THE LOBBIES. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Land Purchase.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1429, 30 August 1881, Page 2

THE LOBBIES. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Land Purchase.

Wj:lli:i otow, Saturday. The following is a return of lands purfhuscd and leased, or ut.<Ur negotiation, from natives in the North Island :—Auckland : 1,940,773 acres purchased, and 41,551 acres leased, £26,7,434 paid as purchase money or rent md £47,825 as incidental expense*. T!>>: Wnikato blocks completed duiinj* the p ist year were lot 327, Porongai, 565 acres, negotiated by Mr R. S. Bush, £230 paid, native deed of demise dated 4th June, 1874, proclaimed waste lands 28th November, 1878; Pokniwhenua , 6520 acres ; Huihuitaha, 3575 acrt\s ; Tokoroa, 17,864 acre*, negotiated by Mr Mackay, £7230 paid, £J687 incidental, native deed of demise dated Bth March, 1881, proclaimed waste land 16th June, 1881. The negotiations in progress represent 1,076,506 acres for purchase, and 66,405 acres for lease, on account of winch £96,334 has been paid. The following are the Waikato blocks under negotiation : Rotorua, Patetere, 500,000 acres, £330 paid : JNgatitamona, 13,869 acres, £350. In Hawke's Bay, the total area purchased is 140, 85E acres ; in Wellington, 735,754 acres ; in Taranaki, 559,087 aores, malting a total for the North Island of 3,376,466 acres purchased, and 41,557 acres leased, on which there has been a total expenditure of £836,655. The following are under negotiation:— Wellington, 908,153 acres for purchase, and 300,000 acres leasehold ; Taranaki, 264,570 acres for purchase; making the total under negotiation for the North Island 2,249,254 acres for purchase, aud 961,059 aciva leasehold, on which the total expenditure has been £7096. The Dunedin Exhibition. The following subjects reported upon by the Dunedin Industrial Exhibition are of interest to your district :— Rope line and twine from phormiutn hemp, together with the manufactures from it, had several representatives. The quality appeared excellent, and it is satisfactory to find that although all the sanguine anticipations respecting this material have not been fulfilled it is yet becoming thoroughly established. There are four entries of pottery from Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Milton in Otago. These comprise drain pipes, from the smallest to the largest size that are uaed for agricultural or sanitary purposes, chimney pots, ornamental vase and flower pots, and crockeryware of every description. The articles exhibited by the Milton Works comprise dinner and breakfast feervices, teapots, and other articles of common domestic use of very good shapes and patterns, and afford proof that excellent materials exist in the locality for the development of this industry. Both at Sydney and Melbourne the New Zealand pottery attracted much attention, and great surprised was expressed at the advanced state to which this industry had reached. The Volunteers. 001. Reader reports .-—"Defence Office, Wellington, June, 1881: Sir,— ln the various districts the returns show a decrease of 17 adult and 9 cadet corps, and a total decrease in numbers of 1325 adults and 966 cadets. There having been no official inspection of the force during the year, I called upon officers commanding districts to report upon the state of corps. Their reports are generally satisfactory. The attendance at drill hus|been good, and the interest in the Volunteer movement has not diminished in consequence of the reduced rate of capitation allowed for the past year. Facilities have been given for importing regulation uniforms from England through Government on moderate and favourable terms, of which several corps have already availed themselves, and more are anxious to do so. Camps were held at Easter in W a^ ta *°> Nelson and Oamaru, with considerable success. The meeting in Waikato was attended by a total strength of 1017, ( furnished from all parts of Auckland district ; at Nelson tho muster was 526, of which upwards of 300 went over from Wellington ; at Oaraaru the total number assembled was 1166, representing corps from Ohristchurch, Dunedin, In vercargill, and the Lake district". The forces are now well supplied with small arms, but want of sufficient light ordinance for artillery and naval brigades is much felt. I strongly recommend a revision of the Volunteer Regulations, and that the work be entrusted to a Board of Volunteer officers of experience in the force who would be best able to suggest what alterations are required to promote the interest and well-being of the movement." The Waikato Cavalry are returned as 190 strong, The strength of the North Island Cavalry is 504; Artillery 291; Engineers, 257; Rifles, 2490; Navals, 417. Decrease since March 31st, 1880 : Adults, 1218; cadets, 210. South Island decrease : Adults, 107 ; cadets, 756. The Waikato Cavalry is returned as armed with 181 Cavalry carbines. The " Oloture." The "cloture" submitted by the Premier for consideration has taken the House quite by surprise. It was rumoured in the afternoon that some thing of the kind would be proposed, but no one seemed to think that the extreme measure would be resorted to. If lam not mistaken, it will occasion a considerable amount of dissatisfaction in certain quarters. The necessity of some coercive measure has been acknowledged, if the obstruction was carried much further. The "cloture," however, at this stage, is regarded as harsh and premature. Further development may be looked for, and there are those who even go the length of thinking that it may endanger the ultimate fate of the Representation Bill. The obstruction wa3 resumed yesterday afternoon. Immediately on the question of proceeding with the Orders of the Day being moved, Mr Speight took up the cudgles, and although various efforts were made to narrow the range of his remarks, he spoke out to the 5.30 adjournment, and resuming at 7.30, spoke out another half hour. One or two others of the obstructionists followed, and Mr Seddon, who is good at any time for an hour's jaw, got the floor. The original intention was to renew the obstruction on Monday, using all the forms of the House to delay the progress of business. The more ardent of the obstructionists spoke of keeping the thing going for eight or ten days. The "cloture," however, may alter the programme. There is a palpable movement going on amongst members, Grey being conspicuous in the movement. With him as their friend philosopher and guide, there is not likely to be any great lack of mischief brewing.