POLITICAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2167, 24 February 1891, Page 3

POLITICAL.

WELLBsraTOir, Feb. 20. Among the matters engaging the attention of the Government is that of a uniform system of school hooks for the colony. The plan which finds most favor at the present is the appointment of a commission to draw up a list of the necessary books. The printing will be done by the Government printer, and provision will probably be made tor free distribution by the local committees in cases where they are satisfied that the parents are too poor to pay for them. Nothing definite has, however, yet been settled and the proposals so far are quite in embryo. The Ministerial residence and grounds in Tinakori road if not sold by auction will probably be handed oyer to the Girls' High School as an endowment. The latter has only £ll3 a year revenue to depend on and a debt of some £SOOO hanging over it. The grounds attached to the residence though not extremely valuable just now will be worth more in a few yean to cut up for building sites. Mr A. Loughrey, ex-M.H.B. for Linwood, will be the third commissioner to enquire into the working of the public trust office, along with Mr Larnach and Mr T, K, McDonald, M.H.R. Feb. 21. The Minister of Land* will leave for the south on Monday, and will be absent for about a fortnight. After a stay of three or four days in Christchurch he will go to Waimate on business connected with the proposal of Major Steward, M.H.R., to form a Special Settlement Association in that district. He will then make a tour through certain parts of Ofcago, afterwards going on to Invercargill, where he will make enquiries with regard to a question which has been raised as to whether the forests in the Southland district could not be better preserved. Auckland, Feb. 23. Mr David Gtoidie has resigned his seat in the House, the Uity Council, and the Board of Education. He has to leave for Melbourne on urgent business in a few weeks, and may not be back in time for the meeting of the House. He has written to Sir [ George Grey asking him to stand for the seat, and to the chairman of his committee to the Bame effect.