POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2503, 26 July 1888, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(by telegraph—own correspondent.) Wellington, Tuesday. HON. JAS. WILLIAMSON'S ESTATE. It was thought, that the Estimates would have fully occupied Mr Goldie's attention, but he seems to have been keeping an eye on the Survey Dapartment as well, judging from the following question he tabled today. Whether he has fnund a soft spot or not remains to be eaen, but he asks the Minister of Lands upon whose authority the estate of the late Hon. J. Williamson, at Hukuhia, near Hamilton, Waikato, was ro-surveyed by the Survey Department, with a view to its being brought under the Lands Transfer Act free of cost to the applicant; what has been the cost of such survey ; and for what reason, if any, has this special privilege been granted ? Wellington, Wednesday. THE LAND POLICY. The whole of this afternoon's sitting was taken up with a discussion of a motion moved by Mr Peacock with respect to encouraging the Village Settlement System. A great many members took part in the debate, the tenor of which was that more consideration should be given to that system than the present Government were likely to do. Mr Ballanco, however, the author of the scheme, gave the prosent Minister for Lands every credit for eiving the scheme a trial by resisting the pressure brought to bear on him to change the tenure of the village settlers from leasehold to freehold. The supporters of the village settlement Scheme consider that the after noon was by no means wasted in the impression made on thßGovernmentof thenecessity of continuing those settlements under fair conditions, and Mr B:illance asserted that in many cases they were quite self-support-mß" THE NATIVE OUTBREAK. It is stated that the native dispute in the Whangarei district has been considered by the Cabinet, and it has been decided that the Native Minister shall visit the neighbourhood as soim as possible. In order that the Hon. Mr Mitclielson may be relieved of his Parliamentary duties at an early date, it is intended to push forward tho native policy Bills with all speed. As soon as he can be spared, Mr Mitchelsnn will proceed to Whancarei to investigate the affair, and every effort will be made to keep tho disputants quiet till he arrives. RAISING THE SCHOOL AGE. This question came before the Wellington Education Board at its meeting to-day, and considerable surprise was expressed by Mr J. R. Blair, chairman of the Board, at the action of the Minister of Education in stating that he was in favour of the school age'being raised. Mr Blair said Mr Fisher and the other members of the Government got into the Hause on the " workingman's " ticket, and no sooner were they there than they inflicted injustice on their constituents by raising the school age, which would, of course, touch the working man. and they struck at the root of education instead of pruning the branches and doing away with colleges and universities. NATIVE LAND BILLS. It is reported that the native members intend to "stnnawall" the Native Bills ill committee, and they are likely to be assisted by Sir George Grey.