WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIX, Issue 9994, 24 March 1893, Page 6

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

OTT> OWN CORRISPONDSNT.I WELLINGTON, March 23. . INTUOOIiONIAL BRCIRBOOIT !• Th# mwb (void South Australia, coupled Wltii the speech of Mr Ward to the public meettagatßrisbaae. haa disclosed a new aidoattfe policy. It has revealed nothing iM'lhaa tba organisation of a movement for ah Australasian Customs Onion, on a biisia of intercolonial free trade. When Mr Wald, went across to Australia he carried Wi& Um the determination of the Governmsnt to Join in the proposed movement. Mr Ward, I may mention, has always been a believer in freetrade with Australia, bain aHveto the enormous advantage to Australia of free interchange, and to the necessity ■ for Now Zealand to share therein. The Premier has always held the View that the Colonies can set up a' Customs Union, or Zollvetein, without M&aiing themselves with the formalities of constitutional federation. As Sir J. Downer has announced, Tasmania, victoria and New Zealand favour the movement, which is a cardinal point of his Govechnient’s policy. I hear on good authority that information has been received that the New South Wales and Quiehslaud -Governments are likely to jdmhlso* Mr Ward's fervent expressions at Brisbane to the public meeting of hope that the - fiscal barriers may be removed, is'clearly, hot without meaning. It shows that'the work on which he is engaged at the present momeut—that and the Vancouver babie—are the two big things on which he is working. The French have got the start of ns with their New Caledonia cable, and the contracts they have entered into with the Queensland and New South Wales Governments. The Queensland representative at the Postal Conference has denied that there is anything in tbe arrangement to prevent.complete Australian support of the Vancouver prbieot. We sha'leee. Ipanlearn nothing Ikht heid ’ here, Veioept that the Go-. 5 vernment is well inclined towards the j Yaacoave* project. ‘ j

■ BMOIAL SBTTIiEaiENT. The special settlements are going ahead bravely in this district. Thirty-nine are now . surveyed, and balloting is going on vigorously among the members for their eftbtions, 278,000 acres, as Mr Baker said th'e other day, having been allotted one why or the other. . • • '(_Pißk Pbbbb Association.J 'The Government has decided on a new appointment, that of Engineer to the Torpedo'Corps for tho Colony, the gentlemr .n appointed being Mr Henry Wetherell, who will have charge of the various appointment of Mr John Lomas as inspector of Factories and Workrooms for the aistricts o! Christchurch, Ashburton, Timatu, Waimate, G/eymouth and Hokitika is gazetted to-night, Mr Sydney P. Stevens is gazetted chief clerk of the Chief Post Office, Christchurch. 4. deputation of bufiiceaa people of To 4.10 represented to the Minister for Public Works to-day that the opposition of thov ' Council and the : Harbour Board to reclamation for the erection of a goods ehed at To Aro was against the wish of the residents of that end of ths town. The Minister, said his, sympathies were with the deputation, but he would hear the views of the twobodies mentioned before deciding whether the . works should be gone ou W *The defence works will be looked after by the Resident Engineer at each centre. Mr Boll's place will not ha filled up. Mr Carmen, chief engineer of the Grafton, has been appointed an additional Inspector of Machinery for Wellington. Fifteen tenders have been received for the new wing of the Hospital, and C. Colqnfcoun’s was accepted. The amount is about JE3600. ;t A Cabinet meeting was Held at the Premier's residence this morning, the first ha has been able to attend since his illRailway Commissioners expect that ravehue for the year will exceed the to *13.000, not. withstanding losses by floods, &c. ■ Ee~ ; y>'iUons un der the new Bankruptcy Ac' t gazetted to-night, T,,. Anointment of Mr H. W. Robinson m D.t ;.icb Judge for the districts of

Westland, Ashburton.Timaru and Oamaru, and the Otago goldfields is gazetted. The heaviest rainfall last month was at Inglewood (Taranaki), the record being l&ddln for twelve days of rain.