WELLINGTON NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11541, 30 March 1898, Page 6

WELLINGTON NEWS.

[Pee Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 29. The Government has decided to make a survey of the alternative route to Wairarapa, and has placed the work in the hands of Mr Dobson, one of the engineers who was engaged for some time on the Otira section.

The native owners of the Ohoutii Block, Wanganui River, have been anxious for some time to prevent improvident members from parting with their land, and approached the Public Trustee. Various obstacles were found in the way of his immediate interference, but at the request of the Government he is drafting a Bill to enable the land to be handled by the Trustee in the interests of the Natives, on the plan of the West Coast settlement reserves. The block contains about 90,000 acres.

The Times officially denies the rumours that have been published in various papers lately as to the retirement of Messrs Cadman and M'Kenzie. • . The Hospital Trustees have decided to spend £IOO oh a Rontgen ray apparatus. The inquest relative to the fire;at. Levin revealed some suspicious circumstances. A man was seen getting out of a of the building late at night. The inquiry was adjourned till Friday. The Post Office has received advice that the China’s mails were all saved with the exception of a few boxes of samples. The amount required for hospitals this year is £B4OO, and. for charitable aid £10,526. The capital value of the rateable properties upon which the assessments are levied has increased during the year by nearly two millions. Towards the above sums the Wellington City Council has to contribute £5025.