LATEST POLITICAL NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 385, 24 October 1868, Page 7

LATEST POLITICAL NEWS.

(From, the Christciiurch Papers.) Wellington, Oct 7.

In the House of Representatives last night,Mr Hall said the financial scheme must be modified, because it was not practicable to give effect to it this session; and for a second and more serious reason, because the Maori contest has assumed, and threatens to assume,proportionsrcquiringalarger provision than was originally anticipated. The division of the consolidated revenue

would be continued during this financial year, as at present; entailing, inclusive of supplementary estimates, a deficiency of L 17,000 or L 18,000. To meet this by additional taxation was out of the question. While the Customs and other revenue departments wero apportioned locally, the telegraph was charged onlv on the colony. He proposed to meet the deficiency by apportioning the telegraph on the provinces enjoying its revenue. This would meet the deficiency,and be essen-

tially fair as between one part of the colony and another. Some provision must be made for provinces unable to maintain gaols, police, &c. Southland's share of the consolidated revenue was inadequate to pay interest on its loans and the Assembly votes charged provincially. The deficit was L 13,500, and the province must therefore otherwise collapse. It was proposed to capitalise the sinking fund, thus leaving the whole territorial revenue to pay police &c. Marlborough would only have a balance of L 240 7s 7d out of its share of the consolidated revenue, but expected territorial revenue sufficient to to carry on if advances were made to February, when large land sales would recoup them. Taranaki would also have only L3O balance. There was no alternative in her case but to ask the House to allow advances to be made for police, goals, &c, absolutely necessary for the protection of life and property. The unencumbered extraordinary receipts anticipated were —balances from loan, L 33,500, and L 13,500 reduced balance of Southland receipts. Thus L-17,000 was all that was available of extraordinary income. To meet the defence expenditure, the sum of LSI.OOO would be required, instead of L4<S,OOO, as it was proposed to increase the constabulary to five hundred and pay five instead of four shillings per day ; and as instead of raising special corps on emergencies, it was proposed to increase the constabulary to one thousand if necessary, (weeding out from the whole force when an emergency was over). A contingent vote of L 90,000 was also required. It did not follow that it would be spent. Last year the G-overnmend had a contingent vote of loan of L 15,000, and they spent only LSOOO. The total addition required was therefore L 33,000, and L 50.000 loan, or L 80,300 in all. This would be provided for by the balance of L-i7,000 from extraordinary income, and L 36,000 by Treasury Bills. He believed there was a formidable difficulty on the West Coast. Its gravity had increased during the session. The description applied to it at the commencement was not now applicable. Dark clouds were hanging over other parts of the colony. While the Grovernuient watching them anxiously, hoping they would disperse, they must be prepared should they burst. They trusted a bold front would help materially in settling the disturbance. Discussion ensued, and supply was afterwards gone on with. A proposal to grant only nine months' supplies was negatived by 30 to 11.

A large reservoir has just been, completed in the rear of the G-oiieral Government buildings at Wellington. The cistern consists of the iron tank in which the submarine cable was brought out. Its holding capacity is about 35,000 gallons, and it can be filled once every twenty-four hours. The daily consumption of water on the Government premises is about 5000 gallons, so that 30,000 gallons are wasted every day. The surface of the reservoir is 70 feet above the level of the beach, and for the sum of £IOO water could be laid on to a considerable portion of the town. In Prance the greatest distance over which a telegraphic message can be transmitted is about GOO miles ; in Prussia, about 500 ; in Belgium, about 160; and in Switzerland, about 200 miles. The charge for a message of 20 words over the greatest distance in France is Is. Bd.; in Prussia, Is. 6d.; in in Belgium, 5d.; and in Switzerland, sd. In Great Britain 2s. is charged for the transmission of a message over 500 or 600 miles, and Is. Gd, for any message sent 160 or 200 miles. The congregation of the ancient church of Wharram Percy, Yorkshire, have been somewhat surprised to find a breed of foxes in possession. An air drain for ventilation from the outside has been used as an earth, and by this means access has been gained to the pulpit, beneath which an old fox and her litter of five cubs are, except when unearthed during Divine service, comfortably domiciled. The novelty has been communicated to Morgan, Lord Middleton's huntsman, who declares that during his forty years' experience he never before heard of such a circumstance, and never met with a finer brood of foxes.