PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2268, 9 July 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

fßv Telegraph.] [PEOiI THE OWN COBEBSPONDENT OP THE “ PBESB.”] WELLINGTON, July 8. Nearly the whole of this afternoon was occupied in discussing the report of the committee on a very remarkable and wondrous Maori petition. This singular document is translated as follows; —“ Wherenata.Hokianga, 12th October, 1880. This petition to the Hon. the Speaker and members of the General Assembly at Wellington, greeting. We, your petitioners, wish to make a statement about land at Whakatahata. We now pray that the Court may be opened for this piece of land. If this land cannot then be brought before the Court, then place our names upon the Crown grant for this land. We have the same claim to this land ; and if the Court is not opened or our names are not placed upon the Crown grant for this land, and you do not consider our words, we will take up arms against the people whose names are in the office at Auckland, and it is possible that some one may be killed by us. We therefore, your humble petitioners, pray that your honorable House may grant this our petition, and we will ever pray, &c. From Heta Henare and seven others.” It is believed that Mr Knight, the Government actuary, has already made a calculation of the amounts due to policy-holders as their share of the £50,000 which is deemed available for distribution as bonus. It is known that Mr Knight made an independent actuarial calculation as to the amount available, which came very close indeed to that of the London actuaries. Of course, the nature of his calculation is kept secret until the time arrives for it to be officially announced, but I am assured by a very competent authority that the average bonus will be between 21s and 23s cash for each £IOO insured, or about £4 if left as reversionary bonus at death. Thus the holder of a £IOOO policy would receive from 10 to 11 guineas cash, or have about £4O added to the amount of the policy. The actual bonus will vary according to the duration of the policy, but will probably average somewhere about the amount indicated. It must bo distinctly understood that this is not “official” information, but I have reason to believe it will turn out not far wide of mark.