POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 349, 10 September 1889, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

The Defence Minister will make enquiries as to whether Mr Hutchison’s proposal can be carried out for holding a sham attack by part of the Australasian fleet on some outpost port of the colony next Easter. The hpp, members for Wanganui and Waitotara pad characterised the present system of sham fights as ridiculous and useless. The Minister endorsed that opinion, and said he held that Volunteer reviews should always take place on the ground the men would pave to defend in case of hostilities. Another Government measure has received the “happy dispatch” in the Legislative Council. This was the Local Bodies Loan Act Amendment Bill (which passed all its stages without opposition in the House). The motion for its second reading was met by SO amendment by Sir George Whitmore that it be read a second time that day six month?, Which was carried by 16 to 11 • thus the Bill was lest. It made slight amenlments in the procedure under the original Act, and also provided punishment for forgery of deben-

■ in a discussion in the House, Mr Monk deblared that the money supposed to be spent In extirpating rabbits in Auckland was being Wasted in districts where a sportsman would be pulled to find a rabbit. The Minister explained that a considerable sum was paid the Maori B in the King Country for rabbit skins * t the Maoris took threepence a skin, and were glad to get it. These rabbits were kept down in the wDder districts. Mr La wry said rabbit-hunting in the Waikato was a farce. Rabbits were not a nuisance there, and never could be. As for the Natives, the Stock Department made an absurd blunder by paying threepence for the skin of a fullgrown rabbit, and twopence for a little bunny. Consequently the Maoris said : “ Do the Pakehaa think us such fools as to kill young rabbits for twopence, when by keeping them for a year we cap get threepence for them ?”

The Premier has promised Mr Wilson that the Government will issue a circular to all Education Boards and Inapectora inviting suggestions for an improvement of the syllabus for primary education, and they will also consider the desirableness of hoialng a conference or appointing a Comipiß?ibh to consider suggestions and report whether any alterations should he made. The Postmaster-General cannot see his Way to replace the parcels post rates at E-esent. The system has not been in force ng enough to* enable any opinion to be formed as to its financial results.