THE POLITICAL HORIZON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2029, 30 June 1885, Page 2

THE POLITICAL HORIZON.

Something new'is in the wind in Wellington, ard the lobbies in the Parliamentary Buildings are said to be all abuzz with it., Briefly stated it is this—that in the first place Chief ■justice Sir James Prendergast will retire on a pension; that Mr Stout will resign his position as Premier and be appointed his successor; and that Major Atkinson will join Sir Julius Vogel, in. what capacity is not yet knbwn, It is an open secret that Mr Stout has for years been angling for the highest position that, a lawyer can attain to in the colony, and it is generally understood that he would have left politics alone had it not been that he saw in them a means of attaining this one end. As His Honor the Chief Justice, the colony would be well rid of .Mr Stout, who has done far ■ more harm than good since he entered the political arena, But whether'such a step should be taken at a cost of perhaps £IOOO a year, is another question. Of course, Mr Stout would be entirely indifferent to it, much as he professes to have the welfare of the country at' heart, More.important undoubtedly is the political part of the question. Major Atkinson has been opposed to Sir Julius Vogel since the latter's return to the colony, and even during the present session he has denounced his extravagance. If the two were now to join, one or other would have to swallow his principles, for thnv could scarcely meet half way. There is only one ground on which an alliance between the two could be justified, namely, the unsatisfactory' litate of parties, While there are three evenly balanced parlies in the House, the government of the colony cannot be administered unless one consents to stand aside, Thatisexactly what is being done at the present time, aud it is most unsatisfactory, because the Government is conscious that it would cease to command an absolute majority so soon as it displeased the silent party. The combination might, therefore, lead to better government, but on all other grounds it would have to be condemned.

Among a batch of Bills received from the Government Printer is the Counties Act Amendment Bill, which, according to the pieface attached, ''aims at establishing Counties upon a fixed basis, without power of alteration t'roin day to day." It is proposed that new Counties shall only be created by Parliament, which shall also be the sole authority for making any change in the boundaries of Counties, except where such changes may relate to the constitution of ut borough, Town districts are to be separate ridings. The power to suspend the Act is to be abolished, in clause 7, counties in which the Act is suspended, are directed to make provision for charitable aid at their annual meetings. County chairmen are to be elected by the ratepayers, the same as mayors. In the same manner auditors are to be elected, There are many other features which have been copied from the Municipal Corporations Bill, now, before the House. It provides, for instance, for the distribution of the nett income of tho county amongst the ridings, in proportion to the I'Ates received from the land, to be expended on works therein. A similar provision is in force in Victoria, Accounts shall be kept of the county expenditure with road districts and town districts, and of their respective contributions to the county rates. The Bill provides for levying general rates for counties by the districts therein, and for tho expenditure of those rates in such districts, less a fixed contribution towards general expenses and liabilities of the copty, Special rates within a portion of a county for interest on special loans raised for the benefit of such portion may be levied. The county and road and town boards may collect each other's rates for the saving of expense, Powers are also conferred on counties to erect telegraph and telephone lines, and to make by-laws for the maintenance of public health, It will be observed that the provision relating to boundaries qo exactly in the opposite direction to the proposal of. the Wairarapa Jjast iGounfy jDppcjl, for while the Government is striving to fix them, so that only Parliament can move them by a .special Act, the proposal which the delegates of the County have been instructed to lay before the conference of. local bodies is to the effect that any two or more bodies may adjust tjjfiir boundaries, without calling into requisition the cumbrous machinery of the Government, It is not at all likely that Parliament will agree to burden itself with the task of enquiring into all the boundary difficulties that may in future, arise.

Tenders are invited for felling about 225 acres of light bush off the Belvedere road, Carterton. A summoned meeting of theStonehenge Lodge U.A.0.D,, will be held tins evening. Messrs Williams and Barker invite tenders for painting, etc, and also for splitting poles. The .time' at which the annual parish meeting of St. Matthew's church is'to be held on Monday next has been, altered from7.'3otoßp,m. The contractor for the survey of the block of land selected by the 1 MastertonMangahao Special Settlement Association, will commence work to-morrow, By an oversight, Mr F. H. Wood's sale of merchandise, which Is to take place in Masterton on Saturday next, July 4, was advertised for the 24fch, which, of course, is not a Saturday.

Mr A. J. Rawsdn reports the aalo of ■225 acres at the Taueru at £2 per acre. Captain Edwin tclegraps at noon today:—Bad weather expected .between East awl South, and South West. Glass further fall with heavy rain. ~" : The freetrade members count upon sixty being ieady'to go into one lobby witli them, and that 48 votes, which is an absolute majority, are assured. The time for the closing of the next outward English mail, per steamer Aorangi, has been altered to G. 30 p.m. on Monday, July 6th. We understand that Mr' J. Rosa of Masterton, was the purchaser of the 1,068 acres of land at Wangaehu which was reported as having been sold last week; Mi's Redman being about to leave Masterton, has instructed Mr F. H. Wood to sell her household furniture and effects onTharsday. The sale will take place at her residence, Kurupuni, opposite Wilton's Store. Messrs M, Caselberg & Co., have been appointed sole agents in the Wairarapa for the sale of Messrs Sutton & Sons' garden seeds. The agency is an important one, and in its present hands it ought to thrive, The June number of Messrs T, Kennedy Macdonald's Landed Property Guide is to hand, and contains, like its predecessors, a variety of useful and reliable information regarding real estate transactions. Mr T. Jago sent to Wellington yesterday the ornamental railing for enclosing the space to be occupied by Mr James Thompson's exhibits of rated water, etc., the pyramidal stand for which Mr Jago has in course of preparation. Major-General Scratchley has had several interviews with the Government respecting contributions by New Zealand towards the cost of the New Guinea Protectorate, It is understood that his visit is purely in connection with New Guinea affairs, The drawing to decide where the final Wairarapaheat for the Union cup shallbe played came off last night, Mr Dempsey having come up specially to represent Carterton, Mr J, Williams acted for Masterton. The result was that Carterton was drawn, The match will accordingly be played in that township on Saturday next.

Messrs Lowos and lorns announce two sales for Saturday next, both to take place at their auction rooms. The first takes place at 1 p.m., when a quantity of fruit and ornamental trees from Nelson will ; be submitted. The second starts at. 2 p;m., the catalogue consisting of an extensive selection of new and secondhand furniture. _" Mazeppa" in Public Opinion, after giving details of the performances of Mr Tancred's The Administrator, sums up and.says he lias-started in 58 races. Of these he has won 20; been placed eleven times, third seven times, and unplaced 20 times. His earnings in stakes come to J-1937 10s, not including a trophy worth £IOO. It should be explained that the two dead heats have been counted as wins. »• A story is going the rounds, says the Wellington correspondent of the Christchurch "Star," that the Treasurer inserted the coal tax in his tariff under pressure from a Government supporter, who made it the price of his vote. It is predicted that the impost will raiso the price of coal at least 2s per ton, Rumour says that Sir George Grey will deliver one of his most vigorous speeches in the financial cjebate, which is to be resumed tonight, 'and that he will indulge in some slashing philippics at the exppnee of the Premier and the Colonial Treasurer, both of whom are understood to be deeply in his black books just now, It is- said, also, according to the Times, that Mr Stout in replyingwillseizetheopportunity of "dressing down" Sir George for his Auckland speech,

Members of Parliament who are also connected with local bodies held a meeting yesterday to discuss the Local Bodies Finance and Powers Bill, some thirty being present. The N. Z. Times reports that they seemed to be unanimous in condemning the proposals of the Government, but they could not agree upon anything to put in its place. This will, probably, also be the case when the conference of the local bodies takes place, The suicide of a Maori boy is thus related by a correspondent of the New Zealand Herald:—A Maori, about 15 years of age, named Watene Sullivan committed suicide. He went out shooting with another boy about'ten years old, and whilst walking with him said he wondered what was the easiest way to die. The younger lad was some distance behind when ho heard the report of the gun, and ran to Watene. When ho came up, Watene was lying pne tho ground, quite dead, the contents of the gun having gone right through his head, as lie had the muzzle of the gun in his mouth, Tho Coroner was immediately telegraphed for, and ho held an inquest on the body. The jury was composed of 10 Mamies and two Europeans, who, after hearing the evidence, and remarks from the Coroner, found a verdict of death from a gun shot wound while laboring uner temperary insanity,

The Government has caused to be prepared a statement showing .the approximate amount which local bodies would receive under the Finance and Powers Bill. Tho following are the totals for each class:—Town districts, L 5775; boroughs, L 37.942; counties containing no road districts, L 30,832; counties containing road districts, L 125,741 \ goldfield counties, L2G,000; total, L 226,390. The following are within the provincial district of Wellington :—Hutt (Town Board), L 207; Jolmsonville, Ml; Kaiw'arra, L 62; Petone, L 123; Carterton, LOO; Featherston,LlMj' Wellington, L 1500; Greytown, L3H; Masterfcon, L 750; Hutt Road Board (no rate levied), Karori-Makara,'L'9o4'; Kilbirnio, L 792; Wellington Road Board, LIOQO ; outlying (no county rate levied); total, L 2696. Wairarapa West (no rate levied)-Featherston, L2OOO, Taratahi.Oarterton, L 1000; total, L3OOO. WairarapaEast-UpperTauera (no rate levied); Cashpoint, L 1000; Masterton, 1,1000; Pahjatua, L 150: Alfredton, Lls2;total, L23Q2. TheGovernraentah-.uld now cause to be prepared a return showing the additional burdens which it is proposed to place on local bodies. _. Capitalists who are desirous of investing in landed property will havo an excellent opportunity offered them on Saturday,' July 11th, when Messrs Lowes and loins Will sell 1133 acres of agricultural and pastoral land in the estate of the lateMrE. Meredith. The property is a valuable one, and will attract general notice. Particulars appear in our advertising columns, How a desired effect may be spoiled by something that' is not in any way connected with it, was amusingly illustrated, during the performance of" Our Boys" at the Theatre Royal last night. In the middle of one of those serio-comic scenes, ivhen the audience was on the balance between laughing any crying, a thin and hiph-pitched soprano sneeze was delivered behind the scenes, This was, of course, followed by a peal of daughter from the andience, and even the actors on the stage could not repress a smile. For the moment the troubles of "the boys" were completely fojgotten. '.';.■'.

This afternoon Sir G. Grey gave notice that he would move a vote of want of confidence in the : Ministry. ; Sit James 1 Presbyterian Church, Newtown, was broken into oh Sunday morning, and the contents- of the mission box, amounting to about;L2, stolen.