POLITICAL GOSSIP. Wellington, September 3.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 400, 7 September 1889, Page 4

POLITICAL GOSSIP. Wellington, September 3.

GOVERNMENT BILLS. The Timaru Harbour Board Land, and Haw era Borough Endowment Bill, which had been introduced by the Government, bufc weie essentially local Bills, were com. mitted last night, reported without amendments, and passed _a third time.

NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY. When the North Island Trunk Railway Loan Application Amendment Act Bill was further considered in Committee last night, a number of amendments were made in ib. One of these proven ted the New Plymouth Harbour Board from claiming 25 per (sent, of the value of the lands purchased by the loan in that district. Provision was spoeially made for this, and that the percentage would only be paid to county councils or road boards in accordance with the provisions of the " Land Act, 1885," and its amendments. Sir John Hall stronuously objected to this alteration, de- | nouncing ifc as repudiation, but on calling for a division, he was beaten by 51 to 19. An eilort was mado to prevent any of the land being pui chased in Taranuki, this being a sly move on the part of the advocates of the Central routes to obtain ustrong argument against the Taranaki route. The Auckland members were, however, on the qid vive, and nothing came of it. The following new sub-section was added to the Bill : 11 No person oi body shall have any right or claim to the proceeds of the sale, lease, or other alienation or disposition of the lands acquired or to bo acquhed. as aforesaid otherwise than an herein specially provided "by agreement. The Committee raised the percentage accruing to the land sales to be devoted to the purposes of primary education horn 2\ to 5 per cent. | With these amendments and two or three others of minor importance, the Bill was reported, and the third reading adjourned until this afternoon.

SAVINGS BANK ACT. An Act, entitled an Act to Amend the Savings Bank Act, 1858, which had originated in the Council, was committed, reported without an. end in en ts, read a third time, and passed in the House last night It is due to the fact that doubts have arisen as to the powers vested in the Vice-Presidents and Trustees under the Savings Bank Act, 1858, and this measure is to set such doubts at rest.

LAND TRANSFER. The Land Transfer Act Bill, which originated in fche Council, simplifies considerably the resist- ation of land transfers. Progress was made in Committee last night and pi ogress reported, and leave given to sib again to-day

OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ACT. This measure, which raises the age of consent from 12 to 14, was successfully committed last evening, reported without amendment and read a third time.

LENC4TH OF THE SESSION. Before the end of the week quite a number of the members will have returned to their homes — in fact, one or two of the Lords have done so already. Two of the Ministers whom I have eounded on the subject, seem to think that the business will be through by Saturday ; but I doubt this, and think it will more likely be next Wednesday before the prorogation takea place. There is no doubt that members &eem anxious to get through the work now, and business has been greatly facilitated.

THE ÜBIQUITOUS HANNAFOfLD. Defeat cannot damp Mr T. B. Hannaford. Floored one minute, he comes up smiling the next. The Public Petitions Committee have already declared that the Government have not stolen the plans of his lighthouse, and therefore he has no claim upon the country for compensation. Bethat asitmay, Mr Hannaford thinks his inventive faculties should receive encouragement, and ho is now petitioning Parliament to order the Government to have one of his windmill lighthouses erected somewhere on our coasts.

A CIVIL SERVICE MATTER. Some time ago, when the Auckland Education Board proposed to put Clause 11 of the Civil Service Reform Act, 1886, into operation, there was quite a howl that the Boaid proposed bo pension their employees. This clause provides that all Civil ser\ants appointed after the coming: into operation of the said Act are to have deducted the sum of five per centum per annum from their salaries for investment at interest bo be returned to them upon retirement from the service. Mr Goldie gave notice this afternoon to ask the Government whether effect has been given to this clause, and if not, why nob.

LOCAL BILLS. Splendid progress was made by the House yesterday, as no less than fifteen local Bills, none of them of any consequence to Auckland people, were passed through all their stages. All bub one had to be read a second time and all committed. Progress wa«< afterwards made with the orders of the day.

KUiVIARA SLUDGE CHANNEL. The Minister of Mines has introduced a Bill to validate the agreement entered into with the miners of Kumara over the sludge channel there. It is about this that there has been such an amount of talk, both during this and previous session.

A CUTE MOVE. Last week the members for the Wellington district made a very cute move with a view of obtaining the central route for the North Island Main Trunk Railway. They proposed that the Premier, the Minister of Public Works, and the Minister of Lands should go over the route in company with them. If this was done, they would, no doubt, do all in their power to change them from their leaning to the Taranaki route. Mr Ooldie is now stirring up the Auckland members to a counter move that they should offer to accompany the party and see that both routes obtained fair play, being convinced that the superiority of the Taranaki route would carry the day.

WARD-HISLOP CORRESPONDENCE. The Commibbee of bhe Legislative Council, who have been inquiring into the WardHislop correspondence, will nob, after all, merely place the evidence taken during the inquiry before the Council. They will, this afternoon, make a formal report, and, from whab I can learn, that reporb will intimate in plain language that the conduct of the Colonial Treasurer in the matter is deserving ot the gravest censure. Dame Rumour is at work as to how Mr Hislop will take the report-

LAND SETTLEMENT AND TAXATION. Sir George Grey's speech on Saturday night, says the " Post," was full of information and pregnant with useful suggesbiond

It is to be regretted tlmfc ifc was disfigures, by the advocacy of the utterly indefensible proposal, equally repudiated by all political parties, to break faith with the English holders of New Zealand bonds. In this Sir George Grey stands, we hope, almost alone. In regard to the general questions of land settlement and taxation we believe his views, as expressed on Saturday night, will command the general approval of the people of the colony.

W ttUAXO'i'oy, September 4. clearim; qoruk. Tub clause of fcho Public Works Act Amondmont Bill which enables local bodies to compel property-ownere to clour gorwc from roads abutting upon their land was amended yesterday afternoon by the attachment of a proviso that tho local body shall lirsfc have reasonable grounds for believing that euch plants have bpread Itom f?uch adjoining land or fence thereof.

NATJVB LAND PURCHASING. Mr Monk declares that the purchasing of native lumls with a portion of the North Inland trunk railway \ote means that the monoy will n^ver go to the construction of the railway. As a proof of this he points to the iact that at present all our native land purchases are indebted to the consolidated revenue.

THE RATINO -ACT. Ah important recommendation ife made by the Public Petitions (M toZ) Committee in reference to summontes for rates, which has agitated the Auckland people so much during the pabt year. Reporting upon some of the Auckland petitions, they propose that the Rating Act be amended in the direction of providing that personal eervice of summonses for rates shall be a condition precedent to the recoveiy of rates, and sale of land tor non-payment thereof. Such non-service oi summonses they consider shou.d not be a bar to the local body recovering the rate after the lapse of two years.

GOOD BUSINESS. Another big stroke of business was done by the Houae yeoterday afternoon and evening. The North Island Trunk Railway Loan Application Act Amendment Bill and Public Work«> Act Amendment Bill passed their final stages. Then small Bills were read a second time as follows : — Certificates of Titlo Issue Empowering Bill, Waipa Order in Council Validation Bill, Orimakatea Title Empowering Bill Auckland and Onehunga Native Hostelries. Bill, Ngarara and Waipiro Further Inves tigation Bill, Chinese Immigrants Act Continuance Bill. All these measures then went through Committee and passed their final stages.

PORT OF THAMES. The Bill intended to define tho boundaries of the Thames Harbour was to have been committed yesterday afternoon, but this was opposed by Mr Fraser, who asked for an adjournment of the Bill until 1 hursday. Failing this, he moved the committal of it that day three months. The Minister for Public Works said he had consulted with the other Auckland members interested in the Bill, who took a different view of it to Mr Fraser, and they were agreeable to the adjournment, which was accordingly agreed to.

INSUKANCE COMPANY'S BILL. A free eonfeience on the Fire and Marine Insurance Company's Bill has been arranged. The Hons. Stevens, Peacock, and Oliver will represent the Council, and the Minister of Lands, Sir John Hall, and Mr Perceval the Lower House.

OUR GOLDFIELDS. Mr Guinness intends to ask tho Government whether they will during the recess appoint a Royal Commission to inquire and report as to the best mode in which assistance can be rendered to develop the auriferous resources of the colony.

TAXING OUR FISH. Mr Mills has given notice to ask the Premier if his attention has been attracted to a statement that the Commissioner of Customs, of Victoria, had promised to consider the advisablenesa of levying a duty on smoked and salt fish imported into that colony, and if in any representation to the Government of Victoria on the subject of duties levied on the produce of this colony, he would keep in view the interests of those engaged in the fish-curing industry.

A BIG CONTRACT. Itisnotprobablethat the following motion will come up for consideration, but if it was passed, as Mr Joyce wants it, it would be a big contract :—": — " That in the opinion of this House a Royal Commission should be appointed to consider the following subjects: — (1) The proposed Canadian,NewZealand and Australian Ocean Mail Service, (2) the Direct Mail Service, (3) intercolonial free trade and reciprocity with Canada, (4) tJ bhe present mode of dispo&ing of Crown lands, and to indicate the desirableness or, otherwise, that some of the large blocks of native lands coming to the Government by purchase or otherwise should be &et aside and dealt with under the perpetual lease system."

MRS ROBERTSONS PETITION. The following is the texbof the Public Petitions (M to Z) Committee upon the petition of Ann Robertson, of Kotorua, whose grievances are well-known to the Auckland pub.ic : "That in the opinion of the Committee the petitioner was illegally and forcibly ejected from her property at Rotorua. That the passing of the Thermal Springs Act, 1881, validating the titles of all in actual occupation, precluded all possibility of recovery on the part of the petitioner, thus inflicting upon her a great injustice ; that the petitioner has in equity a claim against the colony."

AUCKLAND PETITIONS. Mr T. Thompson has presented a petition from John 8011, of Victoria-otreet, praying for relief with respect to an allotment purchased by him in Chapel-street over which he suffered severe loss through irregular surveying. R. Thompson has presented one from Daniel Horn, of Whangarei, praying for the authorisation of the registration of a certain conveyance of native land. Mr Lawry has also presented a petition from Bridget Burgess praying to be included under the Military Settlers' Claims Bill by virtue ot her late husband, who was an old soldier.

EDUCATION SYLLABUS. There is nothing in our system of educa" tion that has provoked more discussion than the syllabus. Mr Wilson is now coming forward as an educational reformer, and has given notice to ask the Minister of Education if during the recess he will (1) issue a circular to all Education Boards and inspectors inviting any suggestions for improvement of the syllabus for primary education; (2) hold a conference or appoint a commission to take these or any other suggestions into consideration, and to report whether any alteration should be made.