WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9650, 16 February 1892, Page 6

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[Pm Press Association. 1 f WELLINGTON, Feb. 15. A presentation. At the General Post Office, this morning, » presentation of a collection of plate Hwas made to Mr J. K. Warhurton tha Public Trustee. The Hon J. G. Ward, when making the presentation, spoke at considerable length, referring to the i cervices - rendered to the Post ' and Telegraph Department during the twentyeight years Mr Warburton - had been connected with the Department; The whole- of the Post -and Telegraph lervioe had been canvassed for the (•presentation, and not the_ slightest I difficulty ' was experienced in raising I sufficient for the valuable present. Messrs , Ballance and Buckley also added I their testimony to the wmth of Mr ' Warburton, the former defending the i Government in its selection of him as I Public Trustee. The Government, he said, had preferred to search the Civil Service for an officer, rather than select a lawyer ior a commercial man. He believed they had got the right man in the right place. -Since Mr Warburton became the Public Trustee he had completely -restored the confidence of the public in the office, THE CHICAGO EXHIBITION. The Government has not appointed any "Commissioner for the Chicago Exhibition ; in fact, there is a hitch about the representation of the Colomy. Some Committees want the Government to buy the, exhibits outright, which the Minister for Public Works flatly refuses to do._ If a majority of the Committees take this line he will probably throw the matter up altogether j but if satisfactory arrangements can be made be proposes to ask Parliament to vote .£SOOO more. ; ’ the railways. The Bailway Commissioners have not received any report on the damage to the southern lines, but the cost of repairs and loaa of traffic will make it very difficult, if not impossible, to pull up arrears this year. DEPARTMENTAL. The Government has decided that the absorption of the Native Department in the Joatioe and Lands Departments shall take place within the next few weeks. The Hon W. Pj Reeves will have the title of Native Minister, but there will be no separate' department. The Hon A. J. Cadman assumes charge of the Marine, the Stamps and the Hospital Departments, and also takes over part of the Colonial Secretary’s work. The proposed amalgamation of the Marine and Public Works Departments is partially abandoned. In the absorption of the Native Department in other Government Departments' the Native Land Courts and the present recording staff will be taken over by the Justice Department, and the Native Land Purchase Department will be placed under the Minister for Lands. By these changes the necessity for an Under-Secretary for Native Affairs is abolished. Mr Cadman sftunates that the saving' will be £IOOO per annum. . ; THE GOVERNOR. The Hon P. A. Buckley will accompany the Governorto Auckland. His Excellency, Bow that the race meeting is put off, will probably break the journey at Wanganui. Lord Onslow leaves here on Wednesday. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Cabinet meetings were held on Saturday and to-day for discussing the appointments to the Legislative Council. There was ■ome consultation between the Governor and the Premier, but they could not agree u to the number of new members to be appointed, and Lord Onslow has now decided to leave the matter for his successor. Lord Glasgow, to deal with. THE POSTMASTER- GENERAL. The Bon J. G. Ward sailed for the south this afternoon. LABOUR BUREAU. The Premier to-night received a cable massage from the Premier of New ( South Wales, anuouncing the establishment of a Labour Bureau there, and wishing it to be clearly understood that the institution is not to be construed into one whereby men may obtain relief, nor will any relief works be established by the New South Wales Government. In order to prevent any misconception on the part of unemployed aa to the purpose for which the Bureau is aatablisbed, Mr Ballance was asked to give the communication every publicity. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.! THE COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS. There will be no more Legislative Council appointments during the present Governorship, the matter being lett over for Lord Onslow's successor to deal with. A certain number of names were inscribed on a list, which the Governor was asked to appoint. The number was by no means large enough to swamp the Council. The Premier, I hear, said the Government did not even ask for enough to give it a majority in the Council, but it did want enough to get its measures fairly treated. On crucial divisions in the Council the Government side numbered the noble minority of five. Five—eighteen was the record over and over again. It waa this which the Government wanted to remedy, and many of its opponents in the Council have admitted over and over again that it had the right. Since that admission was made last year the minority of five has been reduced, one baying gone Home for good, the Hon Mr Wilson, and two have fallen seriously ill, for which reasons the list waa drawn np and presented to the Governor. A slight difference arose about the numbers, and before the discussion had got far it was thought advisable to postpone the matter as above indicated.