POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 343, 27 August 1889, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE LATEST FROM THE H3U3E. [from our own correspondent.] Wellington, last night. There are now in Wellington about half a dozen native chiefs from Taranaki, who have been delegated by their peoole to consider the Bills relating to the Maori race. They have petitioned for leave to attend at the bar and address the House, giving their reasons why the Bills should be delayed till the natives have had time to become thoroughly acquainted with their provisions. The Native Meetings Bill, they say, fills their hearts with fear and alarm, and would inflict irreparable injury upon them, while it is contrary to the treaty of Waitangi—under which the natives were given all the rights and privileges of British subjects—and also to the Constitution Act. Consideration of the estimates was resumed at midnight, and the House sat till 3.10 a.m. on Saturday, when progress was reported. The defence estimates were first taken, and on the item Volunteers, £28,912, Mr Seddon spoke for half an hour in criticism of the action of the Government as to the Te Kooti campaign. The Native Minister oomolained that ha had been misrepresented by the House and the press, and he emphatically denied he had feted Te Kooti at Auckland. After a long discusaion the vote was agreed to, as were the other votes of this Department. On class 12, Public and School Buildings and Domains Department, £56 275. Dr Fitchett moved to reduce the item by £9OO, and the Government gardeners of Auckland and Wellington by £lOO. but it was lost by 26 to 5, and the whole vote was passed. Stamps and Deeds Department, £22,777, was also agreed to,