POLITICAL NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH.-SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1909, 30 September 1884, Page 2

POLITICAL NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH.-SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Claim Against the Insurance Department. Wkllingtox, Monday Niirht. A Petition has been before the Public Petitions Committee for some time past which has excited considerable attention. The petition is from Mr W. S. Griffin, claiming consideration for wotk done for the Insurance Department, and making some very serious charges against the management of that Department and the conduct of the commissioner and accountant. The committee, howe\er, have lepoited on the petition to the effect that the petitioner has no claim on the Government, and has failed to prove the allegation made against the Depaitment.

Raising the Second Million. It appeals, from a Parliamentary paper laid on the table with reference to the cost of raiding the second million of the tbiee million loan, that the total moneys received for subscription to the loan was £1,003,242 os. The discounts, on the instalments paid up by anticipation came to £25(51 fls lOd, and the allowance of a quarter* per cent, to bankets and biokeis (upon £0()!),500 subscribed tluough tlieni) wa>, £2408 15s. The bank's commission for bringing out the loan (half per cent.) was £5,000, and the amount paid to the inland revenue for composition of stamps duty £(3250. The nett amount received by the colony was (including a small amount of interest in instalments not paid on due dated) £98(5,941 2s Gd.

A Question of Privilege. A repoit is afloat that Mr Joyce intends to bung befoie the house as a question of privilege a letter written to the Southland Times, by Mr Hatch, M.H.R., to the borough council of Invercargill, denouncing Mr Joyce's action in certain P.nhanientary matters in most offensive terms.

The Premier. The Premier left here for Dimedin today by the Rotomahana, and will be absent from Wellington for about a week. Mr Stout's di'paitiue is for the purpose of giving evidence m a case in the Supreme Court, Dunedm, which is to be heaid on Wednesday next.

Petitions. The number of petitions that have been presented to the House tin's session is unusually large, already about 400 have been received on all manner of grievances. The Public Petitions Committee in particular has had to investigate an enormous number of petitions this year, but the stereotyped expression " No lecommendation to make" appears attached to a considerable majoiity of them, a comparatively small number being "Refened to the Government for consideration."

The Mines Act Amendment Bill. Mr Seddon is evidently dotei mined to get an oppm tumty of putting through the Mines Act, 1877, Aniendnient Bill, which is at piesent a long way down on the Older paper. I understand that about fifty inembeis have signed a lettef to the Premiei 1 a-^ follows :—": — " We, the undei signed, member of the House of Repieseutatne. desne th.it you will give the member for Kuiiiaia (Mr iSeddon) an opportunity this .session of liavmg the Mines Act. 1877, Amendment Bill, fiuthei coimdeied." The bill in question provides tor a reduction of the fee foi inineis' rights to 10s instead of £1, and of business licence fees from £» to £2 per annum. It is opposed by another goldfield member, Mr (JruinnoN-i, who is chairman of the (irey County Council, on the ground that, if earned, it will seuously affect the levenne of that countiy. Mi Guiuuess and some other gold field's member effectually prevented the bill from coining on list Thursday night, by talking out the bills immediately proceeding it.

Mr Thos. Bracken. A lecture on the " Poets of Ireland" is to be given at the Theatre Royal to-night by Mr Thos. Eracken, the late member for Dunedin Central. I undei&tand it is Mr Bracken's present intention, should his leehue jnovc successful, to make a tour round the world, delivering lectmes on loute, in order to defray the necessaiy expenses.