LATEST WELLINGTON NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5997, 5 February 1881, Page 5

LATEST WELLINGTON NEWS.

|BT TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday. . HIS EXCELLENCY'S TOUR. The Governor returned to Wellington last evening, attended by Mr. Rolleston and Captain Knollys, A.D.C., Mr. Brown and Mr. Murray, private secretaries. The special train conveying the party consisted of an engine, first-class carriage, and a brake van. It left Masterton ten minutes late, but made up lost time, and reached Wellington punctual to the minute, thus making the run from Masterton with very easy and steady running, and without the slightest hurrying, in 3 hours 15 minutes. Sir Arthur Gordon and his suite proceeded at once on foot to Government House. His Excellency was favoured with magnificent weather during his tour, which was a very pleasant one throughout. At the Lower Hutt, where a stay was made for water, were found a number of Wellington excursionists to the races, who had missed the last train to town, and were in a woeful case. Some were disposed to storm the Vice-Regal train, until informed that the "Governor was on board," on which they instantly desisted. His Excellency, on learning the state of the case, very readily I and kindly allowed a couple of carriages to be put on for the conveyance of the castaways to town. His Excellency expresses the utmost delight with the country passed through, and a high opinion of its future prospects. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. A meeting of the Executive Council was held at Government House to-day at noon, the Governor presiding, and the Premier and Native Minister beiug present. A large amount of rontiiie business was transacted, heavy arrears having accumulated during the fortnight's interval since the last Executive meeting was held. COLLECTION OF PROPERTY TAX. The most important matter dealt with at to-day's meeting of the Executive Council was to make au order formally approving the Sth and 22ud proximo, as the dates on which the property tax should be made payable. Those dates consequently may now be regarded as fixed by law, and the tax will then I nave to be duly paid. THE MAORIS PLOUGHING. Telegrams were received last night from tho constabulary camp to the effect that the Maoris had commenced ploughing in the wheat paddock opposite Parihaka, alongside the constabulary, and that they had encroached on the road line. A later telegram this morning, however, reports that they desisted immediately on being warned to do so. THE COLONIAL TREASURER AND MINISTER OF WORKS. Major Atkinson returned to Wellington this morning by the Arawata. He sustained a slight sprain of the ankle during his Southern tour, from the effect} of which he is still suffering, and which compelled him to shorten his journey considerably. Mr. Oliver is in indifferent health, and has deferred his return to Wellington for another week.