POLITICAL GOSSIP. Wellington, September 10.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 67, 13 September 1884, Page 6

POLITICAL GOSSIP. Wellington, September 10.

Elevation of Wahanui and Wi Pore. Rumours of all kinds aic still current with respect to the probable appointment of Wahanui to the Upper House, in addition to Wi Pere to the Cabinet, and the filling up of the vacant portfolio. lam assured on the bsst authority that nono of these matters have been before the Cabinet yet, so that no definite action can have been taken so far. The two former are, however, generally accepted as being pretty certain to become accomplished facts within the next fewdays.

The Vacant Portfolio, The Government appear to be in no hurry to fill up the vacant portfolio, tho reason being obvious. Several names aro mentioned in connection with it, and there is too niuch reason to bclievcthattwoor three members are overanxious to get it. Mr Cadman, who lias been working in the direction of inducing one of the opposite party to take the portfolio, and thus strengthen the hands of the Government by additional votes, is, however, still looked upon as likely to be offered it himself. On the other hand, it is believed that Mr Moss's administrative experience would greatly strengthen the Cabinet.

Bank Note Security. The Bank JS'ote Security Bill, of which Mr Dargaville gave notice in the House yesterday afternoon, is intended to make bank notes in circulation in the colony absolutely undoubted so far as being value for the expressed amount of such notes by making them a first charge against the assets of a bank.

" Hansard." It is said that the circulation of "Hansard %> thioughout the colony has been greatly increased since the attempt recently made to popularise the publication by the reduction in price, and by receiving orders for it at all the telegraph and po»t-offices. Notices of this Mere issued with every telegram sent out from the offices yesterday.

Nortli Island Trunk Railway. Last night'? " Post " says :— " In all probability an effort will be made to alter the constitution of the North Island Trunk Railway Route Committee, by having it composed almost, if not entirely, of South Island membeis, vho have no personal interest in the question at l^-suo. We have already intimated the desirability of such an alteration. Wellington interests in the matter have nothing to lear fiom the most impartial judgment on the merits."

Auckland University Buildings. Mr Peacock made an unsuccessful effort in the House yesterday to induce the GoA T eniinent to promise to place a sum on the Estimates for the erection of a suitable building for the Auckland University College. He laid stress on the fact that the present, accommodation in various separate buildings was wretched and \ery unsatis I factory, and added that notice to quit the rooms in Admiralty House might be give'i at any time. The Premier i-egretted that there were no funds available lor the purpose, as hon. members would see by the financial Statement when it was presented. The announcement was received with "noes'' from one or two Auckland members, while several Southerners expressed satisfaction at the further shelving of this matter by "hear, hears."

Government Subsidies to Newspapers. Sir George Grey appears to be devoting considerable attention to the interests of the press. Be submitted yesterday afternoon for h'rst reading a bill to abolish postage rates on newspapers printed w ithin the colony, and gave notice of his intention to move on Thursday that the House go into Committee to consider an address to His Excellency asking him to place a sum of money on the estimates to supply to the press and people of Kew Zealand a telegraphic summary of the events which occur each day in the colony and throughout the world. The proposal seemed to cause surprise, several members laughing ironically. Doomsday Book. It is said that the Doomsday Book for which Sir George Grey has been struggling so long is now appioaching completion, and that the volumes will be placed on the table of the House before the present session ends. Direct Mail Service. Mr Macandrew is again on the warpath with the object of terminating the San Francisco mail service. He gave notice yesterday of the following motion for Thursday :—": — " That one of the chief advantages to be derived from the establishment of direct steam with the United Kingdom would be the conveyance of letters at a postal charge not greatly in excess of the actual cost of transit, and that the Government be requested to take such action as may best conduce to this result." Work in the Upper House. Notice has been given in the Legislative Council of the question whether it is the intention of the Government during the present session to bring in a measure for reforming the constitution of the Council. Mr Buckley has given notice in the Legislative Council of his intention to introduce a Timber Floatage Act, Impounding Bill, Land Transfer Act. The Education Act. Mr Lahman has given notice to ask in the Upper Hou.se whether it is the intention of the Government during the present session to bring in a bill to amend the Education Act with a view to abolishing central boards, also to reduce the cost of administration, without impairing the present free, secular, and compulsory clauses of the Act. Colonial Defences. Major Cautley is still engaged here in the completion of plans for the harbour defences of the colony, but will probably return to England before the end of the year. It is said that a vote of a quarter of a million will be proposed this session to can y out the scheme. The guns imported years ago are still lying here, and the men from the Armed Constabulary who wore trained for come months to work them are scattered, some in Wellington and others in various parts of the colony, while a third section, again, have fallen victims to reductions in the force.and been discharged. The expense of training, therefore, appears to have been money thrown away. Mrs Coolahan's Land. The Petitions Committee has recommended the Government to enquire into the circumstances under which land claimed by Mrs Coolahan was taken.

Wellington, September 11. The Opposition and Government Proposals. Parties are very quiet at the present time, and nothing 1 is being done on the part of the Opposition to secure support fcr the wan t-of -confidence motion. Leaders of that party claim credit for a determination to give the Ministry every chance. They deny the statement freely used by their .opponents that they have resolved to

move a want-of-confidence motion without even waiting to see what the financial proposals really are. All kinds of rumours are afloat concerning the probable nature of the proposals that will be brought down, but it is hardly necessary to say that nothing reliable has transpired, or is likely to transpire, respecting them. The forecast which I telegraphed on Monday is the one which finds the greatest amount of credence. Ministers are still engaged night and day in the preparation of the Financial Statement, but I was informed last night by Sir Julius Vogel that it is impossible to tell what will be completed. It is very improbable that the Statement will come down on Friday night, and Tuesday next is the most likely date. If the proposals are considered unsatisfactory, a caucus of the Opposition will be held immediately afterwardsto decido on the course to bo followed. In this connection the following retraction which appeared in last night's "Post" is interesting: — "The rumour current yesterday that the Opposition were preparing a direct attack on the Government to be moved by Mr Mitchelson immediately the Financial Statement was made, and irrespective of the policy disclosed, is now authoritatively contradicted. The Opposition deny that any organised movement has even been suggested, and they say that they are quite willing to judge tho Government by their policy, and if that is reasonably satisfactory, to allow public business to proceed without attempting to bring about another crisis this session."

Rotorua Railway Deputation. Messrs J. M. Clark and J. L. Campbell, who arrived here several days ago in the interests of the liotorua Railway, are busily engaged. The object of the visit is to ascertain whether the new Ministers are more favourably disposed towards the scheme than their predecessors were. have only commenced, and the matter at the present time is in such a frtage that it would be premature to attempt to indicate the result.

A Breeze in the House. There was something of a squall in the House yesterday afternoon on the question by Mr Larnach asking it the report had been submitted to tho late Government recommending changes in the Civil Service ; whether the bill was prepared, and whether it would soon bo submitted for the consideration of the Colonial Tiea&urer. lie replied stating that it was not the duty of the incoming Government to seal eh in holes and corners for papers which tho recent Ministry were detei mined should not be found. He knew there was a leporfc, but they had been unable to lind it. A bill had been prepared, but the type in which it had been set was broken up, and there was now no trace of it. Mr Larnach characterised this as a w ilful destruction of public property, and moved the adjournment of the House, in order that the head of the late Government might have an opportunity of explaining. Major Atkinson pointed out that there was a motion for the production of the leports on the Order Paper for Thursday, and after some iurther remarks from other members, the subject dropped. A row i^ expected on the subject to-day, notice ot motion being given for the production of papers which are said to be in the possession of members.

Fraudulent Debtors. The duty of the (-lovernment to provide for the prosecution of persons guilty of fraudulent misappropriation of money was discussed in the House yesterday afternoon. A glaring instance of the weakness of the law as at present framed was related by Mr Bevan, member for Hokitika. The offender, he said, had his house burnt down, and having got money, took a sudden departure fiom the district without settling up, hereat creditors were aggrieved, and, at some expense to themselves, had the levanter brought back. A guarantee of £100 -\\as given that he would pay his debts in full, but hardly had this arrangement been made, when the man ran away again, and although possessed of plenty of money, tiled his schedule in a neighbouring town. The creditors, smarting under the injustice done them, had him brought back again, at a cost to them of £130. The offender was committed for trial for fraudulent bankruptcy, and sentenced at Hokitika to IS months' imprisonment with hard labour, which he is now serving. Notwithstanding the expenses to which they had previously been put, the creditors were compelled to defray the cost of the fin.il prosecution, and consequently paid 11s in the £ over and above their loss in order to vindicate the law. Mr Conolly asserted in reply that, had there been funds in the estate, they should have gone to cover the cost of the criminal prosecution. This was spent in another direction. Therefore it was only fair that the trustees should make good the deficiency. That Vacant Portfolio.

Matters in connection with " that portfolio" are still in a state of slatu quo. Cynical Oppositionists express the opinion that it will not be filled for some time, and that it is being used as a bunch of carrots, to be dangled temptingly before the eyes of those who are seeking for its i^ossession, with the object of retaining their support until the Ministry have tided over their probable difficulties. This may or may not be true, but I am assured on good authority on the other side of the House that the portfolio is at last certain to be filled this week, and before the difficulties of the Government will commence. Mr Moss's name has been mentioned in connection with the portfolio this week, and this appointment is not the most unlikely thing in crea tion. At the same time, from what I can hear I incline to the opinion that Mr Gadman is by no means out of the running yet. A very interesting return has been ordered by the House on the motion of Mr Larnach. It will show the annual amount o" revenue from all sources received from each old provincial district by the Colonial Treasury for each year since the New Zealand Constitution Act came into force ; also the annual amount paid out of the Colonial Treasury for each year during the same period in respect to public works, native and defence purposes, and all other general colonial charges within each province, classifying the expenditure and revonue separately, each under its proper head, as particularly as possible. Auckland Petitions.

The following Auckland petitions have been considered by the Petitions Committee: John Greenley, master mariner, petitioned asking for compensation for false imprisonment: The Committee find that the petitioner has no claim, Patrick Wheelan, of the 58th Kegt., petitioned for recognition of his services. The petitioner, in the opinion of the Committee, has no claim. James Young, formerly warden in Mount Eden Gaol ; No claim. William Caldicut, formerly of Waikato Militia : The Committee find that the petitioner, having deserted before three years expired, has no claim. Edward William Murray : Petition having been already dealt with, the Committee do not see their way to re-open it. Maria Doble, asking for a grant of land in recognition of the militia services of her late husband - The Committee find the petition was dealt wjth in 1883 ; no recommendation. John Jackson, claim for services rendered : The Cominitte find that tlie pgtjtjon,er has no claim whatever

Mr Stout's Opinion of the District Railway Act. i The opinion oi the Premier respecting the District Railway Construction Act should i be interesting in Auckland at the present i time. In the course of conversation with a • deputation the other day, I am given 5 to understand that he expressed himself i , strongly opposed to the bill. He character- :' ised the principle of giving 30 por cent, of i the value in land as bad. He said if the I land were of value to the railway proprietors r it was of greater value to the country. I Personally he would like to see the Act ■ wiped off the Statute Book, and would be 1 disposed to have the railways taken over b and completed by the Government.

1 1 The Maoris and Epidemic Diseases. j The Maoris appeal* to be appreciating the advantages of scientific discovery in preventing the attack or spread of disease in their midst. In moving yesterday afternoon i to have a medical man sent to vaccinate the . Maoris, Mr Taiaroa dwelt on the ignorance |! had previously prevailed amongst [ the Maoris, and advanced this as a reason why so few took advantage of the ' opportunity to be vaccinated afforded t in 1880 or 1881. He said that the { ignorance was so great that when measles first broke out amongst them, , people told them it was a good cure to bathe in cold water. They did po, and died. He feared that if small-pox broke L , out, the ignorance of the natives respecting the method of dealing with the disease would result in the death of many. Mr Dodson, avlio said he believed vaccination is a mistake, opposed the proposition, and ) in doing so read a report on a letter from r the father of a child which died in Auck- - land soon after vaccination. Mr Ballance 3 said the Government fully recognised the i importance of tlio matter, and a sum of 3 money would be placed on the Estimates j for tho purpose. He would take such j steps as he hoped would bring about the > vaccination of tho whole Maori population. The Maoris mado light of the proposal to vaccinate them when made in ISSI, and of the total native population of 45,000 only 7,300 had been inoculated.

[ Cutlasses for Volunteers. ; Mr Fitzherbcrt has made an effort to ; obtain cutlasses for the Naval Volunteers in : the colony. The Defence Minister informed • him that 700 cutlasses would bo required to [ supply the different corps! at a cost of • £GOO, but it would also be necessary to im- [ port the arm to which cutlasses m ould have ■ to be ailixed, bringing up the total cost to , about £3,000. This sum Mas so largo that i the matter an ould have to be considered in i connection with the question of defence i generally.

i Hours of Polling. s The bill for the extension of the hours . of polling in the interests of "working men, about which so much was heard at the i recent elections, has been thrown out. The debate on the second reading, which took place last night, was one of the most interesting during the present 1 session. A very large number spoke, but but Auckland representatives wcie exceptionally silent ; only three .spoke, and Mr Peacock was the only one of the three who : supported the measure. Messrs Buckland and Uurst opposed, and the latter gave expression to the opinion that hotels should be closed on election days. Mr Pyke was exceedingly sarcastic at the expense of working men. He said that however desirable the bill might be for downtrodden serfs in towns who were prevented by Act of Parliament from working more than eight hours a day, and who desired to come out after tea for a night's political recreation, yet it was unsuited for the free, unfettered people in the country. Soon af cenvards, the Premier, who ably advocated the measure, was asking why the poll had been kept open for two days in the old Tory times, when Mr Pyke interjected, "So as to buy votes." Mr Stout turned the laugh against him by coolly adding that the political experience of tho lion, member ior Dunstan appeared to be of a peculiar character. In the old days the voters of his experience appeared to have sold their privilege, while in the present days they were not to be trusted away from their houses on the night of an election because they might get into bad company. Mr Wakeh'eld asserted that in his district all the men who had voted for him were taken to tho poll in his opponent's carriage, and Mr Bevan, speaking of the necessity for purging the rolls, told a Btory of a man who, 12 months after his death, applied to have his name replaced on the roll. This paradoxical statement overcame the gravity of members. Tho Opposition was strong, and in the hopes of saving the measure, Mr Bevan accepted a suggestion to limit the extension hours to 7 instead of 8 o'clock. The bill, however, was sacrificed by 45 to 35. Sir George Grey was the first member to record his vote in favour of the bill.

Education Act Petitions. Petitions still continue to pour in from Roman Catholics in all parts of the colony praying for a capitation grant towards the maintenance of their schools. The initiative in the matter was taken by Auckland, and has been followed by districts from one end of the colony to tho other. A large batch of petitions were presented to-day. They came from Ifawke's Bay, Wellington, Wcstland, and Canterbury. Those already presented contain nearly 15,000 signatures. The following was telegraphed to yesterday's issue o* the " Otago Daily Times " by its correspondent here: "I hear that His Excellency the Governor will give a lecture before the Wellington Philosophical Society shortly on the defences of New Zealand. It is hardly necessary to add that the lecture will be looked forward to with great interest, not only from the eminence of His Excellency's authority on the general question, but also from the curiosity of the public to learn what has been the outcome of tho work in which the Governor and Major Cautley have been engaged during the last 10 or 12 months. The result will probably bo such as to astonish tho public, who have little conception of the extent of the undertaking. I hear that both His Excellency and Major Cautley are often engaged till late in the night drawing up their plans for the defonces of the colony." Government Subsidy to Newspapers, The "Post" last night says Sir George Grey's proposition that the Government should supply daily telegraphic summaries of news to newspapers is a superlatively foolish one. Sir George Grey evidently does not know what hie proposal really means. The Government could not, we venture to say, furnish the New Zealand press with summaries of foreign news equal to what are now supplied by private enterprise at a less cost than say £50,000 a-year, and the news would probably not be so well selected, and much less reliable, than it is at present. If the Government entered the field as purveyors of news, it should go further and buy up all the newspapers of New Zealand, carry on their publication, and supply copies free to the public. Such a proposal would be quite in keeping with Sir George Grey's suggestion. The Thames Municipal Elections.

The difficulty which has arisen in connection with the Thames municipal elections has been brought under the notice qf the Colonial Secretary by Colonel Fraser (Mayor of the Borough). The elections were rendered informal ]by neglect^ to ftp-

point returning officers for each ward, only one being appointed for the whole elections. The Colonial Secretary declined to interfere to legalise the election, which were informally conducted when everything required by law was so clear. The elections will, therefore, have to take place again.

Legal Practitioners Bill. There was a long and intei'esting debate in tho House last night on Sir George Grey's Legal Practitioners Bill, tho best speeches were those in favour of the measure. Sir George Grey spoke elegantly in moving the second reading, and Messrs Moss and J. D. MacKenzie delivered themselves of really good speeches in support of the measure. The most effective speakers on the other side were Messrs Stout and Garrick, both of whom are in the profession which is sought to be affected. The opponents of the bill contended that it was calculated to offer a premium to ignorance, and discourage culture and higher education. Mr Moss effectively attacked the latter assertion, and appealed to members if there was not such a thing as learning for learning's sake. This sentiment was evidently appreciated by Sir George Grey, who cried "Hear ! hear," and applauded it repeatedly. Theprinciple argument was whether a knowledge of Latin was necessary to lawyers. One member asked if Latin was indispensable to these who applied, why was knowledge of it also nocessary to those who made the law. Sir George Grey's reply was a very eloquent one, and appeared to carry the sympathy of the House. The bill was thrown out by a majority of one.

The Gisborne Grievances. It is the intontion of Mr Locke to move next week for the appointment of a Select Committee to consider the condition and grievances of the Ecist Coast, and that a petition from that district be referred to such Committeo, to consist of Sir George Grey, Messrs Wi Pere, Barron, Dargaville, Major Atkinson, Brown, Conolly, Johnston, G*'igg> and the mover.

Mining Legislation. Mr Monteath's Mining Companies Bill provides that, any person desirous of freeing himself from shares may transfer the same to the Company, provided ho has given twenty-one days notice of his intention to do so, and advertising the same ; that section of tho 1872 Act is repealed, and in its place is provided that shares on which calls remain unpaid after 90 days shall be forfeitable by resolution of the directors. A bill to amend tho Mines Act, which has been introduced by Mr Seddon, promises that the charge for miners' rights shall be reduced to 10s ; reduction is also made in the charges for business licenses. Mr Seddon has also introduced a bill providing for the reduction of gold duty by one-half.