LATEST WELLINGTON NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6062, 22 April 1881, Page 5

LATEST WELLINGTON NEWS.

*[bT TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] THE PAKIHAKA LANDS. "Wellington, Thursday. Three sections in Parihaka block have been disposed of for cash, seven upon deferred payments, and one small one to registered immigrants under the Immigrants Land Act. The disposal of these sections means the actual -ettlement of the block at an early date, as the sections disposed of on deferred payment must be occupied within six months of the issue of the license to occupy. Now that a commencement has been made, there is no doubt the whole of the lands in the Parihaka block at present available for sale will be speedily taken up. It will be recollected that none of the sections in this block were disposed of when put up to public auction on the 17th of February last. There are still 26 sections available for sale for cash, and 3 sections of 50 acres each upon deferred payment. The remainder being in small sections of 5 acres and less under village settlement regulations. Mr. Rolleston goes South by the Hinemoa (to-morrow's eteamer), on private business. WHITELAW'S DISMISSAL. A special meeting of the Executive Coun eil was held at Government House to-day, at noon, to consider the recommendation of Ministers that Mr. J . H. Whitelaw, Superintendent of the Mouut View Lunatic Asylum, should be dismissed from the public service. The Governor presided, the Premier and Colonial Secretary being the Ministers present. After due consideration of the Royal Commissioners' report and all the circumstances of the case, the decision of the -Cabinet was confirmed, and His Excellency signed the warrant of dismissal. Rumours having been in circulation during the last day or two that the criminal proceedings instituted against Mr. Whitelaw for -a breach of the Lunatics Act would probably be dropped by the Crown. It may be as well to state plainly that there is absolutely not the slightest foundation for such a report. The Government intend to let the taw take its course both in regard to the ■charge under the Lunatics Act and also that preferred by the Audit Department in -reference to spurious vouchers for Mrs. Kettle's salary and alleged misappropriations of money due to her. • . THE COLONY'S FINANCES. I hear that a rough balance for the financial year was struck this evening, but complete and correct returns will not be ready for a week or two. I understand that the revenue very nearly balances expenditure, but not quite, owing to the railways after all failing to reach the later estimates. You will remember I put the probable gross ■receipts from railways at about £825,000, finding this as trustworthy outside information. Subsequently I was surprised to hear that the Government were sanguine that the receipts would reach £575,000. I telegraphed this, although. with considerable doubts of the accuracy of the calculation. I now hear iliat the total railway revenue for the year is about £829,000, which is. very, close to my "estimates., The. expenditure, however, is .materially reduced, and there is some talk of "the lines paying .5 per cent, net profit on co3t. .This, in my opinion, is an overestimate, as the utmost legitimately-calcu-lated profit will not exceed 3h, but I think It will reach that point. I believe the tele-, graph returns are £SOOO under the estimate, and the Department of Justice's revenue £3000 short, but that the Customs are £57,000 above the estimate ;[ land sales, £99,000 above; postal, £4000 to the good;; and stamps,' £9490 on the right side.. : ;