JOTTINGS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8929, 20 October 1894, Page 7

JOTTINGS.

' The Government contemplate the importation of some of the - Idlest and most improved'fruit evaporators, to be exhibited at work in various parts of the colony for the purpose of encouraging the fruit growing industry. Mr George Hutchison, returning again to the charge, has extracted an assurance from the Treasurer that the return of revenue and expenditure for the quarter ending 30th September last will appear in this week's Gazette. The Premier saye he is not' in favour of the closure rules of the House of Commons, though in hie opinion legislation has been obstructed during the present session. He would, however, amend the Standing Orders to further limit the time for speaking in Committee. The widow of the telegraph station master who was one of the victims of the Tophouse tragedy is to be offered a position as postmistress, at £70 per annum. If she prefers it, she can have the allowance to a widow usual in such cases. ~ Mr Hogg is much exercised that the Inspeatbr-Geueral of Hospitals is collecting information from the Benevolent Boards concerning the amount of ohartyable aid dispensed to Chinamen, aad by some remarkable process of reasoning assumes it to be ft subtle move in the interest of the " yellow agony." Iβ it meant as a counter-move in favour of Chinese immigration? he asked. The Minister for Labour re-assured the member for Masterton by stating that what was being done was really at the instigation of the House, the member for Ashley having asked for a return of all Asiatics within the colony now receiving this form of relief.

Replying to Mr Joyce, the Premier yesterday stated that it would probably cost from £80,000 to £90,000 to widen the Lyttelton tunnel for a doable line. Hβ h«d no estimate of the cost of opening the Samner estuary aad of the formation of a ship canal thence to Ghristohurcb. For his own part he thought it too soon to project such aa undertaking.