WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11874, 25 April 1899, Page 5

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, April 24.

Mr Best, Minister of Lands for the colony of Victoria, and Mr Trenwith, the Labour leader in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, who are on an official tour of New Zealand for the purpose of investigating and reporting upon the results of the land and labour legislation, were yesterday taken out by the Hon W. C. Walker 'for a drive round* the Queen’s Drive. To-day they paid a visit to the Levin State Farm, accompanied by the Hon W. C. Walker and the Hon J. Rigg, Mr .J. Hutcheson, AI.H.R., and Air E. Tregear. On Thursday they will attend a formal reception by the Wellington Trades Council. Messrs M’Kenzie, Rodgers and Skelton had a long infeiview with Mr Trenwith on Saturday afternoon, and discussed important labour questions. Mr Maling, leader of the “Argus” Parliamentary reporting staff, will chronicle the travels of the commissioner.

The “Post,” commenting upon the proceedings at the . meetings of the Women’s National Council at Auckland, says that the reader seems to be malting an excursion into a feminine Utopia rather than investigating the actual world of hard facts. It admits, however, that, in regard to the municipal franchise, an elected executive, reform of tF.e Upper House, a Civil Sendee Board, and the application of the Hare system to the second Chamber, the ladies were' on solid ground. The Choral Hall has been purchased by a Wellington syndicate, with the view of converting it into a town hall for the city.