POLITICAL GOSSIP. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, August 27.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 398, 31 August 1889, Page 4

POLITICAL GOSSIP. (FROM OU R OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, August 27.

POLICEMEN LAWYERS. Attention has been called by Mr Guinness to a new police regulation, which requires any constablo who desires promotion to the rank of sergeant to pass an examination in the statute law of the colony. The Minister of Defence said that the examination only called for an elementary knowledge of the statutes. Mr Guinness pointed out that most policemen had difficulty in getting statutes to study. The Minister undertook to see that they should be provided with the requisite facilities.

VOLUNTEER AFFAIRS. During the discussion on the Defence Estimates, Capt. Russell urged the Defence Minister to increase the salaries of officers commanding volunteer districts to such an amount as would enable the officers to give all their time bo the work, and thus bring the corps up to the fullest stato of efficiency. The Hon. Mr Fergus said the Government would take the matter into their favourable consideration. When preparing the Supplementary Estimates, Mr Walker found fault with the breaking tip of the battalions. The Defence Minister said that after the estimates weie under discussion the captains ot all the companies in Wellington waited upon him and thanked him for dissolving the battalions. He had also l'eceived letters to the same effect from the officers of other cities, the opinion being expressed that the battalions, as they existed under the old regulations, were a farce. Mr Walker still insisted that the Government had made a mistake, and moved to reduce the volunteer vote by £5, to mark the House's disapproval of the dissolution of battalions. The motion was, however, lost on the voices, after the doora had been locked for a division.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. A batch of Bills have been advanced a stage in the Legislative Council. The Ngarara and Waipiro Further Investigation Bill was committed and reported with amendments, the third reading being iixed for to-morrow. The Land Transfer and Orimakatea Title Empowering Bills were also committed and reported. The Savings Bank Amendment Bill and Auckland and Onehunga Native Hostelries Bill were reported without amendment, read a third time, and passed. The amendments made by the House in the Shipping and Seamen's Amendment Bill were agreed to.

WARD-HISLOP CORRESPONDENCETho Hon. Mr Larnach and Mr Filleul (Clerk of the Oamaru Magistrates' Court) have given evidence before the Committee of the Legislative Council in the matter of the Ward-Hislop-Christie correspondtnce As with ail other committees, nothing authentic as to their proceedings is allowed to transpire. Lobby reportB say, however, that Mr Filleul's testimony corroboratives the Colonial Secretary's statement as to what took place between them in the street of Oamaru up to a certain point; but that he asserts that Mr Hislop expressed doubb whether Judge Ward had any power to give instructions by telegraph tor an alteration in the warrant of commitment ; and further told Mr Filleul not to do anything until he received directions from Wellington endorsing this order on the Judge's telegram. In the House on Friday afternoon the Premier said he was unable to say whether the Government will pay the necessary costs incurred by Judge Ward in defending the action commenced by Christie against him and since withdrawn by him, until the whole question was settled. If the charge proves to be frivolous then they would pay the costs.

WELLINGTON UNIVERSITY. Last session the House passed a Public Reserve Sale Act to provide for the sale or other disposition of the Ministerial residence in Tinakori Road, Wellington. Mr Goldie wanted to know on Friday what had been done with this. A strong eflorfc was made during the recess to get a reasonable price for the house, but the Government could not get what they wanted, and they were not prepared to sacrifice it. They had since received an offer to have it made over aa an endowment for a Wellington University. The proposal seemed a very reasonable one to the Government, for the House would soon have to provide for such a University. (Cries of *• Oh ! oh !") The Premier said he expected to hear cries of " hear, hear," not "oh ! oh !" The Government had made no further efforts to sell tho house, but they felt that they could not have sold it. If it had not been for the extraordinary turn things had taken this session the Government would have brought in a Bill dealing with the Ministerial residenco in the way the Government thought was the right one.

BANKRUPTCY ACT. This measure, of which I recently sent you a resume, is nob to be pressed this session. It has been merely circulated with a view of having its details known and criticised.

CRIMINAL EVIDENCE BILL. As the Legislative Council insisted upon its amendment in this Bill, it was decided to vote for a free conference. The Minister of Justice and Messrs Samuel and Hutchison were nominated managers. Mr Guinness pointed out that the appointment of the Minister of Justice was rather anomalous, as the Attorney-General had been appointed a member for the Legislative Council, and he and his colleagues would necessarily be arguing from opposite sides. Mr Fish warmly stated that Mr Guinness' only desire was to discredit the Minister of Justice ; and after some little discussion the appointment was agreed to.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA. The Government intend setting up a Committee to draft the address to be pre" sented to the Imperial Parliament on the subject of giving responsible government to Western Australia. This being so, Sir George Grey and Mr Seddon will drop their motions.

OYSTERMEN'S PETITION. Mr Moss tells me that he is pres&ing the Government respecting the oystermen's petition and the deputation that waited on Sir Frederick Whitaker in Auckland. They informed him that no action could be taken without fresh legislation, but he has written to them again pointing out that in this they are probably mistaken as oyster beds have been closedand re-opened by former Governments under existing powers. They have promised to look further into the matter, but he is not very sanguine of success, as the opposition of the county authorities to the reopening is very pronounced and strong.

Farewell Performances — Good meals. A cuff on the wrist is worth two on the ear. , " Quicb marriages " cause the most noise in the end.