POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Kumara Times, Issue 941, 6 October 1879, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

[from our exchanges.]

Some strange and incredible rumors are now in circulation, a'nd in which in the interest of the Government ought to be published, so that they may receive authoritative contradiction. The first is in reference to Wi Tako’s wife’s funeral. At the request of the Native' Minister, a small allowance was made towards the expenses to enable Wi Tako to have a becoming tangi over his departed spouse. Wi Tako then requested a certain distinguished member of tire Liberal Reform Association to supply whatever was necessary for' the occasion, fixing no limit. The arrangements were of' the most liberal character, and' subsequently the bill was handed in for This was a staggerer to Wi Tako, whose lawyer was asked, to raise some money on his land, but he said the land was encumbered, and it was doubtful whether the chief could deal with it. After a good deal of baffling work- the bill camte before the Audit Department with a minute from the Premier saying that he did not consider the amount unreasonable, bearing in mind the services rendered to the Crown by Wi Tako. The second rumor is that a half-caste female teacher was given f trip to the rfouth, and that later orim, bill of her expenses of £2oo' ftas tendered to the Government and queried, but subsequently there was another minute to the efiect that the woman was a Native teacher, and the trip was calculated to' enlarge her mind and increase her usefulness. The third rumor has reference*

to meeting and its bill of costs of £BOO, which came under the bead of board and lodging, but in making up ( the account the particulars shewed the bulk of the expenditure to be for spirits and champagne; and upon the auditor remarking as to the discrepancy; the clerk innocently replied that tie had received special instructions to enter them as “ board and lodging.” If these rumors are not true, they are certainly well told, and one ban hardly suppose that they are all piire invention! It is hinted that if Sir 6. Grev is defeated he will hot, resign, but will leplace Messrs Fisher; Thomson, and Gisborne by new men, and tell the House that, although they had no faith in the Ministry as constituted, they ought to have every confidence in the new Ministry. , But it is also said, On good authority, that, should Sir G. Grey fail to resiglij the Governor will dismiss him; Gushing admirer of Sir Grey reply; “ .Let him ! that’s all we Vnmt, and he will he the last Governor New Zealand will ever She.” By telegraph, the Government induced Mr M‘Caughan’s proposer and feeconder to wire to him asking him to vote with the Ministry, but he replied that he had bfeen ele'btfed as an independent member, not as a delegate, and would therefore use his own judgement. It is reported that Mr Masters’ partner sent a telegram from the West Coast stating that urgent private buisness rerjliirbd his presence; but Mr Masters refuses to budge until after the division. You may expect to hear something during the session of the immense piles of Government and collect telegrams that have passbd between the Government and the Liberal Associations at the public expanses, taking precedence dif And obstructing all the ordinary telegrams of the colony.