POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 332, 25 August 1898, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(BY TBLEURAPH - SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT) Wellington, Last Night. THE PREMIER'S PARTNERS. Mr Geo. Hutchison hist night stated that the Premier had frequently stated his abhorrence of the Chinese, hut, strange to say, Mr Seddon himself had at one time, he said, been connected in a mining partnership with certain Celestials on the West Coast, the Premier being known in the partnership as " Bnn 'Tuck." In order to prove this statement, Mr Hutchison read the following translation from one of the Chinese partners : " Listen to me Wong Shung W'rti and Tsai Chung (which is this nairator) were gold pickinc at Knapper's Gully, on the six mile rush. He who now rules the Government came to our camp one night We had heard of him before, and we were n'armed. (Laughter). He had to do with everything at the phice called StafFordtown, and his mime among the Jfin«lieh was Dick Seddon. After we had eaten rice he had much talk with Wong, who was very learned in all languages. He could talk in the language of the country as much as the Mandarin Seddon. Then they did some writing, and this nairator also put his name at the end of the writing. When the Mandarin had gone Wong told this uarrator that we were now brothers in the claim, hut that our brotherhood was not to be talked of. Wong said that Seddon would be known as Bun Tuck. (Laughter.) He said our brother was powerful before the Warden as an advocate, and sometimes went to the place of Government and was feared there for his great talk. (Renewed Laughter.) Wong was also a person of much talk, but otherpeoplerlid not always listen to him. He said Run Tuck was very clever, but not clever enough. We had plenty of provision then, and we had much joy and our perspiration ran very free. One day Wong went away because the constable was looking for him, and he only left a message to say he had been like a rat dragging a shovel, and that our claim was sold to a number of white devils, and that I had better leave the place quietly ; but this nairator was very poor; I had entered my coffin, and as we say in China, been buried too. I went to Bun Tuck, but i.o ia : sed Lhe wrath matter and told me I was descended from stupid people. He said, more over, Wong Shung Wai had eot the best of the squeeze (laughter), nevertheless he gave me twenty taels. This narrator then went far away. I went to China ; but have since returned. Bun Tuck is much ehangi-d since then ; but I know him when I see him. Declared by Tsai Chung as a true history, and signed by him, 17/S/9." THE BUDGET DEBATE. The Minister for Lands to-night made a vigorous reply to Mr Scobie Mackenzie in defence of his land policy, and in doing so was warmly cheered by the Ministerial barrackers immediately behind the Government benches. The Premier's reply to Mr Geo. Hutchison's attack is expected to be particularly lively in character, especially as Mr Seddon last night warned the member for Pate.i tint when he (Mr Seddon) replied be would make that hon. gentleman regret that his name was Hutchison. THE LICENSING QUESTION. it was recently stated in print that a Wanganui hocelkeeper was fined for sellingliquorto a native woman. In thecoursc of the proceedings it was mentioned that the Colonial Secretary was being entertained by the hotel-keepers there, for he did not think he was committing a breacli of the law. Mr Carroll, in reply to Mr Carson, stated in the House yesterday that he was at Wanganui at the time and a large number of natives were assembled there at the end of each day. tie was in the habit of visiting the natives and enquiring if they were getting on all right. It was true that while he was at the hotel at which a number of them were staying, he partook of re freshments with the chiefs; but that this lady, in his presence, bought and paid for liquor for him he was entirely ignorant of. He did not see her pay for or drink any liquor at the time referred to. THE JURY LAW. The Juries Act Amendment 15111 was considered this morning by the Joint Statutes Revision Committee. The result of their deliberations is that the provisions of the Bill abolishing special and grand juries are to be adverted to. So far as the committee is concerned the report of the committee on the Bill is to be accompanied by the opiuions of the judges of the Supreme Court.