POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 534, 30 September 1902, Page 2

POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

OPPOSITION CANDIDATES. (Special to Times.) Wellington, last night. I understand the Opposition ticket for Wellington City will bo a very strong one. Messrs Aitkon (Mayor), John Duthic, and A. li. Atkinson, with the Hon. T. Hislop, for Newton (Suburbs), being the candidates that will more probably faco tho meetings. NATIVE LANDS. A matter affecting the Native lands is the subject of an umeudment to be moved by Mr Field, when tho Nativo and Maori Land Laws Amendment Bill is in Committee. By section 3, of the Act of 1895, land within the limits of a town, district, or borough, and blocks not exceeding 500 acres, tho title to which as a sepavato holding, has become ascertained by partition or otherwise, may bo alienated, aud this is expected from section 117 of tho Nativo Land Court Act of 1894. Mr Field intends to proposo that tho following provisions shall bo deemed to havo formed part of soctiou 3 of the Act of 1895, as, and from the coming into operation of that Act, “ nothing in tho Native Land Court Act, 1594, shall bo deemed to havo prevented or to provent tho aliena- , tion of any parcel of land which does not exceed 640 acres of first-class lund or 2000 acres of second class Imd, within tho meaning of tho Land Act, 1892. If such parcel of laud has been or shall bn awarded to tho Natives upon an original investigation ot title thereto ; but this provision shall not apply to casos whore the land is owned by Natives under a partition made since tbe passing of this Act of a block of land exceeding tho areas hereinafter mentioned.” CLOSE OF SESSION.

I understand a strenuous effort will bo mado to finish tho work of the sossion by an early hour on Thursday morning. A great deal of tho business on tho order paper will havo to bo slaughtered. METHODIST CHURCH. A Bill has boeu introduced into the Houso by Sir Joseph Ward for tho purpose of onabling tho Methodist Churches in tho colony to chango their name to tho Methodist Church of Australasia. A COMPLAINT. Mr Horries complained iu tho Houso to-day that tho Nativo Affairs Committoo did not got through its work fast enough, aud many petitions relerrodtoit worouevor heard of again. This had boon tho fato of several this sossion. Ho thought tho Committoo should bo divided into two committees in future, iu order to oxpodito tho business. Tho Hon. J. Carroll thought tho Government wero making such good progress with sottling all tho nativo difficulties now, that very shortly thoy would havo very few, if any, nativo petitions coming before that Committoo.