WELLINGTON NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 17, 21 January 1898, Page 2

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(By Telegraph—Own Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, this clay

THE BUSH FIRES,

The Hon. Walker, in accordance with a promise made by the Premier, visits the scene of the recent destructive bush fires, with a view to deciding upon the aid to be given by the Government. It is understood the Agricultural Department is arranging to supply seed where needed.

NATIVE SCHOOLS.

Two additional native schools are to be proceeded with, at Waimana and Ohiwa, in the Urewera country. An application was recently received from a clergyman at Makau for a native school there, but the policy of the Education Department is only to establish schools where the natives evince, an earnest desire for such institutions and are prepared to set aside land for school buildings and playgrounds. , In other localities where schools were opened without any earnest desire on the part of the' Maoris, but from a philanthropic feeling on the part of the Government, the attendance rapidly dwindled down, and ultimately the schools were closed. Taught by experience, the Department now takes care to assure itself that the natives are sufficiently alive to the benefit of education to render success certain.

THE KING COUNTRY.

Talking to a leading official in the Lands and Survey Department to-day, I learned that a very largo area of land recently purchased by the Government in the King Country will, during the present year, be thrown open for settlement, including some of the best agricultural land and limestone country between Otorohanga and Mokau. In mercantile circles in Wellington the fact is clearly recognised that completion of railway communication with Auckland and settlement of the King Country will impart a tremendous impetus to the progress of the northern province.

ASYLUMS.

The evening journal declares that our Asylums and other institutions are disgracefully starved, and their deficiencies can be traced in the main to the inhuman niggardliness of the treasury, also that accommodation is notoriously insuflicient, and itis practically impossible for the medical attendants to adopt a proper system of classification, epileptics, sufferers from senile decay, and convalescents being compelled to herd together in a way injurious to their mental, if not their physical, health. The article goes on to say that lack of funds or parsimony prevents the department from employing as attendants men really skilled in the treatment of the insane, and it hints that undue force is applied to refractory patients. This addition to the evil effects of overcrowding and lack of skilled attendants must raise .suspicion in the public mind. WORKMEN'S VILLAGE. The property acquired by the Government at Johnsonville for a workmen's village is being sub-divided into 39 sections of from one to fifty-live acres, which are to be offered for lease in perpetuity on February 28. Tlie new village is seven miles from Wellington. THE HESSIAN FLY. Mr Kirk, Government biologist, has reported to the Agricultural Department that the Hessian fly has established itself in force in Waimate district. It is proposed that some of its natural enemies be liberated in the infected localities. THE GUMFIELDS COMMISSION. The period allowed for investigation by the Gumflelds Commission has been extended from February Ist to the Ist of March, a good deal of time having been consumed in securing witnesses.