NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1214, 24 August 1911, Page 7

NEWS AND NOTES.

THE UPPER HOUSE. Mr. Newman asked the Acting-Prime Minister, "Whether the Government will, when making fresh appoint incuts to fin; Legislative Council, bear in miml (lie claims of the V.'est Coast of the North Island?" Mr. Newman stated that them is no member of Hie Legislative Council resident between Wellington, and Hinvera. Sir J. Carroll replied that the claims of nil portions ot New- Zealand would bo considered when fiitm-e appointments uru being made.

CO-OPERATIVE WORKS. The Hon. E. M'Kenzio must have omitted to read the newspapers one day last week. Ho said yesterday, in reply lo My. l'earco: "I havo not, so far. ecsn the statement mado by Mr. D. Jones relative to tho construction of public works under co-operative contract; but if tho honourable gentleman will submit any casa in point to me, I shall make the necessary inquiries into the matter." PARLIAMENTARY BUILDINGS. That the date for receiving competitive designs for the proposed new PariiamenSU of this month, after which the designs will be submitted to an assessor to make the awards. It will probably bo a month or more before the selected desien can bo laid before Parliament.-Jlr. R 51 Ivenzie in reply to Mr. Herdman.

RATING OF OIL LANDS. Land supposed to contain oil or mineral' S \ ??n'n a Almler , tbe Valu ««°l> of Land Act, 1008 as for the surface use onh, and as of the samn unimproved jalue as similar land in the. neighbourhood, always without any regard to

speculative mineral value, until the oil or minerals are produced, when the profits (if any) will be assessed for local rating purposes as in the case of coalmines, quarries, etc. Mr. Buddo's reply to Mr. Okey. THE GOVERNMENT AND MOKAU. "The matter of the Mofcan Block has already been before the Government," said the Hon. D. Buddo in reply to a question asked by Mr. Newman. The Minister added: "It is believed that tho recent dealings will prove satisfactory in every way, and that before- Ion? a thriving settlement will be established." ±he question which elicited the above reply was: Whether the Actinpr-Minister tor .lands would consider the expediency of resuming for the purposes of closer settlement, that block of land known as tho -Jlokau Block, containing 00.000 acres, the freehold of which was recently sold by the Natives at 10;. -Id. per acre to a private individual with tbe consent of tho Government. Mr. Newman stated in a note to his question that, in view of the extremely low price paid for the land in question when compared with recent values paid by the Government under the Land for Settlements Acts, the Government should have been able- to dispose of the block referred to on terms unusually advantageous.to small sottlcra.

NATIVE LANDS. A return presented to Parliament .yesterday shows that 285,525 acres of Native land were purchased by the Government during tho five years from 1905 to 1910. Out of this total, 66,331 acres were opened lor settlement, and 01,553 acres are at present occupied by Europeans. These figures do not include any purchases undei the Native Land Act, 1009. A HASTINGS PETITION. The 51 to Z Petitions Committee reported yesterday that, as a question of policy was involved, it had no recommendation, to make as to the petition c-f John O'Kanft and 1210 others, who prnyed that legislation bo passed for supplying the town of Hastings with electrical power, water, and drainage.

'government workshops, Asked by Mr. Herdman why tho money •voted last year for the erection of new workshops lor the Public Works Department in Wellington had not been expended, the Hon. I?. M'Kenzie said that the fencing of the ground on which it is proposed to erect the new workshops is now in hand, and the matter af proceeding with , the building will bo considered by tho Government at an early date. In a note to his question, Mr. Herdmnn had stated that the men are working under conditions which would not be tolerated in private employment.

REPLIES IN BRIEF. Following is the effect of some of the Ministerial replies given yesterday to questions on the order paper: — Inquiries will be made into the question of direct connection by telephone betwecm Tariki and Inglewood, as suggested by Mr. Hiae. The revision of tho tariff in tho direction of placing certain domestic necessaries, etc.. on the free list, as suggested by Mr. Ell, will receive the consideration of the Government during the recess. In reply to Mr. Hine, it was stated by tho Minister of Public Works that tho question of making provision for the Marco Koad, Whangamomona, would be considered vrhciv the Public Works Estimates for th"i current year are being framed. The question of serving summonses by post has boon considered'on several occasions, but no practicable solution of the difficulty has been found. Tho matter will be. looked into 'again, as the mileage charges in somo districts are- very heavy. It is proposed to introduce this session an amendment to the Education ' Act, making it clear that teachers transferred against their wish have tho same right of appeal as if they were dismissed. The Hon. G. Fowlds stated, in reply, to Mr. .J. Duncan, that a board of officers had been formed to report ou riiln ranges, and ono member of this board was now touring each island. Tho question of fhe Vernon Range, near Blenlicim, would be considered with others when the report of tho board was received.

Tho Hon. G. Fowlds, in reply to Mr. Myers, said that in the absence of suitablo legislation it was questionable whether the engagement ■ at. present of a town planning expert would be justified. Tho matter would, however, receive the careful consideration of the Government. The Minister for Labour (Hon. J. A. Millar) promised Mr. M'Larcu that inquiries will bo made into the matter of the importation of Island boys for domestic forvice, and, if it is found that this is likely to detrimentally affect New Zealand workers, steps will ho taken with a view to stopping the practice. It is intended to publish a map shotvine the Hutt electoral district, when the boundaries are finally fixed by the CommiFsioners on September 11. The question of setting up a Royal Commission to investigate the innrea.==d cost of living will bo considered by' tho Government.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie informeed Mr. Ross that the lowest tender received for a daily mail service between Wcodvillo. Hopplnntls, nntl Kumerea was in excess of the amount the Department was prepared to pay.