WELLINGTON NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 96, 25 April 1893, Page 2

WELLINGTON NOTES.

CLOSING OF THE WAIRARAPA i LAKE. THE SCOTtliurder CASEBANKERS AND BLUE RIBBON, % AN AUCKLANDER BANKRUPT.. THE PREMIER'S HEALTH. (BY TELEGRAPH. — OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, thia day, The Mangaonoho section of the main trunk line will be open for traffic next week, wh«B a tri-weekly service (Mondays, Thuradays t and Saturdays), will be run.

Sir Robert Stout is at presenb here, attending the Appeal Court case, Piripi v.. Matthews. When it was moved to "have tho case set down on bhe lisb of cases to ba dealt with, the mover, Mr Bell, stated thab it related to trouble between Europeans and natives as to closing the Wairarapa Lake, and was of grave importance. The application was granted, but the day for hearing was not fixed. The history of th& present action is shortly this : Last year the natives offered opposition to the opening of the lake, and after a good deal oi trouble it was eventually arranged that a friendly suit should be brought to determine " the matters in dispute. Hence the present actions. Twenty unemployed were sent to Eketahuna to work on that line this morning. A number of others will be despatched towards the end of the week to Stratford,. ' to work on the East Road. The case of Scott was to have been dealt with yesterday by the Executive, bub, owing to the illness of Mr Ballance and the absence of Mr Ward, consideration was, held over till the latter arrives from Dunedin, which he is expected to do on Wednesday. The French Government, through the English Ambassador, intimated that, recognising the growing importance of New Zealand, they had elevated their VicoConsul to the rank of Consul, and appointed Mr M. L. de Buchouche Vice-Consul, to the new office. At Manukau, Captain Fairchild, of the Hinemoa, bad a number of buoys painted J and overhauled on his trip down from, Auckland. The gold export for the March quarter was £208,797, againsb £46,074 for the same quarter of last year. The Rev. Isitt appears to have discovered that the bank managers here are opposed to any blue ribbon work being done behind bank counters. In his sermon on Sunday evening, he stated that ho had made inquiries on the subject, and found ib quite true, bub why or wherefore so queer a rule should prevail in banks was nob explained. The somewhat well-known G. W. Ell, of Chrisbchurch, is applying to the Appeal Courb against the decision of Judge Denniston, refusing him leave to become assignee of bis own estate in bankruptcy. Mr F. Watkinson, clerk, late ot Auckland, has filed a petition of bankruptcy; Being pressed by Auckland creditors (Messrs Wilson, Wilson and McCullagh).is given as the cause of his filing. Customs revenues for March quarter were £432,112, as against £445,952 for the corresponding quarter last year. Auckland oxhibited a decrease from £98,332 to £82,866 ; Wellington, a decrease from £92,698 to £86,079 ; Lyttelton, an increase from £70,754 tc £75,500 ; Dunedin, decrease from £106,608 to £101,069.

For the financial year the Customs revenue at the principal ports was—Auckland, £355,185 ; Wellington, £345,060 ;< Lyttelton, £272,046 ; Dunedin, £374,250. Referring to the statement that onlyy certain New Zealand newspapers, and only those of the right colour (whatever that colour may be) are allowed to be filed in the Agent-General's office, a well known Wellington resident now in London writes: "I found Mr Perceval very kind and obliging, also his officers. There is nob a quesbion, nob a paper from New Zealand but that they have at thoir finger ends. I do not know what colonials at Home would do without this office, and the way it is conducted ia a credit to New Zealand." The " Post " inserts the paragraph above quoted, and in this way makes tho amende honorable for previous reflections on the Department. Ministers point out thab the proposal of the Wellington Harbour Board and City Council to purchase Grainger-street site for the Te Aro railway goods station would involve waiting for the session, and asking the House for a vote with the risk of its being refused, and no goods station whatever erected. "Farming and Labour in New Zealand" is the title of an excellent little work prepared by Mr Perceval for the information of intending settlers. Ib conbains sixty pages of well selecbed matter, and is published ab sixpence. / Up to the time of despatching, this message, the Premier is getting: on as well as could be expected. All his friends are intensely anxious about him, for in the country there i 3 not a more popular man.