POLITICAL GOSSIP. (BY TELBGRAPH.—OWN REPORTER.) Wellington, 3rd.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 227, 5 November 1887, Page 8

POLITICAL GOSSIP. (BY TELBGRAPH. — OWN REPORTER.) Wellington, 3rd.

Evading Civil Service Regulations. The objection made by the Controller and Auditor-General to the vouchers for the pa} menl of salaries to persons appointed in contrju ention of the provisions of the Civil Service "Reform Act lias not I eon without cfteut. Their appointments were justified on the grounds that they were of a temporary character, but tho Premier has now promised Mr G oldie that he will introduce an amending bill dealing with the diihculty, pi eventing further mi&uudcrs>Eft riding.

Country Settlers as Jurymen. Tho ({o\crnmonl recognUcs the injustice of bringing men a considerable distance to on juries when there nrc &uilicient citizens in the town where the Court is held horn which to select jurymen. There is, .however, little prospect of getting the 'matter dealt with this session, bnt Government will take into consideration during; the recess the dc^h ability or otherwise of dealing « ith tho whole question nexfc session.

Ttio Hall Prosecutions. Early last session, Mr Turnbull mcned for a return showing Lho co*ts of the two prosecutions against Thomas Hall, charged with attempted wife murder and murder, hut the dissolution pi evented the return being presented. Application was renewed by the member for Timaru a day or two ayo, and yesterday the Minihtei for Justice supplied * the following' information • — Keg ma v. Hall and Houston. Expenses ot witness £595; payment of juroi*, £28 : fees to Mr Martin, Crown Solicitor, £45. Regiua v. Hall. Expensco of witnesaes and ]>ayincnb of juroi-^, ,C 570 ; fees tor analyses, £226 ; fees to Mr Jfaggitt, Grown Solicitor, Dunedin, including attendance at Court of Appeal, L'lB6 ; fees to Mr White, Crown Solicitor, Tn-naui, in connection with both ca^es, C 550. The gioss co-mj, theiefoic, amounted to £2,210.

Tho Midland Railway Company. Mi (iuinnc^o lias represented to Government, the desirability of negotiating with the Midland Railway Com pan > for tho purchase of that portion of line completed by the Government from Bmnneiton to Richardson. The Minister of Public Works, however, says that the Government lui\e no intention of taking such a proposal into their consideration just now.

Providing for Discharged Government Employees. A novel idea of permanently settling people on the land* ha* been hit upon by Mr Uanon, who will ask Go\ eminent on next sitting day whether they are in favour of setting aside suitable areas of Crow n lands in each land district as grants, to workmen and othci 3 in Goveinmenfc employment whoso .services are being dispensed with, and who aio not entitled to pensions or substantial retiring allowances ; and if so, whether they will make provision for such grants being immediately available.

Encouragement to Looal Industries. Thoic is a good deal of disappointment among those ot the (Government supporters who have- boon ad\ocating greater encouragement to local industry by the postponement of the re\ ision of the tariff till the iece»vs. They, however, consider it would be urn\it,e in the interest 1 ? of the country to do anything that would jeopardise the policy of retrenchment which the Government have had befoic the House, and will therefore give their vote with the Government and accept the assurance which has been given privately to s>ome of their number that the whole question will be exhaustively considered during the recess, and that a thoroughly revised tariff which will meet the exigencies of the country will be submitted at an early period of next session.

Bible in tlio Schools and, State Aid to Catiiolic" Schools. The advocates of Bible reading in schools and State aid to Catholic education joined i-.->ucd yo&tcrday afternoon, and by an adroit mo\e suceecded in having' these (question.-, refeired to a committee foL a leport. This is looked upon as an important step towards the attainment of the objects which they have in view. A piopo^al by "Mr Wilson to appoint a committee to consider the bet means of reducing expeuditiud on education without impaning the ellect of the .-system or closing counti-y schools wa-i earned. Mr Heddon mo\ edVaat the Committee bo also instructed to inquiie whether State assistance cannot be gi\cn to denominational schools without injuring the system. Several divisions took place on the question, but the amendment was agreed to by 3Sa>c,- to 36 noes, Major Atkinson and Mr Fulton voting with the riyc-i. Mr iJlako succeeded in inserting- a clause piowding that inquiiy should also be made "iufco nathe .school, their management and cost. The resolution was canied in its amended foim by a large majority, tho Committee consisting of ]^iJ>er, Allan, Beetham, Lonugey, M. J. S. McKenzie, Ormond, Ban-on, Walker, ])r. i'itchefct, and Wil*on. Immediately the motion \va.^ disposed of, Tvlr Turnbull, who is the champion of State aid to Catholic .schools, gave notice that to-day he would mo\o that the following be added to the Committee :— Messrs Fulton, Cowan, I'yke. (Juinne^s, Dodson, R. Reeves and Marchanb. This attempt to swamp the Committee with the denominational and Bible -in - schools element subsequently brought Mr Thompson to his feet, and he gave notice that ho would also move the addition of the names of Meesrs Goldie and Moat. The whole question is, likely to be fought out to-day. In connection with these proposed additions to the poisonnel of the Committee, the supporters of >Stdtc aid to tho Catholic schoosl aic sanguine that they will achieve their object in the present Parliament, bub they will meet with serious opposition.

Law Practitlonors Bill. Sir George Grey achieved a pronounced success with his Law Practitioners Bill last evening. The measure s>imply provides that any person who shall sue ce&ftfully pass an examination in law shall be admitted to practice in the law courts of the colony. Sir Gooego Gioy made an able speech in moving tho second reading of the bill; refening specially to facilities afforded ,to young men in America to gain admission to tho practico of law. The tone of tho debate, which, was almost wholly conlined to the lawyers of the House, was more Liberal than in past years. Downie iStownib, Dr. Fitchett, and Air Menteilh spoke with determination against the attem])t to throw the profession open in this manner; but three other lawyers W. p. Keeves, Hutchison, and Joyce — strengthened Grey's cause by giving him thoir support. Grey's reply to Downie Stewart was forcible and eloquent. When tho question was put only three voices were given with the noes. Stewart and Fitchett called for a division, which resulted in tho second reading of the Bill being carried by 67 to 15. Sir G. Grey fixed the Committee for Wednesday, 24th • November, and as it is the first order for that day it is certain to get through tho various stages of

the Lower House this session. The division list on this question will bo received with a good deal of interest, and I therefore append it : — Ayes : Anderson, Atkinson, Ballance, Barron, Bruce, Buxton, Cadman, Cowan, Duncan, Fledwick, E. Fisher, Fish, Fraser. Graham, Grey, Haralin, Hodgkinson, Hut L chison, Joyce (teller), Kelly (teller), Lawry, Levestam, Lougbrey, S. McKenzie, McGregor, J. McKonzie, Mitclielson, Monk, Mos I*,1 *, Newman, o'Calln.ghan, O'Connor, Ormond, Para La, Peacock, Pearson, Pyke, R. Ree\cs, W. P. Reeves, E. Richardson, Or. F. Richardson, Russell, Seymour, Smith, Steward, Taipua, Taiwhansa, Tannor, Taylor, T. Thompson, R. Thompson, Valentine, Ward and Wilson. Noes : Allen, Blake, Buchanan, Dodson, Fitchett, Fulton (tellei), Grimmond, Hall, Lance, T. McKenzie, Moat, Percival, Rhodes, D. Stewart and Withy (toller).