POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 3 August 1880, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(by telegraph. ) (from otjb, own correspondent.) Wellington, August 3. The delivery of the Public Works Statement will now probably be deferred until Friday evening. The Ministry find themselves in an awkward position. By adopting the recommendations of the Railway Commissioners they will offend some of their supporters, and by not adopting those recommendations they will also create a disagreement. Hence the delay in the delivery of the statement. The only surprise is that they have not invited a caucus to deoide for them what course to follow. Mr. Tole seems determined to ascertain whether the reports of the several Royal Commissions are to be of any value, and will to-day ask what course the Government intend to take in regard to these reports.

The effect of the Representation Bill will be. to increase the number of members to 94—six more than at present. Two will be taken from Nelson, Auckland, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, and Westland will remain as at present. Wellington will gain one member, Canterbury four, and Otago three. Maori representation will remain as at present. The Waikato. Confiscated Lands Bill provides, that the Governor may from time to time, as he thinks fit, reserve out of any of the lands comprised in the schedule of the Bill (confiscated land) such lands as to him shall seem fit, and out of lands so reserved he may grant suoh portion as he may think fit to such persons of the native races as shall be proved to his satisfaction to have been in rebellion, and to have subsequently submitted to the Queen's authority, or by warrant he may set apart out of suoh lands portions for the use and ocoupation of such persons. Any grant which the Governor is authorised to make under the provisions of the Aot may be made subject to such conditions, restrictions, and limitations as he may think fit, but domiciliary residence shall always be one of them.