WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7904, 24 March 1887, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES

, . • {.BYtelegraph.— CORRESPONDENT.! '' Wellington, Wednesday. * LOANS TO LOCAL BODIES. The Colonial Treasurer had declined to grant * a loan to the Wairarapa County Council because they had not taken a poll of the rate- " payers. He has now, the Controller and 0 ] Auditor General agreeing, come to the con--11 elusion that the 12th section of the Act a governs the 21st section, and that the loan p may be granted. The Council had got into 1 a difficult position by lottiug contracts for i which tho members were responsible, but in r all future cases a poll of the ratepayers will f be considered indispensable. a PERMANENT MILITIA. 1 - The **] nemoa took fifty mon South last ' night. These men had been engaged in big 1 gun practice at Fort Gordon. There was 1 some good firing at 300 aud 200 yards on ' Tuesday, the Defence Minister and the Com* » mander of the forces being present. It is ' stated that the conduot of all the men from 1 the North and South has been excellent 1 during their stay in Wellington. MINES DEPARTMENT, i The Minister of Mines left Wellington - yestorday morning for Tarauoki en route to - Auckland. Ho was accompanied by Mr. ; Gordon, Inspector of Mines. STATE RESUMPTION OF LANDS BILL. The newspapers here have been much exercisedwith „ the nature ft id scope of tnis Bin, Somo people see in it a means of relieving mortgaged estates ; others describe it as an expedient to admit associations to the occupation of lauds on favourable terms. The Press says, "It may be that neither of tho versions of the scheme which have been published is at all correct, and that even tho Premier's speech gives no just impression of tho measure which the Government have under consideration. If that be so, it behoves tho Government on all grounds to make known tho real nature of their proposals without delay. We warn them that the vaguo impression of their intentions which have been caused by tho Premier's speech will do the colony a great deal of harm. Already we learn the Melbourne Age has commented upon the supposed scheme in a manner very prejudicial to New Zealand ; and inquiries of an extremely significant character are being

made respecting it from quarters where the colony cannot afford to suffer a loss of confidence. We fear the promulgation of this very questionable scheme has exposed the colony to a grave danger, and which is all the , graver because the Government do not seem to realise its gravity." j PERFORMING DOG?. The Government decline to relax the regulations under the Diseased Cattle Act of 1881, so as to enable the proprietors of bryer's Circus to exhibit their performing dogs. Dogs must be quarantined for six months. Some eighteen months ago the proprietors were prevented from exhibiting their ponies and dogs in Auckland. The reflation appears to have been relaxed in regard to horses, but not in respect of dogs. THE LATE GREAT FIRE. Some commotion has been occasioned here by one of the insurance company's refusing to recognise the settlement of certain claims which are recognised by the other companies. It is said this refusal will lead to legal proceedings unless the claims shall be amicably arranged. TE WHJTI. It is said that this native prophet was present at the annual mooting of tho Parihaka natives, hut declined to address his people. This is taken as a sign that his influence is on the wanp.