POLITICAL GOSSIP,

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 634, 16 July 1891, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP,

(SPECIAL TO THE STANDARD. Wellington, last night, The Committee appointed to report on the Gisborne Harbor Board accounts, are of opinion that the present mode of auditing publio accounts is defective, and suggest that a uniform set of receipt books should be insisted upon in the case of all local bodies. Mr Cadman denies a statement made by a local paper that the Native Land Bill will not be completed for a considerable time. He expects to introduce the Bill at the end of the present week. It will be a consolidating measure on the line previously indicated. Government are doing their best to induce the Midland Bailway Company to open up for settlement land that is now reserved for the purposes of this Company. The Speaker informed the House that it was not in his power to arrest the progress of Mr Rees’ Bill providing for the cancellation of the recent appointments to the Legislative Council,

The Government have been asked to place a sum of money on the estimates for the purpose of nominated immigration, to be confined exclusively to separate families.

Mr Maoarthur has leave of absence for another week. He is now in a fair way to recovery.

Mr Fergus is enquiiing what steps Government intend to take in the direction of encouraging fruit growing in New Zealand, Mr Fulton is introducing a Police Offences Amendment Bill, the object of which is to suppress the evil caused by keeping immoral houses. Tbs Act will permit the cancellation of leases to bawdy houses where ths owner was not cognisant of the purposes for which the house was requ’red.

Mr Lawrv has interviewed the PostmasterGeneral with the object of having better provision made for exporting butter to England. It is understood a favorable reply will be made. It appears a Crown grant was issued to Sir James Ferguson for a block of land in Waikato, which the House had recommended should be reserved for the owners. The Crown grant was issued by the late adminstration two years ago. A statement to this effect was made this afternoon in reply to a question asked by Sir George Grey, who is expootod to denounce the transaction as a gross violation of the instructions given by Parliament.