NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1243, 27 September 1911, Page 6

NEWS AND NOTES.

A STRANGER IN THE LADIES' * GALLERY. When tho House, in Committee, resumed after tho supper adjournment last night, Mr. Sidey, tho member for Caversham, was observed to he seated in the Ladies' Gallery, and engaged in conversation with one of the occupants. The attention of the Chairman was drawn to the fact. Mr. Colvin remarked: "My attention has beeirdrawn to tho fact that there is a stranger in the Ladies' Gallery." Mr. Sidey did not hear the remark, so. a messenger went forward and conveyed tho intelligence to him. The member for Caversham at once left the gallery, and resumed his own seat, while the House laughed heartily at his discomfiture.

THE MOKAU INQUIRY. The Mokau inquiry seems to bo again opening out to some extent, and anticipations that it might conclude 'yesterday, so far as the taking o£ evidence is concerned, havo been defeated. Mr. Joshua Jones has still to make his statement, and the Native Affairs Committee has arranged to hear as a witness Mr. D. White, a member of tho Mokau Land and Estate. Company, who applied by telegraph yesterday to be heard. Tho inquiry is to bo resumed to-morrow.

REFUND RECOMMENDED. La re Anderson, of Waikawau, Awakino, petitioned Parliament for a refund ■ of «£2il and interest, bjing part of a loan from the Advances to Settlers Department, of which he alleged that he had been defrauded by a solicitor who was noting as agent for the Department. TheA to L Petitions Committee were satisfied that tho money had never beea paid to 0.-.a petitioner, and they recommended that it be paid , with interest to date. QUESTIONS. The establishment of a reciprocal tariff between New. Zealand and Australia is the subject of a question addressed by Mr. D. M'Laren, M.P., to tho Prime Minister. Sir. M'Laren desires to know whether, any negotiations have taken place in this matter, and, if so, what direction they have taken'. Mr. ' M'Laren is also to ask whether any definite proposals have been made for the creation of a closer bond of unity between. Australia and New Zealand on the lines of ail Australasian political federation, or whether the question of political union with tho Commonwealth has been discussed between its Government and that of New Zealand. Tho following question is to bo addressed by Mr. Alien to the Minister for Finance:—"Which of the two following statements dealing with tho public debt up to the year 1891 is to be considered as correct: (1) Financial Statement, 8.-fi, 1906, page- IV, 'Non-reproductive public buildings, ,£1,800,000'; (2) Financial Statement, 8.-6, 1911, page IX, 'Intercstbeariug public buildings, ,£1,800,000'; also, will tho the Finance Minister oxplain why, iit the table above referred to in 8.-G, 1908, he omitted for the period 1891 to' 190G all reference to moneys expended on public buildings, defence, lighthouses, and harbours?"