WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9442, 23 February 1894, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[by TELEGRAPH.— own correspondent.] Wellington, Thursday. POLITICS. The Otago members are the first to sound the alarm that their province is much neglected by the Government. The Ofcago Central Railway League, according to the intelligence just to hand, have adopted a resolution calling on the Otago members to demand particulars of the voce of last session, £45,000, for the Central line. The meeting at which this was done was highly representative, Messrs. Pinkerton, M.H.R., Hutchison, M.H.R., Earnshaw, M.H.R., Millar, M.H.R., Morrison, M.H.R., Fraser, M.H.R., Allen, M.H.R., Mackenzie (T,), M.H.R., taking part in the proceedings. One grievance was suggested, to the effect that it were better for the colony to spend the £45,000 upon opening up the centre of Otago by railway than buying laudator settlement in the North Island. It is remarked here that Mr. Earnshaw was the strongest speaker against the Government. He said that out of £30,000 in 1891 (round numbers) only £14,000 had been expended in 1891; out of £36,000 voted in 1892 only £20,000 had been expended. He discovered two important discrepancies between the Government promises and performances. In fact, the work had a claim upon the Government to the extentof £70,000, and the Otago members should require that amount to be pub on the Estimates next session for this line. Mr. Morrison interjected, " Why did you not get that done last session ?" to which Mr. Earnshaw replied " that they were too obedient to a Liberal Government." It is thought that this reply, and the tone of the speech as a whole, indicates anything but a friendly attitude towards the present administration, Messrs. Pinkerton and Hutchison were the apologists for the Government, but they did not make out a very strong case for their clients.

MARRIAGE OF MR. O. S. MCKINNEY. This gentleman was married to-day at half-past two o'clock to Miss Leggett. He is one of the most efficient and popular athletes in the colony, which he has represented in many a hard-fought cricket field. I am writing within hearing of the loud cheers given to him by his friends on board the Takapuna, which is about to start for Auckland. It is a high compliment paid to Mr. McKinney that the iNew South Wales cricketers, hearing of his approaching marriage, marched to the church where it was to be solemnised, and apain met him and his bride on board the steamer, sending after the happy pair three hoarty cheers. A NEW MONEY SCHEME. Mr. Gressley Lukin propounds a new scheme for raising money to aid settlers. The details are somewhat intricate, but the central idea is that a " trust" composed of the highest financial authorities, including one or more of the governors of the Bank of England, should be created. This, with the Government guarantee, would be good enough security to obtain money at 3$ per cent. Half per cent, would go for expenses of management, and one per cent, for sinking fund, making in all five per cent. This scheme has attracted some attention here as worthy of consideration. SIR R. stout. Both this evening's papers congratulated the senior member for Wellington on the ignominious defeat he put upon his opponents in the Supreme Court; both regret thab evidence on the merits could nob be heard, because it would then, they say, have made manifest Sir R. Stout's political purity and integrity. The result, they say, will be to raise Sir Robert's political reputation to a very high plane and place him without doubt at the head of the Liberal party in Parliament. LAND for SETTLEMENT. The Land Purchase Commissioners have recommended the Government to accept the offer of Mr. Buchanan's estate in Hawke's Bay, for £10,000. hot WEATHER. The weather here is unusually hob. Astronomical students have been taking observations of the " glorious planet Sol," and one gentleman writes to the papers to say that there is a large spot apparent almost at the centre of the disc. It is abnormally large, and almost visible with the naked eye through a smoked glass.