LATEST WELLINGTON NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6811, 15 September 1883, Page 5

LATEST WELLINGTON NEWS.

[BY TELEGR4PH. —OWS CORRESPONDENT. 1 Wellington, Friday. RAILWAY IMPROYED LANDS BILL. The Railway Improved Lands Bill, introduced by the Minister for Public Works, has jnat been circulated for members' consideration daring the recess. X summarise it as follows :—Tbe Bill is entitled " An Act to impose on lands traversed by railways constructed at public expense, a charge in aid of such construction. This substantially seta forth the whole principle of the Bill. The rest is mere detail, but important. All privately owned landß (not within a borough or town district) situated within five miles of a Government Railway, are to be subject to the provisions of the BiU, and on the opening of the railway, are to be liable to contributions in aid of its construction. The amount of such contributions is to be assessed by the Property Tax Commissioner, who is to have the power of purchasing property at ten per cent, over its assessed value if the owners object to the assessment. Tbe owner may either pay the contribution on demand, or allow it to remain as a charge on the property at five per cent, interest. All lands snbject to the Act may be resumed by the Crown for settlement on payment of 25 per cent, above their asseseed value, as determined by the Property Tax Commissioner. The power of resumption is, however, not to apply to the site of the owner's private residence or to bo much of adjacent land not exceeding 640 acres, as the owner may select, or to gardens, orchards, vineyards, nurseries, plantations, or ornamental pleasure grounds to the extent of ten acres. The proclamation of resumption is to be subject to the approval of Parliament next session, and is to lapse if such sanction is not accorded. Such aro the main features of the measure. THE NEW BANKRUPTCY ACT. I understand tnat the arrangements required by the now Bankruptcy Act, which comes into foree on the Ist January next, will probably be made when Ministers reassemble at Wellington. These include the appointment of official assignees, etc. As some surprise has been created by only £1000 being set down (in the Supplementary Estimates) for the whole colony, 1 may explain that this sum is only for three months, as the Act will not be in force till the last quarter of the ne<t financial year, i.e., during the months of 'January, February, and March, so the appropriation of the official assignees is at the rate of £4000 per annum for the whole colony. THE LONGHURST CASE. Nothing is yet settled as to the fate ol George Longhurst, but I understand His Excellency the Governor is personally reviewing the case, and considering it afresh. The Cabinet has not yet gone into the matter, but it will probably do so next week. Little doubt is generally entertained that Longhurst will be leased at an early date, in consequence of strong expression of opinion during the debate in the House of Representatives on the subject.