OUR SPECIAL INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8726, 23 February 1894, Page 5

OUR SPECIAL INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS

WELLINGTON NOTES.

February 22. I gather from the Premier that his speech at Shannon will be mainly devoted to Native matters, but that he will not unlikely have something to say upon railway afiairs and the recent change of Commissioners, Upon the Native question be will indicate the nature and scope of his intended mission to the Natives. A statement having obtained currency that the Government had settled upon a variation of the tariff for protective purposes, I to-day solicited information from the Premier on the subject. I did not get it, tar, while smiliDg blandly, he declined to make the smallest sign. Notwithstanding this inscrutability I have reason to think that some variation of the incidence of Customs taxation is contemplated. There will probably be a remission of duty upon certain products imported that are or may be required for use in local factories, ana the duties thus remitted will be further imposed upon certain goods already protected that can be rnaniifactnred locally. The expenditure, or lack of it, on the Otago Central being of considerable interest just now, I uked the Premier for some details. Mr Seddon courteously handed mc his official reply to the Southern members oa the subject, from which I tafce the following figures:—Amount voted £45,000, expenditure up to dale £29,497, liabilities £14,669. In. addition to this, there has been issued to the line during the current year permanent) way material to the value of £10,650, making a gross total for the year of £54,816. The expenditure on permanent way material has not been charged to the £45,000 vote. "No other live in New Zealand," says the Premier, will show so large an expenditure during the year." The Premier supplied mc with some items of expenditure iv the South Island that wilt prove of general as well as local interest. £hey represent Government expenditure in the South since the advent of the present Government to office. In Otago and Southland—Railways £117,503. public build iugs £22,593, harbour defences £1698, telegraph extension £21,561, roaJs aud bridges (Lands department) £63,115, do (Mine 3 department) £18,863; total £245,339. For all the other districts of the South Island for the same period the expenditure it stated as foiloivs :—Railways £93,122, public buildings £lr£l4o, harbour defences £2600, lighthouses £9000, telegraph extension £15,123, roads and bridges (Land Department) £51,285, roads aud bridges (Mines Department) £3434, total £232,685.

I to-day had an opportunity of asking Mr Seddon if the statement freely made that twenty-five per cent, of the co-opera-tive labourers had received notice to discontinue work waa true. Mr Scddou explained that what had been done wa3 on all fours with the practice of the Department in former years, namely, to reduce the number of hands afc harvest time, when work was wanted and offering in other directions. In any such red uctiou of number the single men are the first to go, and in all cases married men with families, locally resident, have a preference. I hear that Mrs Plimmer, a veey capable lady, who was a prominent supporter of Sir Robert Scout for the city, will offer herself for election to the local Licensing Committee. She is au ardent supporter of the temperance party, who will command large support from the moderates for her ability and worth. Her own party should vote solid, in which event she will probably be elected. . .' ' .