POLITICAL GOSSIP. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, September 11.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 402, 14 September 1889, Page 5

POLITICAL GOSSIP. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, September 11.

THE NATIVE DEPARTMENT. A new departure has been made by the Government this year in removing the salaries of the officers of the Native Department in the estimates, and charging them t o a vote on the^CivilList ot £8,000 for native purpose's which has heretofore been utilised for payment of najjx 6 pensions and kindred purposes. This fact escaped criticism when the estimates were passing through, but Mr Moss called attention to it yesterday when discussing the Auckland and Onehunga | Hostelries Bill ? which provides that certain moneys accumulated in the hands of the Public Trustee shall be paid to the credic of this vote. The member for Parnell pointed out that by the alteration salaries to the amount of over £3,000 passed from the control of the House, as the Civil List vote is passed in a lump, no details being given. He also recommended to the House that any savingsmade in the vote for one year be avail-, able to the Government for the next year, because no account was given of. any Burplus; thus the money really became a secret service vote.

' WHO RANG THE BELL ? A laughable incident occurred in the House yesterday afternoon. The hon. member for Parnell had occasion to speak to the clerk of the Houße. In his earnestness he leaned upon the table, and was not aware of what he was doing, until suddenly the division bell startled everybody by giving out a vigorous peal, interruping the flow of Mr O'Conor's eloquence. iMr. Moss had unwittingly put his weight upon the button at the clerk's elbow that actuates the electric bells. As soon as their nerves had recovered from the shock, members joined heartily, in laughter. Mr O'Conor i laughingly quoted Mr Moss on '•mischievous devils," while the member for Parnell blushed.

THE EX-COLONIAL SECRETARY. "Is Mr Thomas Hislop, of Oamaru, stitf Colonial Secretary?" asked Mr W. PReeves of the Premier yesterday afternoon. Sir H. Atkinson answered that his resignation would be accepted that day.

'FRISCO MAIL SERVICE. The Premier's resolutions respecting the renewal of the San Francisco mail contracb have been made an order of the day for this afternoon, and are certain to arouse the fiercest opposition. Mr Ward's amendments will, of course, be taken at the same time. The ~" Post," as is its wont, attacks the proposals. When the Premier's resolutions come up for consideration Mr Saunders is to move the following amendment :--" In the firet resolution to strike out all the words after the word ' is ' in the second line, and insert the words ' not desirable to enter into any further contracts for the conveyance of ocean mails ; that the Postmaster-General or any officer deputed by him may at his discretion place mails on any ocean-going steamer, and pay for the same any sum not exceeding 2s per lb for letters, 6d per lb for books, and 3d per lb for newspapers.' "

CUVIER ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE. The Minister of Marine, in his annual report, anticipates that the new lighthouse on Cuvier Island will be ready for use during the present month unless the erection of the lantern is delayed by bad weather.

CAPTAIN WING. A tribute of respect is paid by the Department to the late Captain Wing, for many years Harbour-master and pilot afc Manukau.

A DEFENCE SCANDAL. The following leaderette appeared in last evening's "Post": — "The unpopularity of certain staff appointments made in the defence force of the colony during the recesß has more than once been commented on in these columns and referred to in Parliament. A new feature in connection with them has now come to light whicK*"will certainly cause a good deal more discussion. It seems that the Defence Minister was nob content with giving the promoted ones their mere commissions, but in an excess of generosity he provided them also with the uniforms suited -"to their rank, these uniforms being of correct stuff pattern and obtained from England at a cost to the colony, it is said, of £900. The Premier is understood to have expressed himselt in extremely warm terms when as Colonial Treasurer he was required to find the money to pay the bill for thie military millinery. What the House will say to it remains to be seen." The matter was brought up in the House last night by Mr Fish, who wanted to know what truth there was in it. Mr Fergus replied as much as there was in the statements about New Zealand finance in the " Financial News ;" in fact, there was very little truth in it at "all. He detailed the whole business, and showed that when it was found necessary to retire a number of officers of the forces of the colony — Colonel Koberts, Major Gascoigne, etc. — many of them had just bought uniforms, which had cost them £186. They applied for a refund of this, as they would not be able to use the uniforms. This he (the Minister) thought only fair, and their request was complied with. There was still a number of the uniforms in the store, and if necessity arose he would dispense them as he had done the greater part of them. These had been distributed to those officers like Colonel Hume, who had been given increased duties without any increased remuneration.

A QUESTION OF- PRIVILEGE. It seems that one of the members on presenting an order from the Speaker for a payment of his honorarium at the treasury, was informed that there was a Supreme Court charging order against the honorarium, and it could not be paid to him. The member complained to the Speaker who, brought the matter up in the House last night, saying tjbat it was the first time that such a thing had occurred,, and he thought it should, be considered by the House. The Premier said lb was for the House to decide whether the honorarium was to be free from all a member's debts, but it would be better to refer the whole question to a select committee. He moved that a committee consisting of the Speaker, Hon. Mr Ballance, Sir, George Grey, Sir John Hall, Messrs Samuel* pownie Stewart, and himself be formed to inquire and report as to the best remedy to meet the case. Mr Ballance seconded the motion, and thought if their privileges were being interfered with, they would have to introduce a Bill to change the law that allowed such things. It seemed to him that the law in the ordinary course had only Jbeen , carried out. The honorarium was 'for the purposes of expenses of the session, and if it was attacked for debts due before the session, then it was apparent bhafc the member could not properly fulfil his duties. Several members spoke to the motion, which was' finally passed.