POLITICAL NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2049, 25 August 1885, Page 2

POLITICAL NEWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— SrKCI\L COKHKSPONDENT.] The Land Bill. Wklliscton, Saturday. Thk Land Bill h,is at length been disposed of, having occupied the House almost exclusively since Tuesday last. The debate at tunes however w.is of an interer,ting chai.icter, so much so that many members entertain tho idea that the timo occupied in di-.cuv<inj» tho bill was by nn means wasted. A tiansp.ticnt attempt was made last night to insett what w.is known " tho MeKeime clause "by a side jssue. The original clause bearing that appellation had been 1 ejected by a good majority, and it met with a similai fate last night, being thrown out by 27 to 10, after veiy little debate. The shape in which it was brought on again was a motion by Mr John MeKen/.ie, th.it no ]>crson shall hold more than mio run unless the board shall permit it, and if any run should be sublet without sanction of the boaid, his lease shall be liable to forfeiture. The Premier supported tho clause, being almost bound to do so as ir was brought in by the Gov eminent whip, but the llou>e threw it out by a much laigcr majority than the original " McKen/.ie clause."

All Quiet. There were no rumours of lobby gossip to day, and the Paihainentary Buildings were particularly quiet.

Wku.inuton, Monday. The School Committees Bill. The amendments by the Legnlativo Council in the School Committees Election Bill are causing a little trouble in both branches of the Legislature. The con ference of managers which have been appointed to consider the matter have been unable to agree, Dr. Pollen and Mr Mathew Holmes refusing to agree to tho minimum school age Vicing continued at five years, Sn ¥. Whitaker, the third man from the Legislative Council, has agreed to the locommendation of the Lower House. A further meeting will probably take place to con-,idei the question.

The Public Works Statement. The Public Woiks Statement to-morrow is eagerly looked forward to, as on the n.ituic of its proposals altogethei depends the fiituic of the session. I venture, to predict that pioposals will be made for the conduction of the East and Wet Coast Railway, and that a %ote of £1.10,000 will be asked for the vvoik. Vott s will nlio be a>ked for the Otago Central Line and North Island Main Trunk Railway. It is understood that the Estimates have undergone considerable revision since their original preparation owing to the comse of events and the rejection of the pioposals for tho East and West Coast Railway.

Mr Pykes Song. Mr Vincent Pyke, the genial member for Dun-t.m, has received the following congiatulatoiy letter hum Lord Ko-.ebeiy on the subject of the song Mr Pyke has lately wnHoii, entitled "The Old Flag," a coj)v of which he forvvatded to li i-. loidship :—" Landsdowne House, Beikley Square: Dear Sir,--Allow me to thank yon veiy much for the spnited and admirable vei-^es th.it yi'U have been good enough to send me. It seems to me that they have ments of theii own quite apart from the sentiment-. e\pre----ed, and I like to look forw.nd to the incoiporationof the Southern Cioss m the Union Jack."

The Situation. As far as I can gather tho position of the situation to night is that if the Public Works Statement nffoids valid lound for attack a dnect vote of no confidence will be tabled. Tf not, the Opposition will content themselves with an adverse cutici>m of the action of the (interim put.