THE LOBBIES. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. ]

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1402, 28 June 1881, Page 2

THE LOBBIES. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, OUR SPECIAL CORRESPON DENT. ]

Eegulation of Elections Bill. I Wellington, Last Night. This bill has been circulated. The material alterations made are the following : — Writs are to be returnable within forty days ; the candidate is to be nominated by not less than ten electors for district ; a nomination sum of £10 to bo deposited with the Returning Officer ; sum returnable if nominee polls not less than one-fifth of the number of votes polled by the candidate heading the poll, otherwise the sum is forfeited ; the nomination to be advertised ; the poll to commence at nine, and close at six ; when a district is represented by three members no person to be allowed to vote for more than two candidates ; if a candidate be returned for two districts he must elect which he will sit for within seven days.

The Bible m Schools. At a meeting of members favourable to the bible in schools, it was decided that a motion be tabled, asking the Government to obtain an expression of public opinion on a plan similar to that adopted by the Otago Bible in Schools Association. Mr Macandrew moves the motion in the Lower House, and Mr Menzies in the Upper House.

Local Public Works. A local Public Works Bill will be shortly introduced with a differently constituted board from the bill of last session.

Oounty Expenditure. The following is a return of the expenditure for the year ending March by the several county councils :— Waikato : balance in hand £161 9s lid. general rates £6735, valuation £230 6s 3d, government grant £252 2s, fees and fines, £9 1 Os, land fund £26 10s, butchers' fees £116 3s 4d, special grant for cattle loading pen at Huntley and roads at Raugiriri £230, auctioneers £20, publicans £185 10s, dog registration £I2S, casual £10 9s 4, total income, £1390 0s lOd. Expenditure : — Survey £25 12s 9d, road repairs and improvements £39 13s lOd, ferries £8 5s 3d, on special works £250, grants to road boards £305, salaries £150, travelling and election expenses £8 16s 6d, miscellaneous £158 16s 6d, deposits returned £81 15s sd, balance in hand £520 16s 7d. Waipa.— Balance on hand £264 7s 3d, government grant £218 11s lOd, land fund £462 Ss 6d, dog tax £307 17s, ferries £3 11s, other receipts £52 12s, total £1378 7s Id. Expenditure : ferries £135 16s lid, grants to road boards £746 4s 6d, salaries travelling expenses &c £110 2s sd, balance in hand £386 3s 3d.

The Hamilton Railway Bridge. I am indebted to the member for W.iipa for the following extract from the AgentGener il's letter to the Colonial Secretary dated 31st May : — I have now the honor to enclose invoices and bills of lading for the balance of segment of the Hamilton Railway Bridge supplied by Stockman, Forgie & Co, and shipped by the Dunkeld for Auckland. The vessel left London about the middle of April, and is due at Auckland about the end of the month." The contracts will certainly be invited within two months.

Illness of Mr J. B. Whyte. Mr Whyte is confined to his bed with the complaint which ciffects his knee, otherwise his health is good. He is expected to be about in two or three days.