WELLINGTON NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 124, 3 June 1885, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS.

(by telegraph—own correspondent.)

Wellington, %hi_ day. Otago Railway Appeal Board.

The Minister of Public Works has appointed a Railway Appeal Board for Otago, and the following are members :—Mr Carew, R.M. Mr W. H. Pearson, late Commissioner of Crown Lands, Otage ; and Mr James Robin.

Redaction in Railway Rates, The question of the railway rates for the carriage of native brown cool is under consideration, and a reduction will be gazetted Shortly, so as to allow it to compete with imported and other coal. Revenue and Excise Returns. The Customs revenue : collected in the colony far the last month was £107,834, as against £107,356 for the corresponding month of last year. The amounts collected at tbe principal ports last month were :—Auckland, £24,082 ; Wellington, £20,474 ; Lyttelton and Christchurch, £13,099; Dunedin, £29,730. The beer duty last month for tho colony was £4,185; while for the corresponding month of last year it was £4,219. The principal amounts last month were: Auckland, *947 ; Wellington, £391; Christchurch, £869; Dunedin, £467. Chambers of Commerce and the South Sea Trade. The Napier Chamber of Commerce having applied to Government for assistance to send a delegate to the islands of the South Pacific, with the view of obtaining information regarding the best means of opening up trade with .the islands, Sir Julius Vogel has replied granting a free passage by the subsidised steamer. He is also in communication with the Chambers of Commerce at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, offering similar concession, upon condition that the reports of the delegates shall be published, and not furnished in the form of confidential reports.

The Intercolonial Cable Rates.

With reference to the suggested reduction of cable rates, Sir Julius Vogel informs me that the subsidy to the Cable Company terminates next year. The Cable Company having applied to the Governments of New South Wales and New Zealand for & further subsidy towards the maintenance of the cable, the New Zealand Government bas replied to the effect that the cable now being in good working order should be maintained wholly by those who use it, and they therefore declined to join in a further subsidy. Tho Victorian Government then asked the New Zealand Government to reduce tho charges on the land lines ever which the cables messages are transmitted, but Government have declined to do so, failing to see why the senders of cable messages should enjoy a privilege which the Government are at present unable to extend to thoso who übo the land linos for ordinary purposes.