POLITICAL GOSSIP. (BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER.) Wellington, August 14.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 394, 17 August 1889, Page 5

POLITICAL GOSSIP. (BY TELEGRAPH— SPECIAL REPORTER.) Wellington, August 14.

REPRESENTATION BILL. Considerable attenbion was shown in the Upper Chamber yesterday afternoon to the Representation Bill; particularly to the /fourth clause, which provides for the abolition of plural voting. When moving its second reading the Attorney-General announced chat he would not go into the details of the measure, but would simply explain the principles. Several members discussed tho matter fully in committee. Mr Whitmore, though not liking the Bill, hoped the Committee would agree to it because the colony wanted rest upon the representation question, and the present measure was better than none at all ; but Mr Reynolds preferred allowing the matter to be settled by the country at next election. Mr Oliver considered the Bill was unworkablo in its present form, and did nob well see how it could be amended unless its principles were altered. The Hon. Mr McLean urged that the Bill settled the vexed question between town and country, and thought the Council should not disturb it. He was opposed to the " one man one vole " clause being crammed into the Bill, and for one would oppose ib. Dr. Pollen thought that the question of representation should be referred to the people of the colony for them to consider, while Mr Shephordconsideredthab the members of the Lower House know what suited them best, and'was of opinion that ib would be unwiso for the Council to alter the Representation Bill, and thought it would do more harp than good. There was no need for it being forced through this session. He objected to any distinction being made between town and country, the ellecb of which would be to create jealousy and illfeeling ; and said that if any member moved an adverse mobion he would gladly | support it. Mr Wilson, while disliking the Bill, thought it would be unwise for the Council to oppose ib. He strongly obiected to the "one man one vote" clause, and considered they would be quite justified in throwing it out or sending it back to the Lower Chamber for further consideration. The Hon. ]Slr Pharazyn regarded the Bill as a puzzle, and expressed tho hope that members would endeavour to make themselves clear about ib in Cominibtee. Like the last speaker, he was quite prepared to vote for throwing out the fourth clause. I The second reading of the Bill was agreed to on the voices, and its committal fixed for Thursday.

EDUCATIONAL RESERVES. Mr Feldwick is urging on the Minister of Lands the introduction of legislation transferring the administration of the educational reserves from school committees to land boards of the colony.

AN EDUCATION QUESTION. The following question interesting to country people has been tabled by Mr Cowan :— In computing the capitation allowance to weak (country) schools will Government revert to the working average instead of the strict average as at present in use ? WARD-HISLOP CORRESPONDENCE. It seems that each member of the lega l profession in the colony has been supplied with a copy of tho Ward-Hislop-Fergus correspondence. Mr Fisher has tabled a question to find out by whose direction, with whab object, and at whose cost this has been done.