ELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8885, 23 May 1892, Page 5

ELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[by TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Sunday. MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS. The Hon. Mr. Seddon, as Defence Minister, goes to Auckland next week, to meet the Commandantof the Forces, Captain Fox, with a view to tho examination of the defence works, and the estimates for new works if requisite. Ho will, as Minister of Mines, visit Hikurangi and the goldfields. He will, as Minister of Public Works, inspect railways and other works, with a view to the preparation of tho Public Works Estimates next session. Telegrams have been received from the Hon. Mr. Cadman stating that he will arrive in Wellington by train on Tuesday next. It is expected that the Hon. Mr. Buckley will return from Sydney about the 2nd of next month. The Hinemort is expected to arrive in Sydney about the 29th instant. CABINET MEETINGS. The full Cabinets usually on the eve of each session will be held on Wednesday and Thursday next, when Ministers will decide upon their Parliamentary program me. A NEW PORTFOLIO. It is announced this morning that a new portfolio is to bo created and put in charge of the Hon. Mr. Reeves, who will assume the title of Minister of Labour. He retains the portfolio of Education and the administration of the Marine Department. The Hon. Mr. Cadman retains the portfolio of Native Affairs, but he takes over the Department of Justice from tho fHon. Mr. Reeves and tho Printing Office from the Hon. Mr. Buckley. The Post this evening denounces the portfolio as illegal and unconstitutional, on the grounds, first, that the Acts of 187ii> and 1887, which define what offices a Minister may hold, do not mention a portfolio of labour, and that the Civil List Act, which provides for Ministerial salaries, makes no mention of such a Minister or such a portfolio. It is however, possible that the new arrangement may not take effect immediately, because it is officially announced that Parliament is to be asked to provide the means of collecting "Statistics of labour" in connection with the new Ministerialofiiee. It is also said that the connection between (he Minister of Labour and the new department will be much the same as that of the Minister of Lands with the department for taking the statistics of agriculture. I am inclined to suspect that there is some misapprehension about these new arrangements. There may not be what is called a " now department at all." It may be simply an auxiliary branch of administration that is to bo created. Sufficient information has not been given to enable mo to say what will bo the precise character or extent of the new administrative departure. However, it is clear that nothing can be done until tho Parliamentary sanction can be obtained, and funds to provide the working staff. This may bo done without incurring tho pains and penalties of illegality. DAIRY INDUSTRY. I learn that Mr. Lorensen, the dairy expert, who was appointed by tho Government to lecture on " Dairying," has severed his connection with the Government.

stock conference. Mr. Ritchie is appointed to represent the Government at the Stock Conference which is shortly to be held in Christchurch. WELLINGTON PATENT SLIP. A curious point arose in the Court of Review upon the assessment of this property. The value was assessed at £10,000. Part of the property is in tho municipality of Wellington, and part in the newlycreated borough of Melrose, which includes th" Kilburnio district, but an objection was raised that a considerable portion of the property is below high water mark, which is not in any ratable district, and eVen outside low water mark. Two of the Reviewers declined to act, 0110 as shareholder of the slip, the- other as Mayor of Melrose. The Tax Commissioner requested that they would divest themselves of their scruples, and give their decision according to equity and good conscience. No decision has yet been made.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, •Mr. Cuthbert has concluded his overhaul of tho residence of the new Governor and his family. The relief drains are all that can bo desired, but certain improvements in trapping have been recommended. A singular circumstance has come under tho notice of the engineers, Messrs. Cuthbert and Bell, of tho Defence Department. A colony of rats was discovered in one of the drains. These are to be trapped and destroyed. The Minister of Public Works, referring to the matter, says:— *' I hope by the time Lord and Lady Glasgow shall have arrived this colony of rats and their inevitable companions, Mr. John Kerr's domestic ' shammies,' which have made dancing at Government House a very lively exercise, will have been improved out of existence. Between the rats and those ' other pots' of Mr. Korr, the solitary orderly on duty may send in a claim for compensation for loss of noedful sleep." WHAT ARE SHAMMIES ? The first answer that comes to one's mind is " cats, of course." Not at all, but the explanation rests upon a thoroughly historical basis, which appeared in the columns of this journal at the time. Mr. John Kerr, formerly member for a Nelson electorate, was not; letrued in zoology nor entomology, nevertheless ho is the discoverer of the "shammies." In the session of 1890 ho took part in a debate upon the proposal to acclimatise the Tyrolese chamois in Now Zealand. Ho desired to have some recognised authority as to the habits of the chamois, which he designated " shammies " in his homely way. An honourable member handed Mr. Kerr ft book in which it was stated thoro was a lively description of this lively creature. He innocently read the whole chapter, concluding amid convulsions of laughter with the memorable words, " What do you want these shammies for?" The book handed to Mr. Kerr was tho " Innocents Abroad,' and tho chapter was that upon the restless industry of tho fleas in Mark Twain's foreign lodging.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Upper Chamber of the Legislature will look rather thin at the opening of Parliament. Tho Hon. Mr. Acland, tho Hon. (J. C. Bowen, and the Hon. Randall Johnston are in England : the Hon. J. C. Richmond and tho Hon. Mr. Sheppard it is said will not attend in consequence of illness. Besides the Hon. Mr. Martin just buried, there are four vacancies caused by death. The usual talks about the difficulty with tho Council" continues. Nothing is known other than I have already informed you of. CIVIL SKRVICK BILL. The existence ol a Bill drafted by the Civil Hot-vice Association, and another by the Government, yon have at various times been informed of. Both Bills will be laid on tho table of tho House in the early days of the session, so that both, and the distinctions between thorn, may bo thoroughly understood by members. I learn that tho measure drafted by the Association provides for retiring allowances, in accordance with the Act of 1860, and for promotions and increases of salaries upon a specified plan. The (Jovcrnment Bill provides for retiring allowances under the Act of 1886, by a stoppage of 5 per cent, from salaries, to be paid to the retiring civil servants, or by insurance, if it should bo preferred. Tho plan of tho Association provides for annuities payable to the retiring civil servants according to length of service.