WELLINGTON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2232, 2 July 1908, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

[Special to “Times.”] WELLINGTON. July 1. A LAND SELECTOR'S GRIEVANCE.

The of a would-be settler in the Auckland district are told in a petition which was presented to the House to-day by Mr. Massey on behalf .of. Christopher M. Hansen, of Lyttelton. The petitioner states that at the ballot held at Auckland oil May 10th, he was declared the cash purchaser of section 314 of the parish of Waimana at the price of £260. Prior to the-ballot, he had paid tho deposit of £52. Immediately after the ballot lie applied to, the Government Advances Department for a loan of, £l5O, hut. after an inspection of the property the loan was refused, and as he was .unable to raise the balance of the purchase money within; the stated time, his deposit was forftfi/ted. The petitioner states 'that being a working man, the loss of the deposit, in addition to the expense, loss of time and worry entailed, falls heavily upon him, and lie prays for a refund of the deposit or "for a regrant of tho land upon the occupation with right of purchase," tenure, and also such sum by way of compensation, as the House may deem fit. THE TAIHOA FEVER. “Two tailioa. Ministers sitting together,” said Mr. J. Allen this afternoon, at. lie pointed to tho Hons. J. Carroll and J. McGowan. “The first is the tailioa Minister for Native Lands, and .the other is the tailioa Minister in regard to mines.” In pursuing this reference to the lastnamed Minister, Mr. Allen said: “We have given him over £24,000 for expenditure on goldfields, and what has he done with it ? He has got it in his pocket. (Laughter). In his Departmental pocket, I mean.” He did not, he said, know why any member should feel constrained to refer in terms of ’•‘raise to tho Assistance given to the milling industry by the Government, this remark having reference to the member for Waikato’s laudation of the Mines Department last evening. POLICE PROVIDENT FUND. The Police Provident Fund Board reports that during the year one sergeant and seven constables were retired and placed on the fund, viz., Sergt. Latimer, and Constables Chisholm,. Jeffries, McChesney, Roche, (Stacey, and Weatherley. On 31st March there were 3 ex-inspectors, 22 ex-sergeants. 40 ex-constables, -3 oxdetectives. 2 widows and 2 children on the fund, their aggregate allowance being £6574. _ .The following pensioners died, during the year: D. Oartniill, H. Chisholm, S. Stacey, E. Stunner. On 31st March there was a balance to credit of the fund of. '£30,537, an incroa e of £l4ll on the amount at the end oi the previous year. THE K.U.MAI TRACK. Mr. Merries has given notice to ask the Minister for Public AA orks whether, considering the importance _of linking together the districts of Waikato and the Bay of Plenty by a road fit. dor vehicle'traffic, he will, place a sum on the Estimates sufficient to widen that portion of the Kaimne track, which is at present incomplete.