WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8889, 27 May 1892, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT,] Wellington, Thursday. GOVERNMENT nOL'SE.

I understand that the furniture in the Ministerial residences unoccupied is to be forwarded to Government House. Scoulder and Co. have taken a contract for repairing and polishing. The Government have decider to await the arrival of the aide-de-camp, who comes from Sydney by the k.s, Hauroto, in charge of twenty servants. The Hauroto is advertised to leavo Sydney today, and should arrive in Wellington about Tuesday next. It is thought possible that Lord Glasgow may bo made aware of the " furniture" question, and have given a separate order. election rumours. It is stated to-night that the Government have decided to run Mr. Arkwright for the vacant seat in the House. This, if true, is unexpected, because Mr. Arkwright was supposed to be a Conservative in politics. It is said that Mr. Bruce, if he consents to be nominated, would carry the seat. The absence of Mr. Arkwright would, of course, be a great disadvantage. It does not provent his nomination, because he could give his consent to be nominated by telegram. Mr. Arkwright was formerly a member of the House of Commons. He is a considerable propertyholder in the Rangitikei district. If the Government really propose to run Mr. Arkwright there will be a severe contest. I cannot but think the statement premature or problematical.

L Kr. I LAT IV K COUNCIL.. The Post this evening thinks, considering the diminished number of the Council, the Government would bo justified in proposing to L>rd Glasgow that eight new Councillors should be nominated. COURT OF REVIEWERS. The value of the assessments of property in Wellington reviewed by the Court was £113,500. The amount of reductions was £8500. THE THERMAL SPIiINf! COUNTRY.

The Hon. Mr. Cud man during his sojourn has had many interviews with the Rotorua natives in respect to the charges made for giving facilities to tourists to visit the principal wonders of the Lake District. These charges have amounted to blackmail upon tourists. Hitherto the complaints of this sharp practice upon the part of tho natives have been loud arid incessant. The Native Minister is of opinion that as an attraction to tourists, the district round Rotorua would be visited by twice as many tourists but for this system of blackmailing. He called the natives together, and pointed out that they were themselves the principal sufferers by making prohibitive charges upon tourists. It ; s not only English tourists, he said, that visit the Hot Lake Country. Many persons would visit tho district from other parts of tie colony, but they are deterred by these native charges. The Hon. Mr. Cadman succeeded in convincing four or five of the resident ha pus that they were standing in their own light He suggested a scale of charges to which tho natives should agree. The natives at Whakarewarewa undertook to hold a general korero of the natives on tho subject. It is expected they will agree to a fixed scale of charges, by which tourists will be saved about half tho expense they have had hitherto to incur upon visiting the Rotorua Hot Lakes.