WELLINGTON NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1904, Page 5

WELLINGTON NOTES.

SCENERY PRESERVATION COMMISSION. (By Telegraph.— Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. j Public opinion in Wellington is that | the Government has made a wise choice in its selection of the gentlemen who have been recommended for approval by the Governor as commissioners under the Scenery Preservation Act of hist session, all Act which provides for 1 2s\<*', l i'. ,i A i, d 1 . 1 e.4i. or" J Gn hie!, here are thermal springs. Three members of the Commission have an intimate acquaintance with the lands of the colony almost, from end to end. Mr Percy Smith was Surveyor-General for very many years, and in that position took a very active part in the settlement of land under various Governments. Mr J. W. A. Marchant. who succeeded him in that position two or three years ago, had also had a large experience as Crown Lands Commissioner in both the North and South Islands, while "Mr G. Matthews. Chief Government Forester, has had experience in that capacity. As then* are many old Maori battle grounds which if is desirable-to preserve, and the inclusion of Major Tikiorang'i. as representing the Maori race, should greatly facilitate the work of the Commission in this direction. THE WELLINGTON LOAN. To all appearances the price at which the Wellington corporation loan has been lloated is very satisfactory. The loan is for the following works*.— £22,3.000 for tramways. £50.000 for Town' Hall, and £5.->,060 for street paving. It wa.s recently stated that a Durban municipal loan had netted £07, but this, according to London files to hand, should l»ve "been 97 gross, with which price the Wellington loan, lloated at CM compares favourably, the market baring hardened since that date. A Johannesburg municipal loan of C 1.500.000 was also issued in December at £'.)."". gross, or 1 per cent, lower than the Wellington issue. MORE RETIREMENTS PROBABLE. Rumour is busy with the names of several prominent public service olli-,-ials, whose services, it is said, Will shortly be dispensed with. At the present time no information of a reliable character can be gained as to the individuals concerned. It is known, however that reductions of a somewhat sweeping nature have been in contemplation lor some time, and this is ullc-ed to be one of 1 he subjects winch lias "engrossed so much of the Cabinet -a attention during the current week. SIR JOSEPH WARD. Sir Joseph Ward took his departure for the South ou Saturday evening, it beiii" his intention to inspect works now in progress at llanmer sanatorium., to open a new railway station at Kaiapoi. and to lay the foundation-stone of new posi and telegraph buildings in that town. PENDING APPOINTMENTS. Nothing has vet been done in regard to auditorship of the Bank of New Zealand, the managership of the State Fire Insurance Department, and other important appointments, but 1 have excellent authority for stating that these matters will be finally settled at next Thursday's Cabinet meeting.