POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 22 July 1880, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(by telegraph. ) (FKOM OUK OWN CORRESPONDENT.) - Wellington, July 21. Mr. Oliver stated in the House to-day that he expected ,to make his Public Works Statement some day next week. Members are looking forward anxiously to the Statement, as a number of rumors of a striking nature are afloat as to the intentions of the Government in regard to public works. A return showing the amount of money paid to Messrs. Grant and Foster, the Lincolnshire delegates, for their visit to the Colony was L 547 Is 6d. The Customs revenue for the financial period of nine months ended March 31 was L975,92£i, and the cost of collection per cent. L 3 4s 3d. The returns for the principal ports of the Colony were as follow ;—Auckland, L 175,168 ; New Plymouth, L 8649 ; Wanganui, L 16,510; Wellington, L 142,090 ; Napier, L 25,651 ; Nelson, L 31,023 ; Greymouth, L 26,127 ; Hokitika, L 20,621; Riverton, L 336 0; Invercargill,L2B,399; Dunedin, L 285,015; Oamaru, L 11.972 ; Timaru, L 12,182; Lyttelton, L 151,310. The subsidies paid to the provincial districts of Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago under the Financial Arrangements Act, 1876, were as follow dnrinsj the periods named : 1876-77, L 15,199 ; 187S, L 29,943; 1879, L 33,945 ; 1880. L 34,554 ; total, L 113,631. Canterbury : 1877, L 13.374; 1878, L 33,165; 1879, L48.71G ; 1880, L 44,646 ; total, L 139,903. Otago: 1877, L 23.884; 1878. L 51.804; 1879, .L 63,363 ; 1880, L70,8;14 ; total, L 228,876. The totals for the different years were L1i.4,912; 78-79, L 146,025; 79-80, 1j155,944. Total since the passing of the Act, L 472,482. , The third annual report of the Minister for Education has been laid on the table of the House. It is of a very voluminous characted. July 22. The report of the Railway Commission will probably be presented to the Govei'nor parly next week. The oonstruqtion and delivery of the Public Works Statement is delayed pending the receipt of the re* port, In the House of Representatives to-day, the Hon. E. Richardson asked: whether it is the intention of the Government to make a reduction of 10 per cent, in the wages of the railway employes before the House discusses the public works esti-' mates.; The Minister for Public Works said that he received reports from the Railway Commissioners of both islands, which recommend that the wages of the employes of the department should be assimilated to the wages ruling outside thq department. The Government did not expect them to work for less.