POLITICAL NEWS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 565, 3 February 1891, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[special to the STANDAHD.J Wellington, last night, Messrs Rees and Carroll were chosen by the Cabinet as Commissioners to enquire into the laws lelating to titles to Native lands throughout the colony. The Commissioners will spend at least two months instituting inquiries in regard to native titles in the North Island. The members have not yet all left for their homes, and they keep up pretty constant visits to Ministers to urge on the latter local matters. The Ministers themselves will remain in Wellington a little time to discuss matters of policy, and will then visit the different centres. Mr McKenzie, Minister of Lands, goes South to his own home shortly to put his business in order, and he will then make his promised visit to Auckland. Mr Seddon, Minister for Public Works, will visit Taranaki to view the Urenui coal field, and will then proceed to Auckland, chiefly to visit the Thames and Puhipuhi districts. Mr Beeves, Minister of Education, is’not likely to leave Wellington for some time, but if he visits any other centre it will probably be Auckland. Mr Cadman will remain in Welling ton for some time, mastering the details of his department. Mr Ward will probably proceed South shortly. The Native Minister considers that he has before him a very difficult task when he shall attempt to give intelligent laws instead of the complicated ones of the past. He intends to try to have the Native Department absorbed in others. The Legislative Council have voted that £lO,OOO be spent in constructing a fire-proof building for the Parliamentary Library. The Hon. Mr Reynolds suggested that all the books except those needed for reference should be removed to Auckland, where there is a fire proof building. Auckland would thus have an accession of about 25,000 volumes, and the country would not need to spend any .£lO,OOO. . Sir George Grey is likely to spend some time at Baratonga with Mr F. J. Moss. There is some talk here of Sir Maurice O’Rorke’s standing for Te Aroha at the new election. Owen, one of the Railway Executive who was discharged some time back, has been re employed. Mr Percival was mentioned as likely to attend rhe Federal Convention, but nothing has been done. The telephone charges for outside bureaux are to be reduced from 61 for 8 minutes to 6d for 6 minutes. Mmistera intend by pergonal influence to adjust the differences between the Railway Commissioners and their late employees as far as possible. It is the popular opinion here that the old Government party is dead, and that any Opposition party for the next session will be on new lines,