Parliamentary.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3284, 16 August 1889, Page 2

Parliamentary.

In the House yesterday tho Pro-perty-tax debate was resumed by tho Minister of Lands, He did not think it necessary, he said, to defend the land policy of the Government, but ho thought it right to reply to the remarks made on tho subject by Mr Ballance," The Minister went onto contend that the improved demand for land was due to the removal of restrictions, and the choice of tenure given by the Act of' 1887. The results of that act had been very diffeient to what was predicted by the Opposition, and at present about three-fifths of tho land was taken up under perpetual lease, one-fifth under deferred ..payment;- and;-one-fifth for cash, •The"provision., : made' in ithat Act for reductions in the price of land whore necessary had also acted very beneficially oa settlement. He defended tho ballot system, and said the records of tho Crown Lauds Office showed that the transactions referred to in some papers, in which large prices"were paid to successful applicants for their land did not take place.' If anything were needed to prove how well the people were satisfied with the, Act of 1887 it was the frequency of applications for land to be brought under that Act. Mr Ballance had said that there.was more settlement for the year ending March, 1887, than last year. He was right; there were 514 persons more in that year than in last year; but no fewer than 89G persons wero aided by tho Government to go on the land M the year referred to by Mr Ballance. Three hundred and fortyoight more, persons f took. up land under tho ordinary systems last year than in 1887. The hon gentleman said two hundred persons who had boon settled on the land for soveral years were counted inlastyears returns. (A short discussion took place on this question between tho Minister and Mr Ballance, and eventually the Minister said he would get further information on tho subject.) Mr Kichardson went on to point out that the year 1887 was a particularly favorable ono for Mr Ballance to select, for" in, that year 89G State aided settlors were placed on the land, and of that number only 56 per cent remained on thi land, whereas last year no fewer than 741 menvolunteers, not pressed men—went on to the land, taking up areas of from one to 50 acres, Last year the amount of laud taken up was 354,000 acres, as against an average of 188,000 acres for the preceding four years; and the cost of administration was £22,000 less than in 1887, and 189,000 under the average for the preceding four years. That this land did not go to form largo estates was shown by the fact that the average per selector was ono hundred and fiity-h've acres. Respecting the unemployed, he expressed satisfaction that this question/was improving, and that the assistance necessary to tho unemployed had greatly decreased, ■ He referred to the assistance given in this way in different parts of tho Colony, remarking that only 25 accepted employment in Christchurch. The total number now getting work was 225, as against 800 in October last. Mr Ballance bad stated that the village settlers paid 5 per cent, The Crown 'Lands Report certainly said that a certain rent was" payable" by'these settlers but it also showed that they wero in area £1728, of which sum £1327 was owing by Auckland settlors, notwithstanding that they had received advances of £9232, and that £12,414 had been expended on road work on which they were engaged. £19,000 had been advanced to village settlers, on which they had paid interest £865. In Auckland £9232 had been advanced to village settlors, and fclio interest they had paid was £l4 one-fourteenth per cent per annum. (Laughter.) Of the original settlers 674 remained, and others who had taken 'transfers brought it up to 878, These settlers cost tho Colony £73,000. (Laughter.) The Minister concluded by contending that the settlers who went, on to tho land under the auspices of this system last year were unfit for it. (Cheers,) Tho debate was again adjourned.

The Strange Disappearance at Kokatau. The Boy Still Missing. (From Onr Special Eoporter.) There is still not the slightest trace of the little boy Thompson who was lost at Kokatau', nor any indication, whatever, as to what- can have becomo of him. The surroundings of tho case, which at first seemed so simple, do not appear to have altered as far as any enquiry yet mado bears upon them; but at the same lime tho absolute disappearance of tho child and of any sign of the agency by which his whereabouts is so closely bidden, can now be regarded as not only mysterious but extraordinary. Over one hundred persons, includingacontingontfrumtlieCartortoiwd Park Vale schools, wero out scouring the surrounding country yesterday, and a further party has gone out to-day, Inquiry is also being made at llasterton, Greytown and Featherston, so that tho bound of search may not be restricted to too narrow a limit.

It was rumoured yesterday that some Maoris had been seen driving down Moore's Line, towards fclio Main Boad, with a flaxen-haired child in their buggy. Enquiry elicited the fact 'that the child was their own, and not as tiie informant had thought, a European child. All the Native pahs in the district are, however, now being communicated with, to see if by any chance the boy has got among the Maoris.

Jt seems that there were two acres of manuka scrub in tho vicinity of tho spot that is well established as the last place the child was seen in; but being such a small patch, every nook and cornor of it had been closely examined without any result what' over, The creek also has been well searched, The rest of the land close to the placo is mostly cleared paddocks. The only bush is inaccessible except the child—who was a poor walker—had first crossed the creek and tbo road and also had passed near to two neighbours' houses and in view of his own. jThe radius of search has now been extended to over three miles from the original point, and both likely and unlikely places have alike had the closest attention.

Masterton School CommitteeThe ordinary monthly meeting of the School Committee was held last night, Present Messrs A. W. Eenall (ohairmau), McEwen, Hathaway, Prangnell, Hogg, and Daniells, The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Treasurer reported a credit alanceof£22 7sl.

CORBEBPONDESOK, From Mr J, King with ostimato of cost of bringing in a wator supply from springs on Mr Perry's laud to the School of £45 From Secretary Town Lands Trust stating what the Trustees had agreed to in reference to the water supply, and accepting the terms asked by Mr Perry. Miss Keeling wrote as follows:- • "Tho visiting member visited the Infant School once last mouth in an \ unsatisfactory condition. He .did & not, however, address the children, > and I do' not think they noticed anything unusual in luyannner." In consequence of alterations to closets, the contractor wrote stating that he would require an increased allowance of £2 per month for cleaning them. The Chairman and Messrs Daniell, Hogg, and McEwen were appointed a Sanitary Committee with power to a~ deal with the question. ;^t

The agreement botween Mr Walter Perry and the School Board for the full right to take water from two springs for supplying the school, was read. Mr Daniell said it would be necessary to have a two inch pipe instead of ono inch, and that meant £IOO. He believed the parents .would willingly make up the. amount. He questioned whether jt wa3 wise to go to any great expense, as there was no doubt that a high pressure water supply would havo to be provided for the town, and it'might be better to • make a temporary arrangoment an/W koep to the Engineer's estimate, An inch and a half pipe would, roughly speaking, give. a bucket of water per minute. ' , , - .•'

Tin question of tho water supply was relegated to the Sanitary Committee already appointed.

Mr McEwen moved, and Mr Hogg seconded, That the agreement with Mr Perry for a water supply' be confirmed, and the thanks of the Com- ,j> mittee be conveyed to Mr Perry for f his liberal gift. Carried uuanimously. Mr Hogg moved, and Mr McEwen seconded. That tho lease between Mr Perry and the Board be forwarded to the latter body. Carried; The Headmaster reported the number on the roll 574. The attendance averaged 87 per cent, such a high rate being in consequence of the nearness of the annual examination, A number of pieoe3 of sewing had been abstracted from the School during the last vacation, and although the police had been informed the articles had not since heard of, Attention was drawfljJP to the condition of library which was* stated to bo in au unsatisfactory condition. Mr Jackson suggested that in the event of the scholarship not being taken up in any year as provided in the now Town Lands Trusts Bill, the monoy shoald go to tho benefit of the School Library or in providing scientific apparatus, The Headinster applied for a supply of paper for examination papers. The Headmaster was authorised to ta. procure the usual stationery for«B examination purposes. '.--, ■ Mr Hogg moved, That in the event of the scholarship not being used in any year such funds shall be devoted to the School library, providing scientific apparatus or prizes, and that such suggestion be forwarded to Sir George Grey and Mr Carter. Seconded by Mr Daniells and carried,

Miss Keeling reported the number of children ou the roll was 116, highest attendance 104, lowest 6& average 94, During the last weel the attendance had fallen off in consequenco of the usual winter colds,. Attention was called to the neglect on the part of the caretaker to properly sweep and dust the school. The Secretary was instructed to write to the school cleaner and draw hor attention to the complaint. An extract from the log book kept bj tho head master was read. . It referred to the visit of the visiting member of tho school last month wlioso conducthad been objectionable. A discussion took place in committe, ) and it was deemed better to leave the W mattor alone, tho member referred to' ■' having forfeited his seat by abseuoe from three consecutive meetings.

It was resolved on the motion of Mr Hogg to draw the attention of Mr Jackson to clause 18, in Instructions to Teachers, find inform him that complaints had come beforo the Committee in reference to corporal punishment, and request that no such punishment bo inflicted except by jig. headmaster himseif,

Mr McEwen was appointed visiting member and the meeting adjourned.