WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10269, 10 February 1894, Page 5

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[MOM OXJE 6PKCIA.Ii COMKSPONPENT.] WELLINGTON, Ebb. 9. It is understood that Mr Jackson Palmer will be the Government candidate tor Waitemata, the election of Mr E. Monk haring just been declared void. The Clerk of the Writs some time since instructed the returning-offlcera of the various electoral districts to furnish him with returns of the number of women voters on the rolls and tbe number who voted at the late general election. These returns have now come in from all the electoral districts but eighteen. They afford conclusive proof that the women were fully alive to the importance of the franchise, and prompt to exercise it. Of the four large cities Dunedin possesses the largest number of women voters, but the women > of Christchurch polled in larger proportion than their sisters of Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin. Of the electorates returning only one member each, Invercargill, Wellington Suburbs, Port, Chalmers and Timaru boast tbe largest number of women voters, and Waimea Sounds, Egmont, Waikato, Otaki and Avarua the fewest. The women of Waihemo and Tuapeka, Pareora, Egmont and Inangabua polled most heavily, while those of Mataura and Invercargill were most backward. Ministers were in Cabinet to-day and transacted a good deal of businer s. The sum of £834 was voted for the supply of bedding to the Porirua lunatic asylum, and £575 was appropriated for steampipes, ventilation and repairs at the Sunnyside asylum. It was resolved that New Zealand should be represented commercially at tbe Intercolonial Eeciprocity Conference in Canada. The question of publishing a work on the New Zealand flora was referred to the Minister of Education, with the request that he would go fully into 1 the matter and submit a recommendation. It was decided not to accept any of the offers that have been received for the purchase of the steamer Stella, but the Minister of Marine was authorised to communicate with the highest tenderer and inform him of tbe amount' at which the Government is prepared to sell. The desirability of more systematically grouping the offices of the various departments in tbe Government Buildings, Web lington, came under consideration, and with a view to attaining this end, and also of affording larger accommodation to the Eailway Commissioners, it was determined to commission Dr Macgregor and Messrs Blow, Crombio and Warburfcon to inspect and report what alterations are necessary. The Cabinet also dealt with an application by Mr Webber, of Taranaki, fora bonne for the manufacture of paper. Ministers were averse to offering a bonus, seeing that paper manufacturers are already established in tbe colony; but as a means of encouraging this industry they resolved to grant a remission of the duty on machinery that cannot be manufactured in the colony. [Pkb Pbbsb Association.] Mrs Ehodes has given a donation of £lO in aid of the fund for furnishing the new wing of the hospital. The Supreme Court has 1 granted an injunction against Charles E. Turner, restricting him from using the word " Sanitao” in connection with a toilet paper, on the ground that it was an infringement of the " Sanitas ” Disinfectant Company's trade mark. A travelling medicine vendor, named Gunn, calling himself "The Good Samaritan,” has been fined £25 and cost* for distributing gifts by lottery. He refused to pay, and was given tbe alternative of three months’ bard labour. He said he had been allowed to give away presents for thirteen months without interference, and the Besident Magistrate told him that but for this fact he would have been fined dfilOO.

Pour Native chiefs from the Upper Wanganui district waited upon the Premier, congratulating him on the assumption of hie position as Native Minister, and asked what were the intentions of the Government respecting the Native race. Mr Seddon replied that the policy of the Government would place the Natives in such a position that they would reap to the fullest extent the benefits of civilization, instead of being continued in a position of dependence. He intended visiting the Native districts of the North Island shortly, and ■ would explain the proposed legislation affecting the Maoris and their land. The Postal Conference will be held here on March 5. It is expected that a good deal of preliminary business will be settled beforehand during the trip in the Hinomoa. Stuart, the quarter and half-mile representative of Wellington, will be unable to attend the Amateur Athletic Championship Meeting. Tenders for the steamer Stella not reaching the reserve of ,£2OOO, the Government has decided to retain her. H.M.S. Lizard leaves in a day or two for the Antipodes Islands, and will search the islands to see if there are any castaways. - ' - ■ The annual offences returns for the police district of Wellington have been compiled. From these it appears that the total number of offences reported in 1893 amounted to 2528, as compared with 1910 reported in the previous year. In 1893 97 men and 5 women were committed for trial, 72 of whom were subsequently convicted at the Supreme Court. Sixteen hundred and twenty-two males and 315 females were summarily convicted, whilst 329 men and 54, women were discharged. The returns give a startling increase for last year of all cases, amounting to 618. In this increase drunkenness appears to have been the chief item, as there were 270 more.persons arrested, for that offence than in the previous year. During the period referred to there were three cases of attempted murder which were sent for trial; one male and one female was convicted and one man was discharged. In pearly every instance, especially in the cases sent for trial, there is also a large increase over the returns of the previous year. In 1893 there was a large increase in the number of esses sent for trial, there being 102 in that year as against 63 in 1892. '