WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9759, 23 June 1892, Page 5

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[tBOM OUR OWN COKKESPOKDBKT.I WELLINGTON, Jttjte 22. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

The Governor's Address, at the opening of Parliament, is receiving the finishing, touches in the Cabinet to-day. I expect i that the Address will refer to the prosperJ ouß condition o£ the Colony, as evidenced by the returning population, the icereasing revenue, and the rapid settlement of the land, Complimentary allusions are mads to the operationsof the Labour Bureau and osso-operative contracts, andthearrangemerit with the Maori King. Legislation wi'/l be promised, dealing with the eleotoral fr anchise, the acquisition of Native lands, labour statistics, a relief farm, pensions of Government employees, and other subjects. The Land Bill and Industrial Conciliation Bill will be introduced, with economic administration, a judicious limitation of Public Works expenditure in the hope to seduce the direct burden of taxation, which will also in future fall with more equal incidence. No new Eailway works are promised, but Colonial borrowing is hinted at for the purpose of completing arterial lines. WOHAIT FRANCHISE. Ministers have a splendid coup in store on the subject of womaubood franchise. Tbe Electoral Bill to be introduced for the purpose of completing: the one-man-one-vote principle will contain clauses extending the franchise to women on the same terms as men. This is expected to prove a trump card. The measure is still under the consideration of the Cabinet. CUSTOMS. With reference to rumours circulated regarding intended changes in the Customs dudes, I have the best authority for saying that they are utterly without foundation. Ministers have their bands so full with measures affecting the welfare of the people, such as the Electoral, L%nd and Labour Bills, that they would not this year attempt a readjustment of the tariff. EAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. Most important and valuable news has just reached me concerning the intentions of the Ministry with r gard to railway construction and the question oft borrowing. . Ministers will not propose to construct any new lines, but will liy before Parliament proposals for tbe continuation of main trunk lines. Th«sd wilt include the Otago Central, the Midland and the North Island trunk lines. I have positive authority for saying that Ministers will not propose borrowing in the English market, but will find money for railway construction by debentures and other means within the Colony. BANKRUPTCY BILL. A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce waited upon tbe Eon W. P. Beeves to-day, urging tbat the new Bankruptcy Bill should be introduced, in the early part of tbe session, and an effort made to have it passed. Mr Beeves, in rep'y, said that the Bill would be introduced at an early stage, and he saw no reason wby it &hould not become law, provided it was not obstructed or fiercely debated. Be thought it a good Bill, and it had sufficient consideration by Select Committees last year to obviate any necessity for again referring it to them. He knew of no foundation for rumours that the Government did not intend to go on with the Bill. At the request of Mr Gale (President of the Chamber), Mr Beeves promised to forward to the various Chambers tbe amendments adopted in the Bill last year,in order that they might consider them at once, and communicate their views. SIB P. BUCKLEY. The speeches at the banquet to be tendered to Sir P. Buckley to-morrow night will be purely of a complimentary nature, as the Committee has decided to ei-clude politics and religion from the subjects touched upon. TEH CHBIBTCHUECH UNEMPLOYED. Messrs Taylor, Sandford and 'Janner waited on the Minister- for- Labour to-day, and represented tbat a large number of men were out of employment in,Christchurch. Mr Beeves replied that seventy men had already been placed by the Bureau, and that'Mr Tregear had been sent to Cdristohuroh to deal with tbe question. Subsequently the three Christchurch members and Mr Tanner waited on tbe Minister for Lands to further represent the matter. Mr M'Kenzie said that employment wou'd ba found at Quail Island, where works had been decided upon for making tbat . place the chief stock quarantine ground for the South Island. He added tbat a bridge over the Bealsy would be put in hand at once to make the road available for opening up Crown lands. The quartette then visited the Minister for Mines, and asked him if he could see his way to spend money on the High Peaks road, in the Malvern district. Mr said that if a Mining Association were formed under the Mining Regulations, there was provision for a grant of pound for pound up to £SOO for either road-making or prospecting purposes. [Peb Pbess ASSOCIATION.] CALEDONIAN CONVBBSAZIdKS. The Caledonian Society entertained the Earl and Couhteas.of Glasgow at a conversazione this evening. Among those present were the, Premier and Mra Ballauce and the Speaker of the House of jiepresenta" tives. An address was presented to His Excellency, which, after espreesingpleasure at the appointment of a fellow Scotchman to the hign office of Governor of the Colony, and continued devotion to Her Majesty, went on to say : ■"ln this remote part of the Empire, you will find climate and soil fitted to encourage industry, and to promote the health and happiness of the people, scenery varied and attractive, and practically no poverty." In replying, Lord Glasgow said before leaving for the Colony he had been informed by a previous Governor, Sir George Bowen, of the magnificent country he was proceeding to, but he was surprised at tbe beautiful surroundings of Wellington. The Countess and ho had found that they were comfortably and | happily placed, and he had no doubt they would spend a happy five yean in the Colony. I THZ CABLE f.TEAIIEK. I The cable repairing stetmer Terrsnora was taken on the slip to-day for her final j overhaul, and it is expected that she will start operations on Saturday, I