AMENDING THE COUNTIES ACT. The bill to amend tho Counties Act will be introduced shortly by the Colonial Secretary. A rague idea has got abroad that this bill will intro duce some very sweeping changes in the county system, and will, in fact, involve a radical re form in the local government fystsm. I under stand this is entirely erroneous, and that the bill will merely rectify various minor defects •which have been found to exist in the law, and will supply certain improvements in details, A PETITION. The Pnblio Petitions Committee decline to recommend any compensation to Mr Henry Clapcotl (the wull-known Government insurance lecturer) for loss o£ office, as they think he has already been more than liberally dealt with. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUDIT. It is understood Ministers are considering the odvisableness of introducing the bill on the sub ject of local government audit which has already been drafted. COLLEGE FOR WELLINGTON. The petition for the establishment of a uni- J versity college in Wellington has been referred to tho Government for consideration. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. A deputation from the friendly societies is to ■wait on the Premier to-morrow afternoon to urge the Governnitnt to amend the Friendly Societies Act, so tint these bodies will not have to pay taxes on their funds or rates on their halls used only by themselves as offices or place of meeting. CONCESSION TO SIR G. GREY. Permission was given to Sir George Grey to day to set down the Law Practioners, Election of Governor, and Limitation of Votes Bills for Thursday, 25th August. THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. As it has been intimated that tho Govern ment will simply lay the Public Works State ment on the table without reading it, Mr Bal lance intends asking to-morrow whether they will not do so at once, and so afford members plenty of time to study the Government pro posals prior to the iiaaacial debate. LOCAL ELECTIONS. * Mr Rhodes is urging the Government to in troduce an amendment of "The Regulations of Local Elections Act 1876" providing (1) that nomination papers are to be forwarded with the voting papers to the nearest resident magistrate, and that they are not to be des troyed in case of a disputed election until after the inquiry; (2) that the declaration required under section 48 can be taken before a school master of a Government school.
