WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 9910, 16 December 1892, Page 5

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[rBOH OUB 0W:.7 OOBBUSHOIIIMBW?/! WELLINGTON, Duo. IS. There is a hitoh iu the Ohing enquiry.Mr Jellicoe, who reprseimts the petitioner, wanted to postpone the proceedings till I January, on account of his engagements, and applied for some assistance from the Government, his client being without means to pay counsel's fees and the expenses of witnesses. After consideration the Government determined that it would pay the expenses of all witnesses certified to by the Commissioner. This does not appear to be agreeable, and negotiations are proceeding. Newspaper opinion is divided, the morning paper holding that the payment of counsel's fea would bo a bad precedent. The controversy is sharp, Regarding the cable message about the establishment of Imperial penny postage, I learn, on enquiry at the post- office, that nothing baa been heard here from the London postal authorities that has a very important bearing on the case. As the Colonial post offices pay the cost on the Homeward mails, while the Imperial office pays that of the outward, unless the latter is prepared to pay the loss involved by the penny postage on both, the absence of consultation places the denial of the Imperial authorities beyond a doubt. No one, of course, exp cts th at the imperial authorities are likely to offer to pay both ways. On enquiry at the Labour Bureau, I learn that not a single application has yet bean received from any of the arrivals from Sydney. Mr Rees has written farther to the Premier about the Native Land question, and the Premier baa informed him that the points he has raised are under Ministerial consideration, and will be dealt with by a Bill next session. [Pbb Press Association.] The enquiry into the death of Ah Ching ia the Lunatic Asylum begins at 11 a.m. to-morrow. Another section of the Northern Trunk line will shortly be opened, bringing it within a mile or two of Makohine Gorge. A deputation, consisting of Dr Newman and Messrs Duthie and M'Lean, M.H.R.’s, waited on the Hon E. J. Seddon this morning, to urge him to call for tenders for the Makohine viaduct, on the ground that the line is under construction nine miles beyond, and the work would take two years to complete. Mr Seddon expressed himself as opposed to going on with it at present, as he did not believe in construction preceding settlement; and the negotiation for the acquisition of the Awarua block, through no fault of the Native Minister, is still backward. The work would cost £36,000, and it had been suggested that it ought not to bo entrusted to Colonial engineers, but he had faith in them, and had given orders for them to prepare the plans and hold them in readiness, He declined, however, to call for tandera now, not believing it to be in the interest of the Colony. Tho ironwork for the Makohine viaduct is to be obtained in the Colony. Tho work should be the largest of the kind ia New Zealand. The railway revenue from April 1 to Nov. 12 (7i months) is £676,000, as against £630,000 for the same period lest year. The expenditure for tho period this year v/aa £460.474, against £424,522 last year. In the number of passengers carried this year there is an increase of about 10 per cent, and about 16 per cent in cattle and sheep. In grain, merchandise, wool, &c., the increase has been about 8 per cent, while 22,000 more parcels were carried than during the same period last year. Government intends to introduce the Codlin Moth Bill next session, and is circulating copies. An Order-m-Couucil notifies that the “ Stamp Act, 1882,” has been amended in order to enable fees to bailiffs, under the “ Sheriffs Act, 1883,” being paid in money, if desirable. Monday, Dec. 26, and Monday, Jan. 3, will bo observed as holidays by the Customs Department. Messrs Davy, O’Brien, Mackay, Seannell, Ward, Barton, von Stunner and Gudgeon, Judges of the Native Land Court, have been authorised to exorcise jurisdiction under tho "Native Land Validation of Titles Act, 1892.”