WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7757, 1 October 1886, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] Wellington, Thursday* NATIVE AFFAIRS, LANDS, AND DEFENCE. .. I had a short interview with the Eon. Mr. Bailanoe this afternoon upon hi* ?, etam from the North. Hβ tells me that 'sKie natives throughout the North Island recognise the importance of having their laad claims ascertained. They profess a deeire to aid the Government in every possible way in the Waikato. The eo-called King Country is becoming narrower every day, and the number of those natives who believe in Tawhiao as a sovereign personage is now extremely small. But Tawhiao must be regarded as a chief, and the Government desire to show him respect as a person of importance. Amongst the native people the movements of Tawhiao no longer have any important political significance. With regard to the Land Department, the Hon. Mr. Ballanoe is sanguine as to the ultimate success of the village settlement scheme. The number of bona fide working men who have taken advantage of it encourages the hope that the scheme will operate most favourably as a relief to the labour market in times of depression. He has not found the unemployed workmen who made the greatest demonstration of their distress are eager to go upon the land. Those who have not been reckless of their earnings ha?e eagerly embraced the opportunity afforded them by the village settlement scheme to secure for their families a position of comparative comfort, and for themselves a condition that will make them more independent of trade vioissitudes. As to the defence measures, the work is progressing steadily* Sir George Whitmore has expressed to the Minister of Defence his satisfaction at the progress made by jour local volunteer force. CABINET COUNCIL. A Cabinet Council was held to-day, but I understand its deliberations did not concern any question of general policy. I believe that cablegrams have been received from the Agent •General, but their , contents have not been allowed to transpire. It is believed that they relate chiefly to the Imperial Institute about to be established under the auspices of the Prince of Wales. THE LABOUR MARKET. You will perceive from the following suggestive fact that it ie not in Auckland alone there is a large number of unemployed. The Wellington Woollen Company advertised for six hands and received no leas than 130 applications. CUSTOMS. The Customs duties collected in Welling , ton during the present month amount to £20,997, as compared with £23,500 in the corresponding month of last year. For the quarter the total to date amounts to £57,883, as compared with £68,723 for the corresponding quarter of last year.