WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10566, 28 January 1895, Page 5

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[from oxtb special CORRESPONDENT."j WELLINGTON, Jan. 26. The appointments of Tariff Commieeionera have been formally approved by the Governor, and they will be called together to bold their first meeting at Wellington this week. The Minister of Labour informs me that tho Bill dealing with the reform of the present charitable aid system has not yet been drafted, but immediate consideration of the matter will taka place as soon as Dr Maogregor return's to Wellington. Eeferring to the Shops and Shop Assistants Act in his speech on Friday last, Mr Eeevea said tho wide difference of opinion shown by the different ~ local.,bodies in deciding on the day for the half-holiday was a justification of leaving the settlement of the matter to local option. It was true that as local bodies, were at present elected they did nob fully represent all interested in the half-boliday, but be hoped that era long this would be remedied by an enlargement of the Municipal franchise. It will be remembered that the Premier introduced a Bill last session conferring one-man-one-vote in Municipal matters, but as it was not brought down till late in the session it waa nob gone on with. It will, however, be introduced early next session. Sven with one-man-oao-vote Municipal representation, the question of settling the half-holiday will still remain a vexed one. A suggestion made when the matter was being discussed by the Wellington City Council, that a vote of the ratepayers should bo taken for fixing the day, is worth consideration. .

Both morning and evening papers hero in their summarised report of the Minister of Labour’s speech on Friday night have misroported his remarks regarding closing hotel bars. What he said was that hotel bars should be closed onebalf day, irrespective of the shops’ halfholiday. Ho claimed that shop assistants as a clsss were not beer drinkers, and if temperance advocates desired to diminish drinking, a most effective way of doing, so would be by closing bars on the half-day when the greater number of workershad their holiday. [Feb Pbesb Association.] Tho Government has agreed to give a site for saltwater baths at the Thorndon end of the town at a peppercorn rental if the charge of admission is fixed at a low rate and the work is carried out in a reasonable time. Incidentally the Premier told a local deputation this morning that there was no immediate burry about taking over the Manawatu Eailwsy, as they were advised they had still eighteen months before the additional five per cant could be imposed. Judge Oliver, President of the Lands Appeal Court of New South Wales, who is now in the colony on private business, is commissioned by his Government to enquire into the cultivation of trout and the administration of the fisheries here. He is also making enquiries into oar, village and farm settlement schemes and the means adopted for acquiring land for settlement,:

Some eight hundred applications have already been received for cheap money, and one hundred valuations have been orderedThe work of dealing with the applications has boen somewhat checked through the Public Trust Office being in process of removal to its new quarters in the Government Insurance Buildings. . ; _ The Times says that, a woman’s paper is to bo started in Wellington shortly, managed and editfd by » woman. It wUI bo carried on in the Independent Liberal interest, and will bo of a social and political character. The Arawa, with the English mail? (Deo. 29), left San Francisco on Jan. 12, two days late. The Alameda, with thp colonial mails (Poo. 29), arrived at San Francisco on Jan. 16, one day late. 1 • .