there was a plain intention of further loan proposals when the Public Works Statement was brought down. It. was, therefore, satisfactory to have an assurance this afternoon from the Premier that "we do not intend to ask for any more moneys than the quarter of a million contained in the Financial Statement." THE HOROWHENUA BILL. The Minister of Lands' Bill dealing with the Horowhenua Block, after setting forth in the preamble the resnlt of the action taken under last year's Act, proposes to enact that the decree given by consent in the action instituted by the Public Trustee shall be set aside and declared void. Division 14 of the block is declared to have been from Dec. !5, 1886, held in trust by Meiha Keepa To Rangihiwinui for the Muanpoko tribe. A fresh action is to be instituted by the Public Trustee under Section 10 •of last year's Act, and the grounds of such action are set forth. The costs payable by the Public Trustee are to be paid out of moneys to be appropriated by Parliament. LOCAL GOVERNMENT. In the preface to the Local Authorities Bill, which was circulated to-day, it is stated that the measure provides for the setting up of Commissioners to divide the colony into not more than forty counties, and a county must have not less than the minimum population necessary for constituting an electoral district for the election of a member of the House of Representatives. For land drainage and river protection purposes special districts are to be constituted, which may, where convenient, include boroughs. The Councils of counties and boroughs included in a special district will exercise joint control over the same. Provision is made for constituting parts of counties as borough districts, within which a County Council may exercise borough powers. This provision will meet the case of smaller boroughs aud of town districts that become absorbed in a county. Option is given the Commissioners to retain any existing road districts. Tlie franchise is extended to the case of twelve months' householders. The whole Council of a county goes out of office every two years. The provisions in the Bill as to hospitals and charitable aid are necessarily dependent on the passing of the Municipal Corporations Bill or some other measure dealing with the question. The Bill contains -i-31 clauses, and follows generally the luvs of the Local Government Bill introduced in 1895. LYTTELTON STREETS The Borough of Lyttelton Corporation Enabling Bill, introduced by Mr Joyce, empowers the Borough Council to take over existing streets though. of less width than prescribed by the Municipal Corporations Act, 1886, provided they were in existence prior to 1576 ; and also, in order to obtain a better line or gradient in any street, exchange with the owner of any land adjoining such street any part of such street for part of the land adjoining.