POLITICAL GOSSIP. (From "Auckland Star" Correspondent.) Wellington, July 16.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 386, 20 July 1889, Page 5

POLITICAL GOSSIP. (From "Auckland Star" Correspondent.) Wellington, July 16.

TRADE WITH CANADA. The " Post " last evening speaks in strong terms for the opening up of commercial relations between this colony and Canada. It &ays bbc Government should receive the Hon. Mr Abbot in a suitable st3'le and give him a hear ly invitation to attend tho Dunedin Exhibition. It concludes thus : — <v As the Legislature will shortlj' be called upon to decide decisively on the question of the continuance or otherwiso ot the 'Frisco mail service, it is well that the teclings of Canada towards the colonies, and tho advantages and probabilities of tho establishment of a mail service rin the Dominion, should bo brought prominently and forcibly before the public, so that New Zealand may not tie its hands by any foolish contract which would prevent it trom going heartily into the establishment of a Canadian service, when the time comes, which will be very soon, when ii will be invited to assist; in bringing such a service into existence."

THE RATING ACT. Last week it was announced that the Government had no inteution of amending the Hating Act. this session. Another eflorfc is to be made to induce them to take action in the matter, and yesterday Mr Cadman is to present a petition from jNJr Thorne and 306 others pi a;> ing that the Act may be so amended as to prevent local bodies selling land foiv rates without giving reasonable notice to the owner. Among the petitionei's are the be*-t known citizens of Auckland — lawyers, meichants, manufacturers and ousine&s men generally. This petition will go before a Petitions Committee, and it is hoped that they will make a favourable rocommondaUon to the House, that will induce the Government to introduce a measure in the required direction. jNlr W. Thorne, the well-known Auckland solicitor, is expected to come down in the interests of the petitioners to use his best efforts for securing the prayer of the petition. The Rating Act makes no provision compelling local bodies to use reasonable means (such as searching ot Deeds Office) of ascertaining who is the owner of land. Section 34 provides that a summonsmay be served by posting iton the pioperty, when the person liable for rates has " no known agent, is unknown, or cannot, after due inquiry, be found ;'' and section 35 provides that when the owner is unknown judgment can be gi\en against the owner on the Court being satisfied that such owner is absent or unknown. Under these sections great hardship has been caused by land being sold when the owner had no notice that an action was even pending. In the petition Mr Cadman presents, several suggestions are made as to the couise amendments should take. Thus, that the local body should be compelled to serve a notice on the last registered proprietorof the land, search tor the title being made by the local body before judgment is recorded, and one month to elapse between the issue of summons against " owner," and hearing of the case ; that a due memo of such judgment shall be preserved with the Registrar of Deeds for the district, so as to give publicity to the fact that the property is liable for judgment ; that ail judgments now outstanding be forwarded to the Registrar of Deeds within six months from the date of the Act, or else lapse. An^ absolute iudefea&ible title shall be given to the purchaser or lessee of any land under the Rating Act. As considerable heart-burning has been caused by the operation of the present Act, the piogress of the petition will be watched with some degree of interest.

REPRESENTATION BILL. Ministers were in Cabinet again this morning over the Representation Bill Ifc seems ifc was printed and leady tor circulation yesterday afternoon, when the Attorney-General disvovered it would bear two interpretations, and had the whole iinpiGss destioyed. Minister.- were debat ing this morning how to remedy the error. It was reported that the country party wore willing to accept the compromise of 25 per cent, quota, but this they deny, declaring they "vs ill take nothing lc=r> than 30,\ per cenL.

COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH CANADA. On "Friday Mr Joyce will ask the Premier whether the Government proposes to cable to Mr Abbott, leader of the Government in the Canadian Senate, on his arrival in Australia tiom England, asking him. when promoting commercial relations, either in reciprocal tarift" treaties, or in relation to the Canadian Pacific Mail Service, to favourably consider New Zealand as in the line of communication from British Columbia to Australia, and that this colony is prepared to consider the proposals for reciprocal commercial relations with Canada. Mr Joyce informs me that both Mr Ballance, leader of the Opposition, and Mr Ward, who i 3i 3 the moving spirit in the anti-Frisco subsidy, warmly appro\e of the Canadian -Jfacitic service.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. When the Public Works Statement i-> brought down the usual formalities of reading will be dispensed with and the printed document simply laid on the table. If it were lead it would occupy the be?t part of the evening and no business would be done. Thus the new procedure will be a gieat .saving of time. After the Representation Bill debate had been adjourned last night, the Premier announced that the Government did not propose to brin^ down the Public Works Statement until the Jlepre«entation question had been settled. As things are at present, thi& may mean another month before the second reading.

DUNBDIN EXHIBITION. The Dunedin Exhibition Street Closing and Licensing Bill was reported and read a third time and parsed afc the evening sitting yesterday. In its present form it will go through ohe Upper House without any difficulty.

BILLS. The Chattels Transfer and Fire and Marine Insurance Companies Bills, both Government measures, were read a second time last nijjht, and referred to Committee-

LAW OF LIBEL. This measure, which has passed the Upper Chamber, was read a second time in the House last night. In the debabe Mr Downie Stewart .said the Bill contained some very objectionable innovations which he hoped the House would not agree to. He especially opposed the sections which made the speakers of libellous words responsible for like words when their utterances were published in the newspapers As to the .security for costs he thought the amount should be limited to £50. Resident Magistrates should not be entrusted with libel causes. Subject to these remarks h approved of the Bill. The lion. Mr Ballance thought there were many desirable jkatures it) the I'fll, buO agreed that the clauses relating to pub-

lished utterances would place public speakers in an awkward position. Wild language was often indulged in by members of local bodios ; and whether it was published with animosity was a matter for the Government to seriously consider. The responsibility of dealing with libel cases was Loo great to be thrown upon R. M.s. He agreed that the security for costs should be limited to X'so. Messrs Izard and S. McKetme supported the Bill. Mr Kerr thought some protection should be givon to persons lampooned in certain small papers. The Colonial Secretary briefly replied, | and the second reading was agreed to.

NEW REPRESENTATION BILL Under tho new Representation Bill the quota tor country districts is lixed at 25 pet' cent, but is calculated on a new basis, being deducted from the population of the j city electoiai/et instead ot being added to the country. The city elec*. orates with their envhons aro to be amalgamated, Auckland, Wellington, Chiistehurch, and Duuedin each returning three members.

EMPLOYMENT OF FEMALES ACT./' Ml- Turnbull introduced a Bill yesterday I to amend the Employment- of Females and Others Act, which was read a second time. The Timaiu people are in this diihcultiV. The Mayor and Councillors have appointed Thursday as the public half holiday under the Act of 1885. This does not suit those employed in factories where steam power is used, and action has been taken against them lor working their hands on the halt holiday. The Kill Mr Turnbull has introduced is for the purpose ot allowing the Council where one day is unsuitable to appoint another.

REFORMATORIES. The Hon. Mr Hlslop says he hopes if the Charitubla Aid Bill is passed to have a new clause introduced that will meet Mr Fyke's desiie to have a measure brought in differentiating innocent children from criminal children. Mr Pyke does nob agree with the Colonial Secretaiy, dectau'ntr that the Charitable Aid Bill will never pass into law.

NATIVE GRIEVANCES. The natives of the West Coast of the North Island have grievances in connection with the leases under the West Coasc Settlement Reserves Acts. Air Carroll has been urging these upon the Government, who decline to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the guevances, f seling it would do no good ; but will introduce legislation this session that will go tow aids casing the minds of the natives.

OLD SOLDIERS' CLAIMS. The Government aie quite piepared to give a committee of iuquiiy into milicaiy,i)aval and volunteer cLiim^. tho powers of a commission, and have their recommendations pufc in the best fomi for the benefit of the claimants.

MrNINC ACT AMENDMENTS. Mr Soddon's Mining Act) Amcndmen Bill enacts that mining paitneiship exisbfc whene\er two or more persons own or acs quite a claim for the piupose ot working it without the necessity fora written contract of partnership. Each member of such partnership must share in proportion the piofits or losses, and shall have a lien on the partneiship property to the amount ot the debts due to cicditors and for money advanced by him for use of the claim owned and worked by the paitncrs. The mine, whether purchased with the funds of the parbneiship or not, i& to be parbneithip pioperby. Contiacts by an agent or member of the partnership or by any manager are not to be binding upon the partneiship unless in wnfcing. The decision of the membeisowning the majority ofshaies is to bind the whole. Ison-repre-senbation of a member's shaie is to be a ground for disaolution of paibnerchip, and if any member deceit or abandon the claim for oixty daj's, his partners may sue to be put in possession of his share Mr Seddon also seeks to i educe the xental of licensed holdings to the following scale :— 3s 6d per acre for the nrsb three years, 7s 6d per acre for the ne.\tfi\e yeais, and 10s for the remainder of the term.

IMPERIAL FEDERATION. The Premier says he will be -\ cry glad, if there is time, to crive the Hon^e an opportunity ot discussing the question of Impeiial Federation. He docs not think that it is yet ripe for very useful discussion, though lie would be £?lad to see it discussed.

ABOLITJO2S OF GOLD DUTY. Mr Seddon is introducing a Gold Aboli tion Bill, which proposes fco reduce the duty by sixpence annually, and cease entirely atter four years. The Bill is not to apply to any Noith Island goldiield unless petitioned for by half the number of holders of mining lights in tho district), and resolutions to the same etfoct are passed by County and Borough Councils deming revenue from the gold duty.

HERE KINO HARBOUR.

According to Captain Fail-child's report on this harbour, a .small steamer, of about 7fo. draught, could, in fine weather, visit it sa"ely. There is a large sandbank in the centre of the harbour, with a \ery narrow channel on both .sides of it, the south side being the best.

MERCER VOLUNTEER EMBROGLIO We have heaid nothing in the House so far i-egarding the volunteer scandal at Mercer on the occasion of the Easter encampment, but it i.% likely to be brought forward shortly. , Mr Ward is moving in the matter, as to-day he is to ask the Minister of Justice if he will lay on the table of the House all the papeis and reports connected with the scandal, together with a copy of the evidence taken at the inquiry. If the matter is not ventilated, then it will probably be precipitated by some motion.

RAILWAY PETITION. The petition of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company for relief from payment of the property tax upon the capital expended upon ibs line, rolling stock, and buildings wa. c considered by the Public Petitions (M to Z) Committeo yesterday. No decision was arrived at, but the matter was adjourned till to-day, when the Committee is also likely to come to some conclusion in reference to the petition for the establishment of a Wellington university college.

AUDITS OF LOCAL BODIES. Ib frequently happens that Borough Councils and other local bodies have leason to complain of the delay in having their accounts'audited by the Audit Department. This matter now has the attention of Sir J. Hall, who intends to a&k the Colonial Treasurer whether the Government propose to take any steps during the present session to remedy the ejreat inconvenience to which several governing bodies are now exposed by 1 eason of the delay which takes place in the audit of their accounts by the Colonial Audit Department. He also wants a return showing the several local bodies in the colony whose accounts are required to be so audited ; also the dates on which accounts were returned, and instances when the audit was completed too late to be laid before the annual meeting of ratepayors.

A Bill on the subject of local Govoniment | audit has been dratted by Ministers, but it is not certain whether it will bo introduced this session.

' CHINESE 'IMMIGRATION. Dealing with this question, ,Mr Scdclon has tabled the following questions which lie is to ask the Premier :—l.: — 1. Whether he intends this session to introduce a measure dealing with tho restriction of C linese immigration, seeing the Act of last session wa& only temporary, and expires at the end of thU session. 2. Lt the answer be in the affiimativo, will the Premier indicate whother tho measure introduced will be on the lines laid down by the Intercolonial Conference on the matter, and consistent with tho legislation of the Australasian colonies on the subject.

GAS COMPANIES. Mr W. B. Pereoval (Christchuich South) hadchafjreoJ: the ßillof tihoChri&tchuvch City Council, which was Lo give them pei mission to go m for fche production of gas, which Bill was killed boforo it came up foi its second leading, lie now wants the Premier to toll him whether the Government pxopose this session to brinfj in a Bill providing lor the following :--(l) Tho fixing of a maximum dividend to be , paid by gas companies ; (2) the annual inspection by an independent auditor ol the balancesheets and books of gas companies ; (3) the abolition of motor rents ; and (4) the testing of tho quality of gis.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Sir Harry Atkinson this afternoon will move to have tho following Committee appointed to inquire into and report as to what form of local jrovernment is bost adapted to the requirements of New Zealand : — Dr. Hodgkinson, Mr Moss, Hon. Y. F. Richardson, Messrs Seddon, Jones, White, l'yke, Sunuel, J. McKcime, J. Macarohur and Tanner ; to leport in three weeks.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM^ The measure which the Government ha\e piepared for the reform of the Upper Chamber was under considci afcion of the Lords themselves yesterday afternoon. In moving the second reading the Attorney General mentioned the desirability of some reform of the Chamber, stating that a reform had long been urged, and that when a committee was appointed in 1885 Sir George Grey, Mr Sbout and the late Mr Me Andrew pronounced decisively j in favour of a single Chamber. He, however, did not go that length. He explained ' that one of the main provisions of the picsent Bill was in the direction of limiting the number ot members of the Council. That Chamber could never feel itself strong when its members were liable to be swamped at the will of the Government of the day, and ho showed how this had been done. At present there was no check on the appointment of members, and this was calculated to destroy the utility of the Council. lie explained the principles of the Bill, and said the time had now arrived when some reformation should take place, and unless the Council attempted to tefoim themselves .somebody elbe would do so ior them. In conclusion he appealed to the thirty-two hon. Councillors present to allow the Bill to go into committee and to see how far it concnried wich the views oi Mie majority of the Council, and not to give it the " happy deb patch " because the election piovUion did not meet with their appro\al. Col. Whibmoie denied that there was any true agitation m the country for a reform of the Council ; for on the contraiy, neW6paper after newspaper had commended the work done by it in the way of checking hasty and imperfect legislation. Unless the Attorney-General would consent to the Bill being referied to a select committee instead ot passing it to its second reading, it would certainly bo thiown out. He stiongly opposed the proposal for a united chamber where clifterencesof opinion aro-je, as the Council would be outnumbered and no lair representation to minorities would be given. Ho also opposed the clec tion of members by ballot, and did not think if the present system was continued there would be any abuse of power by any Ministry. The election of their Speaker by the Council had his sympathy. He urged the sending of the measure to a select committee. It was as bad a measure as could well be conceived, and he had only abstained fiom moving that it get the "happy despatch" in the hoj~o that it would be remedied in committee. At this stage of proceedings, on the Hon. Mr Oliver's motion, the debate was adjourned till the following day.

PETITIONS. Petitions praying for grants of land for military services still continue to come in. Among those presented yesterday were the following Auckland ones :-— From W. C Snell, ol" Mantrakaramea(Mr R. Thompson); William Porter and William Connell, Auckland {Mr T. Thompson). Mr W. Kelly presented a petition from a Mr'W. Burrows, architect, of Auckland, praying for payment of £12 alleged to be duo for architect's work done for the Government at Rotorua. Mr Lance presented one from Mr Shearman, late Inspector ot Police at Auckland, praying for additional compensation for dismissal.

CHIT-CHAT. Mr Scddon has withdrawn his motion drawing attention to the lighting ot our railway caniacrcs. Sir George Grey wants to know if Minis,tei& are responsible for the letter written by the Governor to the Vice-Consul for France, at Wellington, which is published in the daily papers, relating* to the escape ot Gasparini. Mr Macgregor wants to know what steps the Govern in en I propose taking to supply riile clubs with rilles and ammunition at a cheap rate, as suggested by Geneial Sehaw. j jNJi* Valentine has tabled a question in the direction I indicated yesterday, with regard to a river changing its course and the Government taking a road without compensation when it does so. Mr Samuel wants to know if the AgentGeneral has been appointed trustee for the Midland Railway Company.