WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9479, 7 April 1894, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[BT TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday. NATIVE LAND COURT.

Judge O'Brien and Judge Von Sturmer are engaged upon " re-hearings" ab Whanganui. They have been sitting for more than a fortnight, and I understand such is the large amount of business for " re-hear-ing" that they will be occupied every day for the next fortnighb before they will be able to adjourn their Court. Judge Ward, I am informed, continues to be so ill that he will nob be able to sib for some time to come.

EXPENSE OF LICENSING ELECTIONS. Thero is every sign that the Premier will be kept close to his spoken words at Tauranga, in regard to assistance to local bodies for the expenses of elections. In scattered districts the expenses are greater than those of the populous centres. Mr. Seddon's words are quoted at length: "If local bodies are put to additional expense it is only fair that the Government should recoup them from colonial funds." Mr. Pirani, M.H.R., approves of this declaration in bis paper. He hopes that it may be embodied in a legislative proposal and endorsed by Parliament in its coming session. NATIVE AGENT. Ib is understood that Mr. W. Williams has resigned his office of native agent on West Coast, and Mr. Rennell of New Plymouth has been appointed to fill his place. Mr. Rennell is, or was, the Trust Commissioner for the West Coast leases not included in the Arbitration Courts Act. He bears an excellent reputation as an active officer and a man of strict probity.