NEWS NOTES FROM WELLING TON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7269, 6 March 1885, Page 5

NEWS NOTES FROM WELLING TON.

[by telegkapk.—own cokkbspokdent] Wellington, Thursday. FEDERAL COUNCIL. Thk Premier (the Hon. Mr. Stout) baa forwarded a cable to the Hon. the Premier of Victoria with respect to the Bill as amended by Earl Derby for the establishment of Federal Council, and to that noble Lord's despatch abking the advice of the colonial Governments upon it. The text of tho cable has baen communicated officially to the Press, and is as follows : " For us (New Zealand Government) to have agreed to tne Bill would have been to defeat the vote of the House of Representatives on the Federal Bill. Until Parliament meet we cannot speak authoritatively. Our views are tbe name as expressed in the rest* lution proposed to the House. We object to the Bill also as altered by the Colonial Office, on the ground of interference with the autonomy of the colonies in not allowing a colony to reject or adopt laws passed by council. We think the Bill should be postponed until the colonies are better agreed. MINISTER OF LANDS. A deputation waited upon the Hon. Mr. Ballance to-day re roads to special settlements. The Minister replied that the subject will have early attention. Mr. Beanny, formerly member of the House of Representatives, made a complaint that "several members of one family—doctors aod lawyers —were applicants for land in special settlements." He further complained that the land was not thrown open to tbo ppblic at large. The Hon. Mr. Ballance replied that all special settlement would be obliged to improve their land whether they were doctors or lawyers, that as he had already partly worked out the scheme, he should be allowed to continue the administration of these lands. They would not be " special" settlement if thrown open to everybody.