POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2837, 18 September 1890, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(lIV TKI.KMJMriI —OWN COU!tI'.SI'(IM>UNT). .Vr.i.i.iMiroN, lii«t Night. TIIK FINAL SCENE. 'I'm; proceedings in the House In-day were of a common place character, :ind very little interest Wilts evinced in tlio closing business, as everybody seemed anxious to got away In tlieir homos. Everytiling was finished soon after 5 o'clock by the Speaker announcing that the Governor had assented to the Appropriation Bills, which usually ends tlie works the session. A large number of members loft for South this afternoon, by the Manapouri. and tho Ancklanders leave to-night by the Hinetnoa. Tlie Nelson members are also going by the same opportunity. LARGE DEFALCATIONS. Considerable discussi in took place in tho House last night while the unauthorised expenditure accounts were under discussion, in respect of the largu amount, of money that had beiin voted to make up deficiencies of certain civil servant.--, amounting in all t.i some £10,000 <>r .f 11,000. Ministers were strongly urged to devise iuo;ius by which civil servants who had to handle largo sums of public money, should be required to enter into bonds for the efficient discharge of their duties. Local bodies, it was pointed out, are compelled to require from their officers guarantee bonds, up to a certain amount, and it was highly necessary that similar precautions should be tnken in respect of the public officers throughout the colony. OPPOSITION REUNION, After the House rose last evening, the Opposition to the number of about 2o assembled in their whip's room, and spent a very pleasant halfhour. The gathering expressed renewed conlidence in their leader, and wished him every success in the coining campaign, concluding by drinking |his hualth in bumpeifi. Mr Seddou occupied the chair. NKW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR BOARD. Tho question of the liability of llie New Plymouth Harbour Board for tho advances made to it by the Government has frequently been discussed in the House this session. The opinion of the law officers of lilts Crown has now been taken with α-furunculo tho matter,; and the reply is thai the Board is liable to tho Government for tin; advance. It the Harbour lioard hecomes insolvent, however, tho law ollicers consider it would become a question whether tho bond holders would have any claim u;jun the colony.