POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 620, 13 June 1891, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[special to the standard.] Wellington, last night. The Government propose to tax totalisators, which at present are not revenue producers. The information published with regard to the reduction of telephone charges appears to be premature. Mr Ward is considering the proposal now, and has not decided upon any change. The proposed reduction cf the New Zealand postage to one penny comes into force on July first, if the Bill has been passed by both Houses, and if not it will be deferred till August 1. The papers relating to the Judge Edwards case have been sent Jo England through the Crown Solicitor here, The Government pay ihat so far as employing counsel to appear before the Privy Council, in support of their appea l , Steps will be taken by the Agent General.

Messrs Hutchison, Fish, and Fisher, are now regarded as having practically declared themselves in opposition to ths Government, while Mr R. Thompson has deserted the Opposition whips. He declines to be regarded aa belonging to either party. There was an informal meeting of the Opposition this morning, at which a tacit understanding was arrived at that the Addrees-in Reply should be allowed to go by default, so the debate will probably be very brief.

Mr Thomas Thompson will probably be a candidate for the Chairmanship of Committees. The Government whips are busy to-day, evidently endeavoring to find whether he would be more acceptable than Mr Hamlin or Mr W. C. Sipith. The Postmaster-General, on his own motion, has decided that the letter carriers throughout the colony shall have a holiday every week after the 27th Inst., on Saturday, or any other day as may be arranged. The Cabinet has granted the wife of Mr Blair, late Engineer-in-Chief to the colony, cempensation equal to 18 months’ salary. An exhaustive report has been presented by Messrs Rees and Carroll, members of the Native Land Laws Commission. It deals with the evil effects of the existing system of dea ing with native lands. The remedy proposed is that a Native Land Board should be acorporated body, and should be composed of six members, three appointed by tho Governor and three elected by the who'e tribal Oommltteee of the Norffi Island. In this Board should be vested all the Maori reserves of tha North Island, with the sole power of leasing Maori tribal lands, under direction from the Native Committees of the various blocks, and with full power to act in all things for the welfare of tha Maori people. The Board should also be authorised to compromise with the Government and private persons in claims made to Maqri lands not leld severally, and only wljen assented to by three-fourtbe of the natives affected. In the administration of the lands not held in severaly, the Commissioners suggest a return to open and tribal dealings. The immigration and emigration returns for May show a very serious state of things. The arrivals wore : From the United Kingdom 117, from New South Wales 369, Victoria 248, Tasmania 57, other places 55. The departures were : To the United Kingdom 281, to Queensland 4, Now South Wales 1354, Victoria 372, Tasmania 102, other places 81. Total arnyals 863; departures 2094,