POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2506, 2 August 1888, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(BT TKLKQIIAPH—OWN COHRKSPONIIKNT.) Wellington', Wednesday. I THE WEST COAST STO NE W A LLE R. The first instalment of tho stonewall that is about to take place on the Crown and Native Lands Rating Act Repeal Bill was commenced this afternoon by llr Reeves, the member for Inangahua. In order to do so lie took advantage of a question put by Sir John Hall with respect to auctioneers being compelled to keep a register of the brands of all sheep sold by thom, so as to chaclc sheep stealing, and spoke on the question for over half an hour, to the dinner adjournment. This little device on Mr Reeves' part was at once seen through, by the Crown and Native Land Bill bting the first order of the day, and, as X informed you some weeks ago, the West Coast members intend setting up a vigorous stonewall against that Bill, which will deprive their districts of a large portion of their revenue. The Minister for Justice interrupted Mr Reeves by saying that if the hon. gentleman merely wished to stonewall the Bill that was coming on, the House might just as well adjourn till halfpast seven, but Mr Reeves indignantly denied any sucli intention, and referred to the Hon. Mr Fergus as having spoken to him in a "furious manner,''a remark the Speaker compelled him to withdraw. Mr Reaves still went on speaking to about a dozen members, when Mr Hutchison called attention to the attenuated state of the House, and a quorum was rung in very reluctantly. He achieved his object of delaying the Bill till the evening sitting, and the West coasters express their firm intention of blocking it in every conceivable direction, so that another all night sitting is quite oil the cards. MR PYKE IN OPPOSITION. The member for Dunstan is threatening direst vengenance 011 the Government for their action in respect to the Otago Central Bill, notwithstanding during the Tariff debate, he emphatically declared that tho reason why ho supported the present Co vernment was, because he considered it the most honest Ministry that had sat on tho Treasury benches for many years ; that erratic gentleman last night, after the division was taken, seized his oveicoat and at once transferred it to the Opposition whip's room, to show.that ho finally ronounced the Ministry and all its work. REPORT OF THE SHEEP COMMITTEE. The report is strongly condemnatory of the management of the Department, and one paragraph is as follows: "The existence of scab at the present time is an absolute disgrace to all concerned in the administration of the law." The committee recommend that the office of the Superin-tendant-General Inspector, with his headquarters in Wellington, be abolished. During the debate that followed the presentation of the report the Minister for Lands said he quite agreed with Mr Lance that it was a disgrace to the colony that scab should still exist, and he promised to take steps before next session to remedy the present state of affairs in the Sheep Department. NATIVE TAXATION. _ Sydney Taiwhanga feels greatly incensed at not having been invited to meet the Premier with tho nther Mauri members to arrange the compromise that has been effected in the withdrawal of the taxation clause from the Native Land Bill. He intends therefore to ask the Premier in the House how many of the natives agreed to that compromise. THE OTAGO CENTRAL. Mr Pyke is determined not to lose sight of his pet scheme, as ho, to day, gave notice of his intention to ask the Government to state exactly what action they proposed to take with regard to the construction of the Otago Central Railway during the current financial year.. A LEADING QUESTION. This afternoon, Mr Levestam gave notice to ask the Government whether it is true that measures which had been supported by the Government in the House of Representatives have been opposed by the whole available strength of the Cabinet in the Legislative Council, and especially, why was the Nelson Foreshore Bill opposed? A COMPROMISE. There is every hope now that a satisfactory compromise will be effected between tho Government and the opponents of the Crown and Native Lands Rating Bill, which will probably be to the effect that the valuation of Crown Lmds for rating purposes shall be limited to five shillings an acre, it is estimated that by this compromise the sum of £20,000 will be payable to local bodies, iustead of £35,000 as at present.