POLITICAL GOSSIP. (BY TELEGRAPH.-SPECIAL REPORTERS.) Wellington, July 24.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 388, 27 July 1889, Page 5

POLITICAL GOSSIP. (BY TELEGRAPH.-SPECIAL REPORTERS.) Wellington, July 24.

IMPREST SUPPLY. A month's supply of not; more than €200,000 was passed by the House yesterday after considerable stonewalling by tho town members, who protested in strong terms against this being passed until the public works estimates were known.

GOVERNOR'S EXPENDITURE. A return which was presented to the House yestordav show? that, the expenditure in the Govcrnoi-'s establishment, Ministci's' salaries and allowances, and departmental expenses for the year 1888-89 was only £1,913,413, as against t'2,079,327 in 18S7-88. The reductions under tlic different headings ■were as follows : — Governor's establishment, £905; Ministerial salaries, £2,850 : Legislative vote, £82,481 ; Departmental expenditure, £129,778.

AUDITING LOCAL BODIES' ACCOUNTS. Some membcis are exercised over the cost to local bodies of the Genera] Government audit of their accounts, and the delay caused in obtaining such reports. MrColdie has {riven notice in addition to move, that a return be laid upon the table showing, Ist, the nature and extent of the defalcations found by the Audit Department in connection with the local bodies' arcounts ; and 2nd, the districts, if any, in which such defalcations have occurred.

A CORSE QUESTION. When asked by Mr T. Mackenzie if the Government, would consider the propiiety of {irantin<r to local bodies powers to pro hibit the sowing or planting or gorse upon country road boundaries, the Premier promised that consideration would be given to ifc. He did not wish to say that the Government would comply with the expressed wish, but it was a new question to him and would be considered without prejudice.

TE KOOTI CAMPAIGN. Ib is doubtful if any of the motions tabled with reference to the Te Kooti campaign will ever come up for decision. Still another has been tabled, Mr Hutchison having given notice to move that there be laid before this House copies of : 1. The information or complaint laid against Te Kooti in the month of February last at Opotiki. 2. The warrant of arrest issued there. 3. The order made on the hearing of the charge, and on the i-ecognisances upon the entering into of which Te Kooti was released from custody.

MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY. It has been stated in the press of the colony that a member of the Ministry wrote a lebter to England to the effect that the land to be handed to the Midland Railway Company is worthless, and so delayed the raising of the Company's capital in London. Mr Feldwick is now anxious for the Premier to say whether this is true or not.

SALVATION ARMY. Mr Bruce intends asking the following question of the Minister of Justice :—: — Whether he is aware that, there i? a rumour in circulation to the effect that two young ladies connected with the Salvation Array, and recently incai cerated in a NaDier prison, were confined for the night in the same cell as a woman placed there on a. charge of drunkenness, and whether he will cause inquiry to be made with the view of ascertaining the truth or otherwise of such rumour, with the object of preventing a repetition of such practices ? The following series of question?, to be asked by Mr Seddon, are also of interest to the Sahationists : — (1) I* the Minister aware that notwithstanding the promise given last session that no by-law would be sanctioned by the Government having for its object the prevention of Salvationists from following their religious practices, such by-law was made in February last by the Borough Councils of Hastings ? (2) Will the Minister submit said by-law fco the Crown law officers ? (3) Will the Minister of Justice inform the House what is the opinion of Crown Hw officers generally on the by-laws in force which permit Salvationists to be imprisoned, their only offence being religious devotion ? (4) Will the Minister at an early date introduce a measure repealing such by-law ?

LOAN EXPENDITURE. A return to an order ot the House shows that since 1875 £73,048 13s 9d, balance of ]oans. has been transferred to the consolidated fund ; £2,477,200 raided by Treasury and deficiency bill?, has been expended in aid of revenue, and the amount of consolidated stock created to provide a finking fund and interest thereon is £1,272,234, making a cotal of £3,322,532 18s 9d.

BANKRUPTCY ACT. The Bankruptcy Act Amendment Bill, which was alluded to in the Governor's speech, has been prepaiel, but as it need.-, careful revision the Minister of Justice does not expect to be ready to introduce it until the end of the next week.

CARRIAGE OF LIME. Mr Crawford Anderson (Bruce) has been interviewing the Chief Commissioner of Railways, with'a view to getting the Hailway Board to take into their favourable consideration the reduction in the haulage of lime when required for the purposes of a fertili=er. He drew attention to the fact ihafc in the event of the line being extensively used by farmers the small loss that would ensue to the revenue would be abundantly recouped by the haulage of the extra production thab would result from the liberal use of lime, and other indirect causes. Mr McKerrow replied that immediately on assuming office he had taken into consideration every reduction of freight that would tend to increase the general wealth of the country, especially as regards the agricultural interests. In the meantime, he could not see his way to recommend any further reductions.

NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION. Overtures have been made to fcho HonMr Ballance to induce him to take the lead in the matter of moving a no-confidence motion on the Representation Bill. As showing the inconsistency of Ministers, it is pointed out that when a motion was made by Mr Seddon in 1887 to give the country districts an actual advantage of 25 per cent., not the nominal 25 and actual 33£ now offered, every member of the present Government voted against it.

ASSISTANT CONTROLLER. The "Post" strongly condemns the proposal to give Mr C. Y. O'Connor the post of Assistant Controller, which will soon be vacant by the resignation of Mr Batkin. It stigmatises it as "kissing by favour "and mentions varioas old officers who should not be passed over in order to allow Mr O'Connor to be comfortably provided for.

BREVITIES. !Mr Brown wants to know the cost to the colony ot New Zealand's representation at the Rabbit Commission on the Pattern 1 exoeriinenbs in Kew South Wales.

MINISTERIAL CORRESPONDENCE, The "Post" last evening waxed very funny over tho display Ministers have been making of their ability in writing letters. It declares : " Never were mon so aiflicted by cacocthcs scribendi ; yet they certainly are not adopts in tho art of oolite letter writing ; " and continues : " None of their epistolary efforts are remarkably creditable to the writei'e, nor tire they nltogothor consistent with the dignity of the oiiicial positions they occupy. They havea fatal facility for being drawn into carpingeorrespondence with anybody and on any subject. Anyone who wishes to gain peisonal no brie ty or to try and make a Minister look ridiculous has a cheap and easy means of doing it by writing a letter. It is sure to bo answered by tho Minister to whom it is addressed, and then the correspondence may bo prolonged indefinitely partly to the amusement and partly to the disgust of the public, when in duo time it will appear in print." Mr R. Reeves wishes fora lctuin showing the total indebtedness of the colony, specifying Government, municipal, harbour boards, and other public bodies ; and the terms and rate of inteiest ol the several loans. BirJ. Hall is asking the" Government it they purpose having the age of protection raised.