POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2505, 31 July 1888, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(BT TELK.fiItAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, Monday. A TRIBUTE TO MR LARNACH. Thk late Minister for Mines appears to have been appreciated by the mining popu-

, lation of the colany, judging by the fact [ that the miners of the Thames goldfields , have prepared an illuminated address for ( presentation to the Hon. W. J. N. Larnach, expressing deep regret at tho departure of | so true a friend and so earnest an advocate of the mining industry as the Hon. gentleman. The memorialists Btate "That no raomber of any New Zealand Ministry has so persistently endeavoured to advance the prosperity of the colony by bringing to the assistance of the miner a practical knowledge of the composition of ores, the most modern appliances for the extraction of metals thereupon, tho establishment of Schools of Mines, and the publication of mining literature." NATIVE STONEWALLING. A meeting was held by the four native members this morning, at which it was decided to stonewall the nativo policy Bill to the utmost, unless the Government agree to strike out the taxation clausos. It may be remembered, as I recently informed you, that the Government proposed thatthe taxation clauses shall not have effect for two years, but the native members object to the proposal appearing in the Bill at all at present. DEATH BY ELECTRICITY. Mr Taylor to-day gave notice that ho will ask the Government on Thursday next whether they will consider tho desirablenoss ot ainonding tho law relating to capital punishment by tho substitution of death by electricity for hanging. The motion, considering the gravity of the question, was received with a burst of laughter by the House. There is a precenent, however, for the practice advocated by the member for Sydenham, as, I understand, the execution of criminals by electricity has already been adopted in the State of New Vork. MR PY ICE'S BILL Another meeting of members interested in the Otago Central Railway Hill was held this afternoon, Mr Pyke (in the chair) and 17 members being present. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr W. P. lleeves, that the Bill be proceeded with, as it may be modified by the supporters of tho Bill and a deputation was appointed to inform the Government of theso resolutions. The Premier said he required time for consideration, and it was then arranged that tho consideration of tho Bill should bo postponed t07.30 to-morrow, when the Premier promised to make it the first order of the day and this was afterwards agreed to by the House. THE NATIVE DISPUTE. The Under-Secretary to the Defence Department, received a telegram to-day, to the effect that everything was still quiet at Whangurei, and that a number of influential chiefs had arrived upon the scene of the land dispute. The opposing parties havo agreed to leave their differences to be finally decided by those chiefs, and the Native Minister. OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY. During the discussion that ensued this afternoon on Mr Pyke's motion to postpone the consideration of this Bill till to morrow the Premier said members complained that the Bill had boon allowed to come up at all, but he pointed out that the House passed the Bill last session, and also affirmed tho principle in 1.578, so that it was in a different posilion from other measures. Besides, it affected one of the largest and most important districts in the colony. The Government would be no paity to allowing the minority to obstruct the majority, but under the circumstances they were assured that there was a majority in the House favourable to the Bill. SERVING TWO MASTERS. The Premier taxed Mr Hutchison this afternoon, during tho debate on the Fair Rent Bill, with being anxious to secure the votes of both the Europeans and Maoris on the West Coast by the strenuous exertions he was making to exempt the land of the natives in that district from the operation of tho Bill. Mr Hutchison (Mr Bryce's successor) denied the change, and said the Premier was not warranted in making it, adding that he was merely acting in tho interests of the native people.