WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9178, 19 April 1893, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday. MINISTERS. Sir Patrick Booklet is expected to return to Wellington on Friday night, tho lion. Mr. Seddon on Friday, and tho Hon. Mr. Ward on Sunday next. It is expected that a full Cabinet will bo held on Monday or Tuesday next. ELECTION RUMOURS. Tho Electoral Bill of last year, which was thrown out, will bo introduced, I understand, at an early period of the next session. I learn that this important measure is being revised under tho direction of the Government, and that it will bo altered and amended in ono or two important particulars. The idea that prevails is, that the object to which these alterations tend is to perfect the political machinery by which, tho women's franchise may bo exercised. According to tho information that roaches me, tho activity of tho electoral wire-pullers in the political centres has bocomo marked, and tho correspondence between the local chiefs of the several sections of the federated trades unions is incessant. It is said that in this city there is a good deal of difference of opinion betwoen the trade organisations. Although the differences are not manifested in any positive way, they are said to exist, and will have a very strong influence on the polling. As to the Opposition, their policy, I am told, is to run "dark horses" everywhere. THE PROPOSED CANADIAN-PACIFIC MAIL SERVICE. Messrs. Huddart, Parker, and Co. addressed a letter to tho Premiers of the various colonies a short time since, stating the terms upon which they wero prepared to carry out the above service, including the Australian colonies. The Post this evening prints the substance of tho proposal, embodying it in a loading article. From this it appears that a port of call in New Zealand was not at first contemplated. The following is the proposal. Mr. Huddart says: "In January last I forwarded to Sir John Thompson, Premier of the Dominion of Canada, a letter in which I offered to place a service of swift steamers for postal and commercial purposes between Sydney and Vancouver via Honolulu. It seemed to mo that it would bo usoless to approach tho Governments of Australasia until the co-operation of Canada was assured. I very much regret that my negotiation with the Dominion Government had not at that time been carried so far as to enable me to submit a practicable scheme to tho Brisbane Conference. Canada's clear promise of assistance reached mo just too late to bo utilised in that way. In reply to tho communication already alluded to Sir J. Thompson cabled that his Government had statutory authority for a subsidy of £25,000 for a fortnightly service, or a proportionate sum for a monthly one. Further negotiations followed, and I am now in receipt of a message from the Hon. Mr. McKenzio Bowell, Acting-Premier (in the absence of Sir J. Thompson, who is visiting Europe), to tho effect that tho Dominion Government guarantee a like amount with Australia up to £20,000 for a monthly service. That offer defines tho position so far as Canada is concerned, and Canada may yotincreaso tho offer. The proposal I have to make is that of a four-weekly 14-knot service between Sydney and Vancouver via Honolulu, for a yearly subsidy of £50,000. One-half of this amount may bo taken as already guaranteed by Canada, and I hope to receive some assistance from the British Government, and am prepared to promptly initiate the service if tho Australian Government will guarantee the sum of £20,000 annually for iivo years.'' Presuming that New Zealand will continue tho present service to San Francisco, tho service to Vancouver would give a fortnightly post to North America. Australian letters via Vancouver would bo delivered in tho United States more quickly than they are now via San Francisco. It is said to be doubtful whether tho scheme can bo carried out in tho present circumstances of tho Australian colonies. Now Zealand is not ovon regarded as waiting to be asked to provide the balance of £10,000. DUMMYISSI. The following circular is published this evening by the Evening Press, as a genuine document issued by tho Lands Department. Its authenticity is vouched for in a subleader. It is addressed to the officers of the Land Department: "Whenever an officer may have reasonable and wellfounded grounds for believing that dummyism is being attempted or practised in respect of any land sold, leased, or open for sale or lease he will forthwith report tho same in writing to his immediate superior officer, with a statement of such facts as he may have obtained in connection therewith ; the superior officer Is hereby requested to make such inquiries with reference thereto as may bo necessary to show whether or nob the case is a prima facie one of dummyism, and if he find that ib is so ho should at onco refer tho matter to this ollico with full particulars in order that further steps may bo taken. In any future cases of dummyism when it may appear that an oflicor had reasonable grounds for believing that it was being practised and did not report the fact as herein required he will bo called strictly to account, and will ho dealt with as the case may require. This circular is considered necessary, because in every case yet tried tho information relating to it has boon obtained from tho public.