WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7898, 17 March 1887, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

Ib? TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. LANDS DEPARTMENT. Mb. McKerrow, the Surveyor-General, has received instructions from the Minister of Lands to proceed to Auckland, and thenoe to visit the various village settlements in that provincial district. He will visit each of the settlements north of Auckland, including Herekino, and report in each case to the Lands Department as to the progress and requirements of the Village Settlement System. SERICULTURE. I learned from the Bon. Mr. Ballance today that the report of Mr. Schoch, and the success of his experiments, had afforded encouragement to take a further step. It is intended to supply eggs and leaves to the industrial schools, especially those for female children, and to offer some reward for results. I understood from the Minister that the distribution of silkworms' eggs and leaves would not be necessarily restricted to industrial schools, but that country primary schools would also be supplied upon application, and upon certain conditions. One of the conditions will be that a proper and fair experiment shall be made. The Hon. Mr. Ballanca told me he had been informed that in the proper season £1 per week could be made by careful attention to this industry. He is anxious that a fair trial should be given to sericulture, upon a basis so wide that there could be no reasonable doubt as to the result. NORTH WAIROA DISTRICT. 1 I am informed on the best authority that the steward of village settlements north of Auckland has received instructions from the Minister of Lands to go over land indicated by Mr. Dargaville as suitable for village settlements, and report upon their character, situation, and fitness for the object in view. THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE. I regret to say that tho Hon. Mr. Tole is still confined to the house, and unable to attend at Government buildings. WRITS FOR ELECTIONS. > The writs for election of a member for Te Aro, Wellington, in place of J. C. Johnston, resigned; for Port Cualmers, in place of J. Macandrew, deceased, wore issued this morning. They are made returnable on 25th April.