WELLINGTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 87, 1 July 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

4, (FROM OUB OWN COBUE3PONDENT. LICENSING LAW. Many of the Government's measures for submission to Parliament at its next sitting aro already in a forward state, and amongst others a short Bill to amend the Licensing Law is ready. This Bill is virtually a Local Option Bill, but the feature th it proved the death of Mr Fox's Bill, viz., applying it to existing, as well as new licenses, is absent. Briefly stated, the following are the provisions of the Bill:— Existing district-) to bo abolished and new ones of greatly diminished area to be established. No n**.w licenses to be granted except i-,t the annual meeting in June. In March, 1880, the Chairman of every Licensing Cmrfc is required to announce by advertisement that a poll of ratepayers will be taken to decide whether the existing numbe-r of licenses shall be increased. If tho majority of votes are against any increase, then such shall be the determination, and to hold good for three years ; but if the ratepayers decide that t!io number may be increased, it s h ill rests with tlie Licensing Hench to decide how many and what houses shall bo licensed. For the suppression of badly-conducted homes, it is provided that any petition signed by two-thirds of the ratepayers in the Licensing district against the renewal of any lisense shall ensure the refusal of its renewal. It is a marvellous thing that wa colonists, boasting our freedom as we do. have not had the principle of Local Option applied to publicans' licenses before. Local Option applies to almost every other matter. It is optional with the peoplo who represents them in Parliament, it is equally optional as to the election of persons to any other public position. In towns, they have to bo consulted before any new loan can be raised, and yet on this licensing question we have been ignored, and the people havohadno voice in electing the Bench, and no voice in determining its proceedings when appointed. Happily, the days of this kind of thing are numbered, and bettor days are to come, for the Bill is sure to pas 9. THB MINISTttY. The Hon. Mr Stout has resigned, and there are grave rumors relative to the Hon. Mr Ballance' h leaving the Ministry, and probably tho House also. It would indeed bo a great pity if the Colonial Treasurer determined to follow in the footsteps of the Attorney-General, for the Ministry cannot possibly survive the ses-iou if the cleverest and most practical men desert it. It is whispered here, and rather noisily, too, that these astute gentlemen aro ouly leaving a sinking ship iv the hope c f returning again at ths impending general election, and giving in their alio • giance to the party most likely to be in power. Mr Ballance has turnel before, and he may very likely turn again, but not so Mr Stout, I think. ATTOttNEY-OENEBAL. Mr Stout's resignation leaves a vacancy iv the representation of Dunediu, and Mr James Macassey is mentioned as the probable Government candidate for the vacant seat, and so sura do Government supporters make of his being returned, that he is already announced as the coming Attorney.General Failing his election, ihe notorious Rees is the likely man, and probably he would get the position in any case, were it not that then the Auckland influence would be rather too strong in the Cabinet for the rest of the Colony to stomach in a dutiful manner. EDUCATIONAL. The Board of Education hns decided there shall be a Normal School in Wellington, and has appointed a Committee to ape- * cially consider the matter, and mature a proposal. Tnis step is not taken a moment too soon, as au institution for the special training of teachers, providing for an examination iv tho art of teaching, is an absolute necessity of the times, if all the money we are spending on education is to be spent to advantage. boabd's expenses. While alluding to educational m atters, I must .tell you of the highly-dignified and

high-toned debate that occurred at the Board's meeting the other afternoon as to whether member**' expenses should or should not be paid. Tbe Yen. Archdeacon Stock believed in payment, as every meeting cost him on an average ninepehca, though he had occasionally done,' it for sikpence. Mr Tooinath considered-, that si-tpeftoe worth of buns was a feed 'f&-WTsJptu. Then Archdeacon Stock said that hj-would not care so much if their office was only respected, but he greatly bemoaned newspaper criticism. Then quite a scene occurred between Mr Topmath and the Rev. Mr Paterson, as to the former'- discourteous tones ; and. ultimately they came to the self-denying conclusion that they fchould not be paid. A good many people here are of opinion that vary little loss would be sustained if Education Boards were swept out of existence. supreme counT. A tender, that of Messrs Barry and M'Dowell, has been accepted for the new Court Houso, the price being somewhat under £25,0J0. QORQB road. An "influential deputation" waited on the Minister for Public Warks this week relative to the maintenance ot the Gorge Road. The Counties of Manawatu, Waipawa, and Wairarapa West were repre« sonted, and a very good case was made out, the deputations showing clearly that the Local Bodies interested oould not possibly, perform the work. But Mr Macandrew was inexorable; ho was kind, but firm; and .while expressing great sympathy, and stating that it was indeed " a pretty muddle," he said that while the Legislature might agree to borrowing money for the construction of Public Works, the line must be drawn short of their maintenance, and spending borrowed money for this purpose was out of the question. BUILDING BEOULATIONB. Our local architects have struck out in quite a new line in the matter of fire-proof building-, and they have unanimously advised the City Council to amend the regulations so as to admit of buildings of iron being erected in the No. 1 (brick or stone) district. By buildings of iron theydonob mean wood.n framework covered with galvanised sheet iron, but buildings made of plate iron (like iron ships), supported by ribs of iron of proper shape and make. Instructions should at ouoe be sent tp the Agent-General to send out no more carpenters, but all the rivetters and hammermen he oau possibly get together.