WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10220, 14 December 1893, Page 6

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[frOK OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Dec. 13. Sir Patrick Bucbloy will defer his departure for Europe until Ministers.reassemble in Wellington about the middle of January. Mr Carroll’s election for a European constituency will not affect his position in the Cabinet as the Minister representing the Native race. The fact that ho is a half-caste legally qualifies him for holding such an office, In conversation with the Premier tonight, I ascertained that tho policy decided upon in Cabinet yesterday was to proceed nest session with the Land for Settlements Bill, Government Railway Bill, Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, Shops and Shop Assistants Bill and'Betterment Bill, and to introduce legislation to give effect to the Government project for' obtaining cheap money from Home to lend out on easy terms to Crown tenants. With a view to this latter proposal the Agent-General will ba directed to ascertain tbe probability of investors in Englaad.transmitting money to tho Colony for investment, the Government leading it out through tho Public Trust Office and Post Office. It was also decided to carry out the announcement made by tho Government during tho elections, of its intention to create a portfolio of Trade and Commerce, and it was agreed that this portfolio should bo entrusted to Mr Ward. Contracts , were accepted for supplies during 1894 to tho asylums at Christchurch, Wellington, Dunodiu and Auckland. Tenders are to be again invited for tbe purchase of tho Government steamer Stella. The apportionment of the refuge vote of 41500 is to be left to the determination of Mr Reaves. Dr Lemon has requested to bo retired from the office of Superintendent of Telegraphs, as be is over ago and has fully earned his pension. Ho wishes to retire to hia farm in tho Manawacu district. The matter has been referred to tho Postmaster-Gcnsral.,, la all probability the-request will bo : granted, and Dr Lemon’s office will bo conferred upon Mr Gray, Secretary to tho Post Office, to hold it in'conjunction, witb-bis present position.; Tho question of the appointment of Railway Commissioners has been deferred lor » full Cabinet meeting to bo held after the holidays/ - ; ‘ " Messrs Anderson and Co., of Christchurch,' are the only tenderers for the girders for railway bridges at Eketahuna and Woodvillo, and as their tender is below tho estimate it is almost certain to be accepted. . The Groymouth-Hokitika line is to bo banded over to tho Railway Commissioners on Nov. 18. la conseauenoa of a conversation with Me M’latyre, the Victorian Minister for Lands, Mr Seddon has telegraphed to him requesting him to obtain permission from his Government for Mr Morryhead to visit New Zealand in order to report and advise upon deep level quartz mining in this Colony. Mr M’lntyro has just wired a reply from Napier Shall have much pleasure laying your request before a meeting of the Government immediately on my return, and no doubt it will bo acceded to.” The Government has decided not to interfere with the determination of the Auckland University Council to dispense with the services of Mr W. S. Aldis, the Professor of Mathematics. - A telegram received to-day from Mr T. G. L. Cook, the resident engineer at Eketahuna, who was despatched by tbe Government to report upon tho damage done by. the floods in the Hawke’s Bay district, reports that the places which were flooded pro now nearly free of water and rapidly drying up, and that tho damago done to reads and bridges is not groat. Clothing,'bedding and food have been liberally supplied to all who wore in need. Dead carcases have been removed, and everything necessary is baing done. Tho Minister for Lands will leave for his home in the south on Friday weak. Mr George Friend, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, is said to be seriously ill. . Mr W. P. Reeves left for Christchurch to-day. TPeb Press Association.]

In addition to 3191 names ntruck off the City roll, the Suburbs roll will bo purged of 1050 names. A deputation from the Shipmasters’ Association waited on the Minister for Marine to-day in connection with improving navigation near Jackson’s Head, Cook Straits. The deputation urged that outer and inner channels should be surveyed, and that something should foe done in tho way of erecting beacons to assist masters of steamers io navigate with safety. Tho Minister said that ho fully recognised tho importance of tho matter, and would take steps to have a survey mads of both channels. Ho would also get a report regarding the desirableness of erecting beacons or a light on Jackson’s Head, and would then see what could bo done in that direction.

The Minister for Justice wires from Upper Thames that bo will be unable to return to Wellington for some days yet. The Government has decided to increase the number of Native Land Court, judges by two.' No appointments have yet been made, and-the districts to which the new judges will be allotted is a departmental affair. • ■

In Cabinet to-day it was decided to agree to Dr Lemon retiring from the Suparintendeaoy of the Telegraph Department, at his owa request, on pension.- He severs hia connection with the Department at the end of Match, but his successor has not yet been appointed. This will probably bo done to-morrow.-' ; • < ■

Information already in possession of. the Commissioner of« Customs- respecting the trade -between Now Zealand and Canada shows that as yet it ia nob of a very extensive chtiraotor. Personally, Mr Ward is of opinion that the Colony should not be represented at the Conference in the Dominion, and believes that so far as New Zealand is concerned negotiations could be carried on by correspondence. What ia wanted first, Mr Ward says, is a Vancouver lino of steamers to call at New Zealand ports, and reciprocity could bo discussed later. The Bills mentioned yesterday to be introduced by the Government early in the session will be distributed for consideration before the opening of Parliament.