LATEST WELLINGTON NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6564, 30 November 1882, Page 5

LATEST WELLINGTON NEWS.

[BY TELKOItAPII. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wk.i.i.ington, Wednesday. SIR J. HALL. IvrK.i.ucKNCK has been received with great *" regret that Sir John Hall's health is still so unsatisfactory that a European tour is deeme necessary to re-establish him. He will therefore leave for England, with his family, by the Lady Jocelyn, from Welling- S ton, iu tin' beginning of the year. His ab- j seiiee from the colony will probably extend c • jver two years. It is reported that Sir John will resign the Selwyn seat at uo very disMnt date. H:s retirement from New Zea- 'J hind polities is much deplored as a serious 'J public c TIIE DIKKGT ST HAM SERVICE. \ It is understood that the extension of ' tini.' in respect to tenders for the direct 1 steam service was decided upon partly -, through, representations beiug made that the New Zealand companies tendering would he placed at a disadvantage owing to the short- ] lies-; of notice given, and partly because it was thought on re-consideration advisable ' that the A?ent-(!eneral should submit to the Government the full terms on which he ' proposed to invite, before the invitation ' was actually advertised. Accordingly full ; and elaborate instructions were sent to the Agent-(!oneral by the San Francisco mail •if tl." sth instant. These he will receive hi December, allowing ample time to ousult persons an Home most competent to advise, anil to submit to Government the scheme of proposal drawn up by him as the result of his enquiries ami consultations as to the most judicious mode of proceeding. On Ministers receiving his , draft pr posals, they will either adopt in •jl" 1 '", or make sueli alteration as they deem advis-iblo, and notify the Agent-General by Cable ; also, advertising in the colony the proposals as finally agreed upon. 'l'wi-< will allow of the colonial ship owning companies communicating with their London r agents by mail, and sending full instructions .is to tendering on their behalf. In this way ( it is believed tull and fair competition will ( be secured without undue advantage being given iu any direction. It is understood rhat the New Zealand Shipping Company ' will tender, and will have the service of > their own definitely running beforehand ; ] also, that the Government have received intimation that the Union Steamship Company will be among the tenderers, as well as J the new construction of Shaw Savill and ] the Albion Company. PRISON DISCIPLINE. ] A very curious return has just been compiled in accordance with an order made by the House of Representatives on the 3rd of ) August, on thi motion of Mr. Feldwick — viz., "That there be laid on the table a return, showinit the number of prisoners in the gaols of the colony to whom imprison- ! incut, in addition to original sentence::, has \ been awarded since the coming into force of the I'risons Act, IS~.'>, such return to set forth the terms of the original sentences, ' the dates of the original convictions, the term or terms of additional imprisonment, for what ollences and by whom awarded ; also, the dates of release ofter completion of the original and additional gaol sentences." The figures are vcrj' rcmarkakle. It appears that the number so detained beyond the expiration of the original gaol sentences is 1 each in Napier and Nelson, '2 in Timaru gaols ; 3 iu Wellington and Lyttelton, 5 in Addington, WVnganui, and New Plymouth ; 15 in Invercargill, 18 in Auckland ; nil in llokitika ; iu Dunediu gaol the extraordinary number of 1153. Total. 220. The Dunedin list occupies eleven pages. The ollences are mostly specified as "illness," " insubordination," "malingering," "refusing work," "disobedience of orders," &e. Iu some eases the prisoners arc detained two or three months beyond the expiration of the original sentences. SIR W. JERVOIS. With reference to our new Governor, Sir Wm. Jervois, it may not be generally known that he made an able and elaborate report on the defences of the colony some 11 or 12 years ago when Sir J. Vogel was in England. Sir W. .lervois had to go upon information he could pick up verbally and from books and maps, not having personally inspected the ground, but his scheme is said to be an excellent one. It is not yet definitely known when he arrives here.