POLITICAL GOSSIP. (BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 392, 10 August 1889, Page 5

POLITICAL GOSSIP. (BY TELEGRAPH— SPECIAL REPORTER.)

Wellington, August 7. LAW OF LIBEL. This Bill wa3 considered in Committee. In the interpretation clause amendment was made so as bo include any monthly publication under the term newspaper, report's of proceedings in Court to be privileged. Dr. Mtchett moved to make this protection apply to report 7 of evidence alone, excepting roporls of counsel's addresses from the privilege. He pointed out that if those addresses could be published without risk, unprincipled litigants would put most atrocious statements into the mouths of their counsel, in order to injure their op"ponents, simply that they might be published. In this he was supported by the other lawyers in the House. The Colonial Secretary hoped that if the clause was not to be accepted as it stood it would be struck out altogether. After some discussion he moved to report progress, with leave bo sit again presently, which was carried by 40 to 26.

THE TE KOOTI CAMPAIGN. The following detailed return shows tbe expenditure mcu r red in connection with Te Kooti's recent contemplated visit to CUsborne : — Purchase of stores, £53 8s lid ; shipping charges and passage of permanent militia and volunteers, £566 8s ; cartage and horse hire, £331 4s 6d ; rations for volunteer 3, natives, etc., etc., £341 13s sd ; labour, £7 19s 6d ; miscellaneous accounts under ]os, for repairs, paddocking, etc., £50 4s lOd ; pay, etc. of volunteers and natives, £1,249 183 4d ; medicine, £9 16s 6d : total, £2,610 14s.

'FRISCO MAIL SERVICE. The following is the gist of a return that has been presented to the House for the year ending December, 1888 : — San Francisco service, cargo, inwards, 1,892 tons ; outwards, 564 tons ; New Zealand Shipping Company, 23,614 tons inwards, 19,642 outwards ; Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, 25,390 inwards, 23,664 outwards. Passengers :— New Zealand Shipping Company, 1,911 arrivals, 1,126 departures ; Shaw, Savill, Albion Company, 1,747 arrivals, 793 departures ; 'Frisco Service, arrivals 197, departures 509. The following is the quantity and value of the coal, the produce of the colony, used by the steamers of the respective companies : — New Zealand Shipping Company, 24,430 tons, £27,484 ; Shaw, Savill, Albion Company, 21,039 tons, £22,100 ; 'Frisco, 8,415 tons, £8,415.

AUCKLAND GAS COMPANY. As I foreshadowed some weeks back, the Private Bills Committee have found that I the preamble of the Gas Company's Bill has not been proved. Their report, which was brought up yesterday, stated this ; adding that the Company's opponents were entitled to their costs. This finding of course kills the Bill.

JOTTINGS. The Presbyterian Churches in Dunedin have petitioned Parliament for the abolition of the totalisator, prohibition of the publication of details of immoral eases in courts, and the putting down of pugilism. Mr G oldie applies for a week's leave of absence for Mr Withy to-day. Mr .Rhodes wants to know whether the Civil Service Bill is to be introduced this session. Mr Fisher has given notice to introduce a Bill to provide lor the promotion of technical education. Mr Brown is to ask the Minister of Lands and Agriculture if be will use his best endea.ours to bring about a reciprocal tariff between New Zealand and the neighbouring colonies on all colonial products from the soil, with the view of such being admitted free of duty. Mr Seddon wants the Premier on behalf of New Zealand to remonstrate with* the Government of Victoria on the proposed increased tariff on cereals.