POLITICAl GOSSIP. (BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER.) Wellington, this day.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 389, 31 July 1889, Page 4

POLITICAI GOSSIP. (BY TELEGRAPH — SPECIAL REPORTER.) Wellington, this day.

CHARITABLE AID ENDOWMENTS. The Government are recommended by the Public Petitions (A to L) Committee to institute an inquiry into the administration of charitable aid endowments throughout the colony.

PETITIONS. The Public Petitions Committee have decided that Louisa Edmonds, of Auckland' has no claim against the colony. She claimed compensation for the destruction of the cutter of her late husband by rebel Maoris at Whakatane, in 1865.

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. The annual report of the Industrial Schools of the colony shows that the expenditure for the year on account of Government Schools was £18,895 2s Bd, against which is set £7,154 2s 9d, recovered from Charitable Aid Boards and from parents. The average number of children resident in the Government Schools or boarded out from them was 812 (285 resident and 527 boarded out). The apparent cost for each of these children is £23. The rate or payment for boarded out children has until lately been 7s a week. In new cases the rate is now 6s, and steps are being taken to make the rate general.

SUBSIDISING MINING AND PFOSPECTING. The Goldfielcls Committee recommend that it is desirable that a subsidy be given by the Government in aid of prospecting for gold when moneys are expended by the County Council, prospecting 1 associations, or private parties, provided that such prospecting associations or private parties shall first have the approval of the local authorities ; and that the Minister of Mines bo asked to make provision for the same in the supplementary estimatee.

COMMISSIONS. The following are the expenses incurred during last year for Commissions appointed during that period : — Chinese immigration (held in Australia), £85 ; Mokau nativo land leases, £539 3s lid ; re charges made by G. VV. Ell against Official Assignee ab Chriatchurch, £61 17s ; Point Resolution inquiry, £158 14s 9d ; Lincoln Agricultural College inquiry, £120 16s sd. Total : £962 12s Id.

OUR GOLDFIELDS. Mr Cadman wants to know under wha fc Act or by whafc authority have the rents miners' rights, fees, or other revenuea ecru ing- to the native lands of the Northern goldfields been reduced.

our, loans. Mr Saunders is to ask for a return to be laid before the House showing the amount of loans raised ,or of money borrowed in each year since 1861. Also the amount expended during each of the same years for interest, sinking fund, conversion, brokerage, or any other expense connected with such loans

LOCAL OPTION. Mr Fulton wants to know whether the Government will undertake to introduce early next session a Bill to grive effect to the resolution carried in this House on the 17th of July, directing the Government to introduce a Bill "giving power to the people by direct vote at the ballot-box periodically to prohibit the sale of spirituous liquors within the district in which they reside."

MINE MANAGERS' CERTIFICATESThe miners of certain West Coast goldfields petitioned the House some weeks ago for an extension of the time for enabling candidates to pass the examination for mine managers' certificates for less than one year, and alao asked that the examination be confined to matters relating to under^ ground workings. It is recommended by the Goldfields Committee to be referred to the Government with a recommendation to amend the law so as to comply with the prayer of the petition.

NO CONFIDENCE. There is some talk of a direct no-con-fidence vote against the Government, but this seems hardly probable, as the Opposition know that on the direct issue they are in a minority of about ten.

JUDGE WARD, Judge Ward is before the Committee of the Upper House, in reference to Christie's petition this morning.