WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9257, 10 January 1889, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] Wellington, Wednesday. CABINET COUNCIL. Ministers met in Cabinet this morning ab eleven o'clock. Sir Frederick Whitaker, who arrived in Wellington last night, was present. The Council adjourned shortly after twelve noon, and resumed their sitting at two o'clock. The Hon. Mr. Stevens was present at the afternoon sitting. The Cabinet is convened for half-past seven this evening. THE GOVERNOR. His Excellency left New Plymouth this morning. He stays at the residence of Mr. Arkwright, near Foxton, to-night, and comes on to Wellington to-morrow. SPECIAL ADVANCES TO SECONDARY SCHOOLS, The Thames High School received a special advance of £1500 in 1880, to be repaid upon the sale of their reserves. Similar advances were made to other secondary schools upon similar conditions, thus the Southland High School is indebted to the Government to the extent of £2000; Otago High School, £1500; and Chrisbchurch, £1000. These matters have led to voluminous correspondence between the Government and the Governors of the several schools concerned, but the pinch of the discussion was that the Audit Department insists upon these amounts being brought to account. It is found that the reserves cannot bo at present sold except at a loss. Some of them cannot be sold at any price. There are claims and counter claims urged on both sides of this correspondence. The Minister of Education has had the matter before him for some time. He considers tho condition of the Thames High School so hopelessly insolvent that ib would be futile to ask them to find £1500 at short notice so as to satisfy the requirements of the Audit Department. Even assuming that the Southland High School Reserve would realise a very considerable sum, it would not be politic, either in this case, or that of the Thames High School, or of the other secondary schools, to require them to sell their reserves forthwith. They must all be treated alike. The Minister of Education considers it important that these reserves, which must sooner or later be of great value to the schools, should not be sacrificed. As a first stop to their preservation, the governing bodies will have to be relieved tor the time of this responsibility. I understand the Premier has been consulted on the subject. The Hon. Mr. Fisher recommends a clause to be inserted in tho Appropriation Bill, next session, to provide for these cases. The Premier, I believe, has assented to that mode of determining the matter, so far as tho requisition of the Audit Department is concerned. Of course the original condition, that these advances shall be paid out of the proceeds of tho sale or lease of reserves is retained. TRADE AND SHIPPING. I learn that within the last two months Nelson Brothers, of Hawke's Bay, have shipped no less than 70,000 carcases ol frozen mutton to the home market. Four thousand bales of flax have also been shipped from Wellington. The Gear Company are killing ab the rate of two hundred thousand sheep to the year. Some extraordinary stories are told of the flax boom in this province, and in the north of the South Island. Dr. Newman, M.H.R., has just returned from an up-country trip, and he tells me that a new and very rich prospect of copper ore has been found at a place called Te Paka. Some of the Wellington papers have senb reporters to inquire of the country people whether the improvement , has been felt. The shopkeepers here speak favourably as to their business during the recent Christmas holidays. All the information received goes to show that the increased spending power of the country people has been manifested to a remarkable extent. THE HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID AMENDMENT ACT. • I learn that the draft of this Act has been already prepared, and will be the first, or one of the first, subjects discussed in Cabinet. Nothing has been allowed to transpire as to the nature of the amendments, bub I believe ample time and opportunity will be given to the public to discuss the proposed alterations. THE NEWi ZEALAND SHIPPING COMPANY. I have seen some private letbere from London bo persons of importance here, which confirm the general impression as to the favourable nature of the trade prospects of this colony. The following is an extract from one of them, which appears bo me bo possess a general inberesb. I am nob ab liberty to mention names, but both the writer and the gentleman bo whom the letber is wribben occupy a high place in public estimation : —" The company's prospects have considerably improved since I last saw you. The shares have, I believe, changed hands at 2A, and to-day they are posted on bhe Stock Exchange ab 1£ to 2£, bub so far as I know no sales have been effecbed ab bhese prices. I am inberesbed in 1000 shares, and. nob one has been sold, neither is ib my inbenbion bo do so, as I believe bhab before long (that is after wo have obtained the sole power bo control matters here and in New Zealand), the shares will be at par." THE PREMIER. Sir H. Atkinson will probably leave Wellington about the end of next week for the North. Hβ will deliver an address bo his constituents at Hawera, He will then go on to New Plymouth and Auckland.