WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10237, 4 January 1894, Page 5

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[PBOM OUE OWN COBBB6PONDBNT.] WELLINGTON, Jan. 3. CUSTOMS BE VENUE. The following particulars of the Custom returns will ba found fuller and morn complete than those seat by the Preea Association. The Customs duties for nino months of the financial year amount te £1,215,000, thus exceeding the Treasurep’o estimate by .£21,709, while the beer duty# estimate of £43,000 has been exceeded by £282. The amount of Customs duties collected at the four principal ports of the colony daring each of the past nine months was as follows

Shillings and penes of course omitted. The monthly returns for the whole colony, including revenue from parcels post, were:— April, £123,240; May, £141,647; June, £118,634; July, £188,782 j August, £165,215; September, £144,756; October, £139,419; November, £128,668; December, £186,845. The total amount of Customs revenue collected at each of the four principal ports for the calendar year, 1893, is as follows Auckland, £373,677 j Dunedin, £368,485: Wellington, £349,573; Lyttelton, £276,272. The total for the whole colony during the same period was £1,669,318 as against £1,656,671 for 1892, thus showing an increase of £12,647 for 1893. THE ELECTION PETITION. The Post Jo-night publishes the following letter from Captain Jackson Barry ;—> "In reference to the petition against Sir E. Stout’s election, I wish my friends and the general public to know that! emphatically deny being directly or in., directly concerned in the above matter * I worked bard for Sir Robert’s return anj,, was much surprised when I read the pot tion in your issue last night, in which, my name is repeatedly mentioned. The report that I have bet with Mr Logan on the election is absolutely untrue.”

Commenting on the matter, the Evening Press says: “The names of the parties who have promoted the proceedings to upset the election are not yet public property, but public opinion points very strongly in a certain direction. Public opinfon is also very decided that the aot is one which merits and baa almost unanimously received the reprobation and condemnation of every liberal-minded man and woman in the community. It may be that a technical breach of a particularly rigorous law has been committed, and that Sir E. Stoat’s agent has been guilty of wagering. It may be that the offence will be sheeted home to his agent, and if such an event should occur, the electors will judge who has the cleanest hands, the accuser or the culprit. The proceedings are denounced on all hands as being of the mo st contemptible character, and not only the Supporters of Sir Eobort, but his opponents in the lata election unite in condemning the action now being taken. It is evidently the outcome of personal, and not of political enmity, and as such will carry with it no sympathy, except for the defendant in the action. A scapegoat in the case, Jackson Barry, is horrified at the position he finds himself in. He has been made an innocent tool of in conjunction with a too loquacious friend, and both now find themselves in a very unpleasant position; for no one can imagine Sir Eobert in any way permitting wagering on his behalf or with his knowledge. Herein he of all men deserves the sympathy of the electors, not only of those who voted for him, but of the very large section who, since the contest, have expressed themselves as satisfied with the result. Should the pavties who are pulling the strings decide to continue the suit wa take it the worst thing that could happen would be a fresh election, with the return of the present senior member. It rests with the Electoral Court or judge to make an order, which may be nominal so far as disqualification goes. Under the Act of 1881, disqualification was absolute for three years, but under the amended Aot of 1882, the judge may award a period of one day as sufficient punishment, and then' the vacant seat would again be open for the disqualified member. In such case there could be very little doubt as to the result. Now that we know more about the matter we can assure Sir B. Stout’s friends that they have no cause for anxiety, for we feel certain that his posi-: tion is in no way imperilled, and his would-be ejectors will find themselves 1 covered with ridicule and shame when the matter is ended.” THE POKAHAKA ESTATE. Flans of the Pomabaka estate, which was acquired soma time since by the; Government under the Land for Settlements Aot, have been prepared for publication, and will be ready for the public in a week or ten days. The lands have been surveyed into sections of from 100 to 300 acres, and will be offered about the end of February for selection under the lease ip. perpetuity system. The rent will vary from 2a 6d to 3s 6d per acre per annum, the average being about Bs. The estate is situated about six miles from the Clinton railway station. There are good roads to it, and it is bounded on oneeideby the Pomabaka river. PATENTS. During last month four patents and two trade-marks were applied for in. Christchurch, while throughout the colony forty applications were received for patents and twenty for trade-marks. There may bo some applications for .patents received daring the month still to come in from the agencies. During 1893 there were 624 applications for patents in the colony (which number may be slightly increased) and 325 applications for trade marks. [Pee Pbbbs Association.! During December rain fell on eighteen days, the total fall being 2.899 inches. The average for the same month in previous years is 3.933 inches. A cablegram has been sent to Mr Valentine, the New Zealand dairy expert, asking him to be in Wellington by Jan. 10, Mr Valentine is at present in Australia. Peters’ tender has been accepted for the new coach mail service from the Central Trunk terminus to the Hot Lakes. The distance is ninety miles and at present there is no accommodation-house on, the line, but a township is to be laid out at the Waioru, about half way on the route. With nine months of the financial year gone, the Customs revenue of the Colony is £21,709 over the Colonial Treasurer’s estimate for that period, the total amount col», lected to the end of last month being .21,236.709. The Customs revenue last month amounted to £135,883, as compared with £128,117 for the previous month, and £143,336 for the corresponding month of last year. Auckland contributed £83,607, Wellington £24,779, Christchurch £20,622, Dunedin £30,495. The total amount of beer duty collected in the colony last month was £6812, Auckland contributing £1612, Wellington £557, Christchurch £1202, Dunedin £1616. In the previous month £5779 was collected* and in the corresponding month of last year £7186. For the nine months of the financial year the beer duty exceeded the estimate by £282.

aiooth. Auckland. Wellington. Christchurch. Buuodin, . £ £ • £ £ ’ 29,928 26,172 19,113 24,555 !M!ay 26,875 31,375 25,020 82,995 June ... 26,841 27,719 17,331 23,493 July ... 32,354 25,452 21,115 37,885 August 40,941 34,484 26,380 35,322 82,341 86,237 24,663 25.523 Oct. ... 28,200 29.944 24,224 29,735 29,324 27,316 31,541 27,410 Bee. ... 33,507 24,779 20,622 30,495 Totals for 9 months 280,311 263,488 201,009 267,418