POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4115, 29 September 1884, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[by telegraph.] (From our Special Correspondent.) "Wellington*, This day. It has not yet been decided by the Ministry when the Public Works .statement will be delivered. The rumor i.s that Friday evening , will be the time, but this can scarcely be the fact if another rumor is also I true, namely, that the statement will not be made until the report on the North Island railway line is completed. In that ca.se next Tuesday week or next Friday week would be nearer the time. Some people say that nothing- whatever will be done with the railway until next year. The Premier is of opinion that the session will close in about a month hence. The estimates will not probably occupy more than two evenings. In the House of Representatives tomorrow afternoon Capt. Russell will ask the Native Minister—(l) Whether any districts have been proclaimed under clause 5 of The Crown and Native Lands Rating Act, ISB2, and, if so, what districts ; (2) whether the Government is aware that there are extensive and extremely valuable lands owned by natives in thickly populated districts deriving- their value to no inconsiderable extent from roads and bridges constructed out of rates levied on adjacent lands, the property of European .settlers, and whether the Government does not think it expedient as well as just to impose upon native lands deriving much of their value from the expenditure of rates levied in the locality the same responsibility as attach to the lands owned by Europeans; (3) whether the Government will prookiim all native lands valued at £'2 or more per acre to sell, and .situated within one mile of public road as exempt from the operation of the Crown and Native Land Rating- Act, 1882, and its amendments.