WELLINGTON NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 74, 31 March 1897, Page 5

WELLINGTON NOTES.

\_ (by telegraph.—own correspondent.-)

Wellington, thia day. LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT. Thb Governmenb haa decided, after unsuc' ceaaful nogotiationa with tha proprietor, Mr Parvea Rusaell, to acquire the Woburn o?tate of 27,000 acrea, near Waipukurau, Hawke'a Bay, under the compulsory sections of the Land for Setblemont Act. , With the exception of being surface-sown tho land is in iba natural state. A demand for Crown land has existed in this district for a considerable period, which explains the Government's anxiety to secure the Woburn eatato, the quality of the land being alao good. It will be remembered that the Ardgowan estate in Otago is tho only other case in which the compulsory sections of the Act havo beon enforced. Roapecting land purchases in obher districts, the Land Purchaso Department ia ab presenb considering several offers of esbabes, but negobiabiona have nob yeb reached the stage that anything can be published aboub them ; also, aa there exist ab presenb liabilities on bhe Albury, Arowhenua and Tokorahi estates amounbing to botvveon £150,000 and £160,000, ib will be recognised that with only £250,000 per annum ab its command bho Governmenb cannob purchase all bhe esbabes offered, or even those the purchase of which is considered necessary. The earth hunger in tbo Oamaru district appears to be unsatisfiod, as bho Department are almost weekly in receipt of roquests that more eatatss ahould be purchased. WELLINGTON SUBURBS. The selecbion Opposition candidate for Suburbs has been narrowed down to two, the Hon. Hislop and Mr A. R. Atkinson. Those who may be preaumed to 3peak with a certain amount of knowledga over the latter will be ultimately chosen. PROPOSED DOCK AT WELLINGTON. Referring to the proposed dock tor Wellington, the " Posb " says :—" Whether the dock pays immediately or nob, it is necessary and essenbial bhab a porb of such importance as Wellington should havo its own Graving Dock. It is ono of che first ossenbials of a maritime metropolis, and, in fact, the furnishing of the port ia as incomplete withoub a dock, to use a homely illustration, as a diningroom furnishing would be incomplete withoub a bable. Besides, strange as ib may seem, it sometimes pays to lose money. Tradesmen know thia perfectly well, and very often sell one or two articles under cost prico to increase their trade in other articles." RAILWAY OFFICERS EXECUTIVE. The meeting of the Executive of the Railway Ofiicera Inatibuto haa been postponed till after Parliament haa sat. WORKMEN'S HOMES. A block of land 320 acrea in area haa been acquired by tho Governmenb ab Johnaonville, a few miloa from Wellingbon, on bho Manawabu line, for the purpose of 1 putting up workmen's homes. An attempt 1 to secure a suitable block at Lower Hutb, on the Wairarapa line, proved unsuccessful, as tbe prico asked was prohibitive, and the 1 Governmenb were compelled to acquire 1 land where it could be got at a reasonable price and of suibable qualiby and distance.