SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9007, 21 January 1895, Page 2

SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

POLITICAL AND GENERAL,

(The chief—indeed the only—events of any importance which have occurred in the political world during the past month were the Premier's speech at Hokitika, supplemerited by another a few days later at Napier, and the proposed departure of the Colonial Treasurer oa a visit to England. Mr. Wakd's action in leaving the colony for four or five during such an important portion of the financial year, has been very strongly criticised, especially in view of the fact that it is stated he is going Home mainly about his private affairs. This statement does not, of course, come from Mr Ward or the Government of which he is a member. On the contrary, the Colonial Treasurer himself informed our Wellington correspondent that he was proceeding to England *'with the unanimous approval of his colleagues, who have deputed him to attend to matters of an important character aQecting the welfare of the colony." He would return About the middle of May. On the other hand, a Wellington paper asserts , plainly that " the first the Premier heard of his colleague's intention of visiting England was a telegram from Mr Ward. Mr Seddon himself openly etated this during his holiday trip. Mr Wabd's intended visit to England was decided upon by Mr Waed to meet exigenoies of his own private affairs. The idea of giving him a mission on public business was an after-thought, intended to remove the objections urged to the original proposal, and, at the same time, afford an excuse for Mr Wabd retaining his seat in the Ministry and travelling at the public expense." The Premier has since stated that Mr Wabi> is going Home on matters connected with the mail service. It is particularly unfortunate for Mr Wabd that just when his visit • to England is being discussed on all aides the returns of the revenue for the first three quarters of the financial year should be published. These figures do not quite agree with the perpetual boast of the present Ministry that New Zealand was never more prosperous than she is now under their reign. So far from this being the case, there is a prospect of a deficiency at the end of the year of something m very much like a quarter of a million, and this in spite of the fact that the estimate of the yearns revenue was £133,000 less than that aotually received last year. In pursuance of the railway extension policy recently foreshadowed by the Premier, it is on the cards that the Government will shortly take over theWellington-Manawatu * Railway Company's line. Ie is understood, however, that the purchase of the line will sot necessarily require a fresh loan, as the debentures of the Company, amounting to eorae £80,000, were issued subject to conversion into Government securities at any time the country might take over the railway. The amount at which the polling ■took and later improvements are valued will, in all probability, be met by a further issue of debentures covered by the property . Acquired. Mount Cook, which has hitherto defied the efforts of ajl the Alpine climbers who essayed to ascend it, hat at last been conquered by two Timaru mountaineers, Messrs Ftvb and Graham, who surmounted the monarch of New Zealand mountains on Boxing Day. They scaled the highest and middle peak, and were part of the way up the lowest peak. They made their ascents from the Hooker side, from a bivouac 9000 ft,, up. Mr Ftvb says that they were very fortunate, in regard to the weather, and found the ice in splendid order, favourable Jbifoumstanoes that may not attend future # expeditions. Considerable satisfaction was expressed that the feat had been performed toy New Zealanders, but regret was felt that Messrs O. E. MannseiKo and M. ■ J. 'Dixon, who had been so often beaten • to their attempt* on this mountain, i Were not sharers in its ultimate , defeat. At the present time another party, . including Mr Fitzobbald, of Alpine Club fame, who is accompanied by J. Zoabbio- ; aw, a Swiss guide, are encamped at the foot of Mount Cook, awaiting a favourable opportunity of attempting its ascent. The development of the New Zealand timber trade with England is exciting con- ' aiderable attention,ond means of testing, the English market are being adopted by the Government. One hundred thousand feet of sawn timber, which is to be sent Home by the Government, and for which the Anokland Kauri Timber Company's tender was accepted, is to be shipped by the Matoari, w.hioh leaves for London shortly. tThe Kauri Timber Company is supplying £0,000 feet, and the other 50.000 they have distributed among the local milk. The Company's own shipment has been very earefaUy prepared, and it is confidently stated that no better lot of timber was ever ihipped from the colony. The Land Purchase Commissioners have been making selections of land in the riflfnity of Christchurch, with a view to the Government acquiriug a sufficient area under.the Land for Settlements Act for the purposes ol close settlement. The result oi the defeat of the Midland Hallway Bill last session is now seen in the shape) of a notice of arbitration which has been served upon Mr. Seddox, as Minister of Public Works, by the Company, with a : further notice warning the Government not to alienate any of the land included in map Bl attached to the contract, over whioh the Company olaima a lien. The claim tor j damages to be preferred by the Company against the colony on the points on which arbitration is demanded, will, it is said , amount to about £1,500,000. . With regard to the proposal to include New Zealand in the Vancouver Mail Service the Postmaster-General informs the Press Association Jhat an offer was made to the ftew Zealand Government by the HuddartParker Company to run a fast connecting steamer between Fiji and Auckland or Wellington. The master was considered by the Government, and it was thought better to have the direct steamers themselves if possible to come on and touch at Auckland pr Wellington at the option of the contractors, and .the Post-master-General of New South Wales was asked whether that colony would be agree* able to allow the steamers to come on to New Zealand. The Government is in favour of establishing a direct mail service via Van* couver, alternating every fortnight with the San Francisco service. In the negotiations for a connecting service it was contemplated to include Samoa as well as Fiji, this suggestion being made by the New Zealand Government. The whole matter is at pro sent one of negotiation, and nothing what* ever has been fixed. The Huddart Parker Company offered to build a special steamer of fast power, to connect at Fiji, for a subsidy of £10,000 a year. It is stated that the Union Company are holding an enquiry of their own into the loss of the Wairarapa, jJroceedioge are being conducted jnivacy that it is impossible to new facts have been elicited. A very strong feeling exists, it is said, among the officers of the Union Company at the aspersions Which have been cast upou the characters of their colleagues of the Wairarapa. The inhabitants of Scotland have some* thing to look forward to. At • recent

meeting of the Dunedin Gaelic Sooiety the Hon. J. M'Kenzie referred to evictions in Scotland, and said they would have » Lands for Settlement Act there. After he retired from office he hoped to be able to re-visit Scotland and address them on the land question.