WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9492, 23 April 1894, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[BY TELEGRAPH,— CORRESPOND Wellington, Saturday, THE ELECTORAL ROLL. Is the Registrar entitled to bake off the roll the names of persons who did nob vote at the licensing elections, as well as non- voters at the general election for members of the Assembly ? This question is engaging some angry controversy here just now. The Government were accused of an " attempt at wholesale disfranchisement" in having given orders to take the non-voters at the licensing election off the roll. To this charge an emphatic denial was given, in fact no orders whatever were given by the Government upon this matter. The Registrar is a statutory officer, who interprets the Act for himself. lb appears that the clause is interpreted " any election," and nob any " parliamentary election," after which non - voters names are bo be erased. At all events this is the interpretation which the Wellington Registrar is putting upon the clause, and he is striking off names of persons who did not vote at the licensing elections as well as those who did not vote at the parliamentary election. THK MIDLAND RAILWAY. The Premier has received a letter from Mr. /Etieas McDonald, secretary of the company, intimating that the company could not satisfy the Govern as to completing the line between Reefton and Bclgrove, which they take to be included in resolution D. Resolution D, it will be recollected, was paused in Committee of the House last session, to the following effect, "That the modifications in the contract bo madecondibionalonlyonthe company having first satisfied the Government that the company is in tho position to raise the necessary capital required to complete the several railway works mentioned in the contract." The secretary reminds the Premier that the company cannot themselves say what modifications will be required, that the Government would not put any impediments in the way of raising the necessary capital, and that compliance with resolution D in its entirety, more particularly as regards tho Belgrove and Reefton line, cannot be assured to tho satisfaction of the Government. Hence the company suggest a revision of the rule D, with a view to facilitate the raising of the necessary capital in the first instance. In brief terms, this means that the modifications, being first fixed, shall facilitate the raising of the necessary capital. Not to make the modifications will be an impediment to raising the necessary capital on the most favourable terms. THE UNEMPLOYED.

A representative of the Post waited upon Mr. Tregaar this morning as to a report made by the unemployed to the editor of that journal yesterday. Mr. Tregear said that the number of unemployed had been very much exaggerated. It should be borne in mind that the Labour Bereau had to do with men fit to do work whenever the cry of want of employment was raised. A large number of persons, who through age, bodily infirmity, and from other causes were unaccustomed to manual labour, brought upon the able-bodied men who had an immediate claim upon the bureau uninformed or misinformed criticism. The proceedings of charitable societies contributed largely to these excitements. When these ineffective hands were deducted from the actual labour supply the number was greatly reduced. The labour journal published yesterday in connection with the bureau, states that trade in several departments of labour is dull, but there is no insuperable difficulty in dealing with the number of men out of work. The number of men employed by the Government on co-operative and other works is 1862—that is, 951 in connection with the Survey Department, and 911 in connection with public works surveys, Wellington 3Gi, Auckland 103, Taranaki 130, Canterbury 132,0tag050, Southland, 125. On public works : North Islana railway (north end) 72, (south end) 108, Eketahuna-Woodville 221. A few on other works. TE ARO SPECIAL SETTLEMENT. The Government have refused to recognise the claim of the Te Aro special settlement to land in the Awarua block. Mr. McLean, late M. H.R., has interviewed the Minister of Lands on the subject on the strength of a promise said to have been made to the intending settlers by the late Mr. Ballance. There appears to be no rocord of any such promise, and the Cabinet have already arrived at a decision in respect of the particular land applied for. OYSTERS. Mr. C. H. Mills, M.H.R., is in Wellington endeavouring to obtain from the Government some help towards the artificial culture of the Pelorus Sound oyster. He has submitted plans for oyster culture. The Pelorus 3ound oyster used to be a delicacy many years ago, bub the natural beds were exhausted.