WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8812, 27 February 1892, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[BY telegraph.—own correspondent.] Wellington, Friday. KOADS.

The departure of the Minister of Lands for the North has been delayed by the pressure of departmental business. I understand that the main object of his visit to the Taranaki district is to examine the lay of the country, with a view to tho extension of roads. He proposes to travel via Stratford and Elthum to New Plymouth. He says that his Department is really besieged with applications for roads. He will probably leave for tho North to-morrow. MINES DEPARTMENT. Tho Hon. Mr. Seddon intends to address the people of Blenheim on Monday next. It is stated that the gold returns from the Marlborough field are very satisfactory. TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL. This Council passed the following resolution Inst night:— That, in the opinion of this Council it is of the utmost importance that unionists should jealously guard and preserve the influence that they have gained by years of labour spent in building up their unions, but at the same time it is highly desirable that trade unions should Co-oporate with political organisations having for their object the advancement of tho interest of tho working classes." A letter from the Ballarat trades congratulate'! tho Council upon their political prosperity. Labour and politics in Victoria, the letter stated, were in a horrible plight. THE WELLINGTON' HARBOUR BOARD AMD FREE LABOUR. At the meeting of tho Board yesterday Mr. Heaton brought forward the question of the preference alleged to bo given to free labour, to the exclusion of tho mem- . bers of trades unions. It will be recollected that after the strike the Board took on free labourers, giving at the same tirno an undertaking that they should not be discharged for the purpose of taking on the old hands who had gone out on striko. The Chairman shortly afterwards informed the union men that the board would stand by the men who came forward to aid them in a difficulty. It appears that a deputation waited 011 the Board asking that the restriction upon union labour should be removed. Tho chairman, 1 am informed, denied that any restriction was put upon union labour as such, but that the Board would adhere to the undertaking they gave to stand by the men who came to work for them at a time of crisis. He now said that it would be unwise to reopen the subject. Mr. Heaton gave notice of th« following motion : — " I hat the present restrictions as to the employment of labour on the wharves be removed, and the wharfinger instructed that every man able for the work and of good character have an equal chance of employment." CUSTOMS D K.I'A HTM KNTAL REARRANGEMENTS. Some important rearrangements are being carried out in the Custom? Department. The Wellington office is to be eon ducted on much the same system as the Post Office in this city, that is to say, without a separate chief officer. In Wellington the Secretary to the Post ' »ffice is also local Chief Postmaster, the Chief Clerk undertaking the departmental details, and it is now intended that Mr. H. S. McKellar, secretary to Inspector of Customs for the Colony, shall be nominally collector at tho port of Wellington, ■ but the actual duties of the office will bo performed under his direction by the lauding surveyor. The present collector, Mr. W. T. Glasgow, is to be removed to Christchurch, and will be appointed collector at that port, and will also act as Inspector for the South Island. Mr. McKellar, who is on his way back to this colony after a visit to England, will remain as Inspector for the whole colony, Mr. Glasgow acting under his general directions. Mr. Rose moves from (.'hristchurch to Auckland. It is asserted that some economy will be effected by these changes, but on this subject there is a difference of opinion, as it is thought by some who are acquainted with the working of the department that the new plan will not work well, and will involve considerable expense in travelling. It is also doubtful whether Mr. McKellar will bo ahlo to continue the triple positions of Secretary, Inspector, and Collector, without some difficulty, notwithstanding his admittedly exceptional ability and experience as Customs officer. The experiment, however, is to be tried. THE PROPOSED COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS. It is stated that Lord Onslow, before his final departure from Wellington, addressed a lengthened despatch to the Secretary of State, setting forth very fully all that passed between tho Premier and himself with reference to t he proposed appoint incuts of Legislative Councillors, and containing a very explicit expression of his own opinions 011 the matter with a view to tho guidance of Lord (Glasgow on his arrival. Lord Onslow is said to have raised the objection that, to make a fresh batch of Councillors, sufficient to change a Ministerial minority in the Council into a majority, would, necessarily, involve a like proceeding being demanded each time a change of Ministry occurred, so that, if this were done, the Council would gradually assume gigantic numerical proportions, while to refuse one Government what had been conceded to another would subject a Governor to the imputation of unfairness and pat tialit-y. No swamping by a large b' cli of appointments is thought at, all likely to bo agreed to by any Governor. the phimatk, Bisiior, and clergy. The great Synodic scandal is not over. Deep indignation is felt at the Primate's action in reference to the Rev. E. Howell, and the Bishop of Dunedin has striven hard, but so far vainly, to elicit some satis factory explanation from the most rev. gentleman. Bishop Neville has ad dressed no fewer than four letters in succession to the Primate, asking him to explain his action, but the Primate has not deigned the courtesy to reply to the letters of his episcopal brother., or even of a bare acknowledgment. Public feeling runs very high in the matter, and but for illness in the Primate's family tho entire correspondence would have been published to-day, but this was foreborne out of consideration for him in the circumstances. The only hint ever vouchsafed by the Primate as to his reasons for acting as ho did is said to have been one insinuation that cx Canon Howell had not treated him with proper respect when acting as incumbent of St. Paul's. Wellington, and this idea is alleged to have arisen through a complete misunderstanding, which might easily have been explained at the time had the opportunity been afforded. THE new TAXATION. _ The Premier informs me that the question as to what modifications are required in tho new taxation system has not been decided, or even formally considered by the Cabinet. All possible information bearing on the subject is being diligently collected, so that any proved defects or irregularities may be amended, and I understand that the obnoxious debenture tax is almost certain to bo either abolished or altered beyond recognition. Tho Government will not admit that any practical hardship is caused by their taxation, and persist in donying capital is being frightened away, but I hear of many striking instances which they would find it difficult to dispose of. The working classes too, are beginning in some cases to feel the pinch caused by landowners withdrawing from their labour fund all the moneys required to meet the new taxation when it comes into force, and many largo property owners in this Island, as in the South, are abandoning intended improvements, and reducing largely their employment of labour on account of the expected absorption of their available would-be margin by the new taxation, and as winter approaches this will be felt more and more.