WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12478, 18 April 1901, Page 5

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[From; Oub Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, April 17. The Minister of Lands has -returned; from the country wStjh many .things more in his mind t'ham when he set out on his travels. In'"his own Department he found much to please in the shape, especially, of advancing settlement, which in ithis northern part of the colony is phenomenal He found also much to deplore in the limited power of supplying roads' in the early stages oi set'tleiment. It is reported that he has come to the conclusion ithat ifehs road, of the pioneer must be made easier, if not by works, then by casing the •conditions;of his holding, slackening rent conditions and so forth. It is added that Ihe contemplates increasing the scope of the Land Boards. I iaim in a position to say that all this is beside the mark at present. Mr Duncan has informed me that he has not anything to say at .present jin #h© matter of the Land Act, as nothing is.settled in his own mind or in. that of the Cabinet. I gather,however, that some changes will 'be proposed next session in tlhe Land Act. It was reported a few days ago that this Government intended employing some.prominent literary onaa, probably a journalist of leading capacity, to write a description of the Royal visit from start to finish. There'was talk of' ahedltion'de luxe, with plates by leading artists and photographers and so forth. It <was a pleasant dream for a few. I am So a position to.say that the Cabinet have considered the matter, and decided ouot to do anything of the kind.