WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9489, 11 August 1891, Page 5

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[prom our own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, August 10. THE MACQUARXES. To-day tbe Public Petitions Committee resumed its investigation of tho claim or request of Mr Hitch: Captain Fairchild was examined. Ho gave evidence similar to that given by him at an enquiry in 1890. Mr Hatch cross-examined him at some length, and subsequently resumed his own statement. Tho Committee adjourned about one. o’clock, and will probably sit again on Wednesday and come to a decision. There seems to be a general feeling here that Mr Hatch has been badly treated. THE LABOUR BILLS, The Select Committee of the Upper House has to-day considered the Shop Hours Bill. Mr I). P. Fisher, Secretary to tho Trades and Labour Council, was examined; also, Mr Johnson, of the Shop Assistants’ Union. Further evidence is to be taken on the subject before the Committee reports. AN INTERVAL. There has been a dead calm in the lobbies to-day. Beyond the Sessional Committees nothing has been doing. Even Dame Rumour would have slept had she not been disturbed by the assiduous fabricators who have of late been so intent upon the Agent-Generalship. The latest, and perhaps the most stupid of their inventions, is that the Premier and the Minister for Education are rivals for the post, and that the Premier is sure to win. It is a pity that so much inventive talent should be wasted. THE LABOUR BUREAU. The Labour Bureau has “ placed ” all the men who came here yesterday by the Hinemoa. During the last few days one hundred men have obtained employment through its agency. The beneficial effects of the institution under the able direction of Mr Tregear ate daily more apparent. the exodus. The exodus to Sydney is now confined to shearers, who are tempted across by the exceptional rate of pay, £1 per hundred, and the promised abundance of work, THE TAXATION BILL. The Taxation Bill will be gone on with to-morrow, and carried through without interruption of other business. NAVAL AND MILITARY CLAIMS. The Committee has, I believe, dealt with cases received up to date. In its report tomorrow it will recommend that a Royal Commission be appointed to deal with future cases. BUSINESS. It is improbable that the Criminal Code Bill will be brought down this session. The Workman’s Lien Bill is to be brought down this week. I have just seen the Premier, who looks remarkably well after his short trip. He intends going on with the Taxation Bill. Tho Civil Service Bill will be dropped for this session, the Civil Service Association having placed in his hands some very drastic amendments, which cannot, at this advanced period of the session, be properly considered. This is not the Glassification Bill, as I believe some of your contemporaries have stated. THE AUDIT OFFICE. The Auditor-General has forwarded to the Premier a notification to the effect that further assistance is needed in his department, a paper which Mr Ballance will lay on the table to-morrow.