WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 9446, 22 June 1891, Page 6

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

ITBOM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.*I . - : WELLINGTON, June 20. TBM INEBRIATE HOME PBOJECT. Mr Shara'a proposal to tax circus and theatre and totalisator tickets, and with, the fund* obtained to provide homes for inebriates, is a humane measure, and I expect there will be an interesting debate ok two on the Bill. Mr Shera, however, is more assured of the excellence of his fftKiwwa frfryf n/iufidnnfc '-its passage, into the'surer'haven of the Statute Book. ■ , the quill case. I have made some further inquiry about the Quill case, which Mr M'Kenzie the other day brought up in the House. The papers, correspondence, &c., that I have i had an opportunity of seeing, prove beyond a'doubt that, so far as the officers of the survey party, 1 of which the deceased wae a 1 member, were concerned, they were not to blame for the sad affair. Mr M'Eenzie’a speech conveyed an imputation upon them, which the circumstances, as set forth, do not support. It appears to be unquestionable that the deceased volunteered to go to the fatal spot to plant a fh g , that he had frequently been there before, and that be left a note saying that be would go on a little exploring expedition ■on bis own account. His going away was quite voluntary. Any apparent resistance on the part of the engineer to send anyone out in search of the missing man arose from a momentary, and very natural hesitation to send men oat into a dangerous .country. That the parents feel the loss of the youth, and the loss of income they derived from him is natural, and that they should endeavour to obtain- from the Government some compensation, but it is not right that officers in the public service should be lightly charged with a most rare crime, viz,, actual inhumanity to subordinates. I don’t, believe, from my knowledge of the officers of the public service in this Colony, that such a charge could be sustained against any of them. . - SIB GEOHQK AND THE LABOUB BILLS. ■ The labour delegates thought, at first that Sir George Grey’s reception of their labour-legislative proposals ' was a wet blanket, and they stared blankly at each otfaqr when the knight remarked, “ Well, yon see, I feel, no enthusiasm; about them, but I will help to get them through for ypu.” But when subsequently Sir George explained that his chief solicitude now was to secure a perfect freedom of Constitution, leaving special legislation to follow, they saw he was steadfastly bent upon the grand complete reform which has been the...aim., of bis declining years. I doubt whether that bent figure will live to be the guest of an elective Governor, the elder, brother of an elective Opuncil, or the Mentor qf an elective House 5 but 11 do know that the memory of his wonderful, fascinating personality, of his self-renunciation and apostolic zeal, will live ever green. It may not be his “ to scatter plenty o’er a smiling land, and rpad his history in a nation’s eyes,” but it will be his to be embalmed in the grateful remembrance of the. ages and enshrined in their venerable regard. PUBLIC OPINION. Public opinion is settling down into a strong conviction of the soundness of the Ministerial policy, and there is a general determination to give it a fair chance. The administration of the departments is being carried on with vigour, and all the branches of .the public service are in a state bt the utmost efficiency. TH.S POST AND TELEGRAPH SERVICE. The reforms contemplated by Mr Ward are of a highly practical character. The scheme is as creditable to the heart as to the head of the Postmaster-General. Especially is the measure of encouragement given to message boys commendable. There are people who object to allow message boys to take rank with operators, after .tfieir term of message service baa expired, without going through the probation of cadetship, but the Postmaster-General b'plds, that message boys, who frequently dome frpm bumbler homes, than cadets, tfjould not be debarred by the lowliness of ' their station from any of the rewards open ■ to merit, - It is quite needless, to comment ofttMaphilanthropie and »dmirable ; eoheme, bnt, Lffl*y say thaS- the present holder of the -Office-of, Postmaster-General is one of the mpst energetic, practical and admirable Ministers that, ever helped to mould the destinies, of the Colony, and I must add a word • of. congratulation to the message beys; Prom the gallery the Press men have a good many opportunities of observing the useful youngsters, and I think our verdict is wholly in their favour for their; civility, and intilligence and efficiency. POLICEMEN. The Premier received a deputation from . the Municipal Conference this morning, and promised that instructions would bo given the policemen throughout the Colony to enforce Borough by-laws. Why this -was not done years ago I really cannot «ay.’ It has been asked for repeatedly, but unfortunately the police have been able to oppose a steady resistance to the proposal. THE ALIENS BILL. The Hon Mr.Seddon’e Bill abolishes fees for naturalisation. Except as to Chinese if provides that children of naturalised persona brought into the Colony shall be .deemed to be naturalised. • notices or- motion. The Hon W. P. Beeves is to move on Tuesday that Standing Order No. 178 be suspended, and that a Select Committee, consisting of twelve members, be appointed, to which shall be referred, after their second reading, the Shop Hours Bm, the factories Bill, the Employers Liability Bill the Truck Bill and the Industrial Conciliation Bill; three to be a quorum; thd Committee to consist of Mr Buchanan, Mr Buokland. Mr Duthie, Mr Earnshaw, Mr Pish, Mr J. Kelly. Mr Palmer, Mr Pinkerton, Captain Russell, Mr Tanner, Mr Wright and the mover. Joyce is to move for a return showing the number of Volunteers on the rolls of the various corps of the Colony on May 1. 1889. and May 1,1891, giving the numbers of enrolled men of each corps, stating if under or over the minimum strength, as required by the Volunteer Regulations; also, showing bow many, and the names of those corps which earned capitation for the years 1888 and 1890, together with the amount paid, to each corps for capitation during the years last named. Mr O’Conor is to move (1) that a rota be formed, to consist of the Chairmen of Com-eittew-of theJEouae of Representatives, to

provide for the service of a Chairman ofCommittee for the House, and that the salary voted be divided between those who discharge the duties. (2) That in the interest of settlement to give a home to, and effect economy in the maintenance of, aged, decrepit, and destitute persons, also to give employment and a hopeful prospect to the industrious employed; it is desirable that blocks of suitable land be set aside and placed under competent management, where, under proper regulations, persons may combine to clear, cultivate, and improve the land, and to receive instruction in the practice of suitable industries, the State to find the first outlay and cost of the establishment, and give credit for the maintenance of the home ; the produce to bo devoted to the maintenance of the workers, additions to stock, &c., and the maintenance of the home; and, at the expiration of a given time, say six years, two-thirds of the land, with the stock and improvements, shall be allotted to the workers, in just proportions, on a perpetual lease, at a rent estimated upon the land value, without improvements. PETITIONS. Among the petitions laid on the table to-day were the following;—By Mr Pinkerton, from H. C. Young, Ricearton, for legislative interference on his behalf, to secure for him justice, he having, as ha alleges, sustained ruin at the hands of Messrs Harper, Hanmer, Ford and Ollivier; by Mr Joyce, from Hayward Bros., pickle makers, of Christchurch, praying for the abolition of the duty on picile-bottle bungs. MISCELLANEOUS. Nothing is transpiring this morning. There is a general feeling of satisfaction at the progress of business during the week. The debate on the financial proposals will take place on Tuesday, but no intimation of really hostile criticism has bean given by the other side. The Labour Bills are under the consideration of the Conference, the sitting of which will probably extend over the whole of next week. Mr Perceval is certain of the Chairmanship of Committees. I have just had a conversation with a prominent Oppositionist, who assures me that no organised opposition will be offered to the financial proposals, but merely criticism. He believes some in mercantile circles are hostile.