WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9010, 15 October 1892, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[by telegraph. CORRESPONDENT. J Wellington, Friday. THE PREMIER. Notwithstanding most inclemont weather, the Hon. Mr. Ballance was in his office today at Government buildings, and presided at the Cabinet meeting convened, as already stated, for this morning. THE CABINET. Nothing has been allowed to transpire as to the deliberations of the Council held today. Public attention is fixed upon the possible or probable appointment of the now Legislative Councillors. A strong supporter of the Ministry, who may himself be one of the now Councillors for anything that is known to the contrary, informed me that it was very unlikely any appointments would be made before January, for, he said, why should the Government appoint a few to disappoint many of their friends. RAILWAY ADVERTISEMENTS. The statement in the last hours of the session to the effect that the Railway Commissioners had unfairly distributed their advertising patronage to the newspapers, has awakened a good deal of curiosity. The following return shows the amounts paid (over £200) to each newspaper for advertising :—Ashburton Guardian, £277 ; Dunedin Evening Star, £405; Punedin Evening Herald, £224; Auckland Star, £205 ; Wellington Post, £301 ; Wellington Evening Press, £305; New Zealand Herald, £285; New Zealand Times, £425 ; Otago DailyTimea,£s27; Christchurch Press, £947 ; Lyttelton Times, £940 ; Southland Times, £341); Southland Daily News, £229; Timaru Herald, £297 ; Wanganui Herald, £221 ; Wanganui Chronicle, £228 The total amounts to £10,218. The period covered by the return is from Ist January, 1889, to 30th Juno, 1892.

THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR WOKKMKN. The Commissioners have issued the following memo, for general information : — "The building of additional rolling stock, which has been proceeding for some years past, having entirely ceased, and no funds having been provided for carrying on more work of this description, have led to the discharge of a number of hands in the different centres throughout the colony. The Commissioners regret that the orders for new rolling stock for the Government railway extension at Mokihinui should not have been issued to them, as it would have saved them from discharging a number of men." THE SHOP ASSISTANTS. A meeting of shop assistants was held last night. The speeches made expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the Government to pass the Shop Hours' Bill. A special resolution was passed expressing the thanks of the body to the Minister of Labour for his Parliamentary conduct in connection with this Bill. MINISTEKIAL MOVEMENTS. I understand that the Minister of Labour will go to Christchurch on Monday on business connected with his department. NEW QUARANTINE REGULATIONS. The officers of the Stock Department are engaged upon amendments to the quarantine regulations. Hitherto much difficulty was found in fixing responsibility at, seaport towns, (I) as to fees chargeable, (2) whether the fees included cattle feed during quarantine, (3) as to expert inspection when the services of a veterinary surgeon were required. The fact that Victoria permitted a private quarantine had prevented any uniform system of regulations for all the colonies. In the new regulations the Government will take all the responsibility. In connection with the first two heads the fees will include keep by artificial feed ; expert inspection will be provided at each port. The new regulations will be submitted to tho Stock Conference for their approval. TRADE MARKS. The Government invite, especially from persons connected with the dairy industries, the devices selected by them as trade marks. The first application is to be accompanied by a fee of five shillings, upon which search will be made to see that the device or trade mark shall not "clash" with any previous trade mark or device sent in to the department. At the end of two months the authoritative trade mark will be issued upon payment of a. fee of twenty shillings. The communications are to be addressed to the Patent Officer, Wellington.