WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9020, 27 October 1892, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[by TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS. The Hon. Mr. Ballance, accompanied by Mrs. Ballance, left by this morning's train for Wanganui. The Hon. Mr. Seddon will return to Wellington to-morrow. He goes to his home on the West Coast before proceeding to Melbourne on private business. THE WELLINGTON MAYORALTY. Tho election of the Mayor of this city for the coming year is likely to be a bitter contest. Mr. Duthie having retired in consequence of illness in his family Mr. Bell takes his place. Mr. George Fisher has expressed his determination bo go bo the poll. Nobody says anything against the fitness of either of these gentlemen for the office, but a new element has manifested itself. The expenditure following upon a large municipal loan means brisk work and good wages for a season or two for the artisan class, many of whom are ratepayers. Mr. George Fisher has always had the support of this class in Wellington. He possesses and is entitled to the credit of initiating and completing an admirable water supply for Wellington, and in electioneering tactics he has few equals. At the general election friends and foes alike thought he would be fortunate if he went in ab the bottom of the poll, bub he was, if the phrase may be used, ab the "tip top." The excitement over the preparations for the election is becoming warmer from day bo day. An opponent of Mr. Fisher told me to-day that he would not be surprised bo see him returned. The higher class of commercial and official ratepayers are likely to support Mr. Bell, "bub the numerical strength of the working class is formidable. In this, as in other elections, " our George " has often counted upon it without failing. THE ROTORUA NATIVE CLAIMS. The Hon. the Native Minister (who is greatly improved in health) informed me today that he had succeeded in purchasing some 15 more shares bolonging to the Rotorua natives. He believes he will be able to complete the purchase of five more shares within the next few weeks. These purchases are important. You will recall the memory of Sydney Taiwhanga, M.H. It., who claimed some £30,000 from the Atkinson Government in respect of these Kotorua claims. When the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson became Minister he found these shares and the importunity of Taiwhanga and his clients an infinite source of trouble. He resolved to purchase the shares, of which there were. I believe, over eleven hundred. He was of opinion thab nothing could bo done for the district until the incubus of these native claims should be removed. Bub Mr. Taiwhanga was a Maori Jack-in-the-box; he jumped into the Native Offico in season and out of season. The Native Minister of the day was not moved ; he went on extinguishing the native claims. The Hon. Mr. Cadman has followed the policy of his predecessor. These last purchases comprised the shares of Mr. Taiwhanga himself, his brothers', cousins', aunts, and a lot of other relations. The Minister informs me that a very small number of claims remain bo be dealt with ; there is, therefore, a fair prospect for Koborua. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. There is happening in this Department what everyone expected at the beginning of last session. A large number of extra hands were then put on to meet the exigencies of the session. The thing was done under pressure. The session is over, the work for which the extra hands were wanted has ceased, and the result is a discharge of the extra hands. The newspapers are full of complaints. The journals, of course, impugn the good faith of the Government, and impute motives good, bad, and indifferent, for this clearance. Some hands are kept on. They are pronounced to be the " right colour ;" but from the first the result was obvious. There are, I learn, some cases of hardship, where men have large families to support. THE HON. IIOIA ONSLOW. News has reached here that Her Majesty the Queen presented this young gentleman, the son of Lord Onslow, born in New Zealand, with a present on his birthday. You will remember bhab Her Majesty was pleased bo stand godmother for this child, whom the natives of Wairarapa had adopted. The present bakes tho form of a very beautiful statuette of Her Majesty, with the Royal monogram engraved thereon.