WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11365, 7 May 1900, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

———* [BY TBLEORArn.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Saturday. THE PREMIER'S HEALTH. Tnß, Times thus refers in its leading columns to the Premier's health:—"Everyone in Nev Zealand, and many beyond its borders, will be sorry to learn that Mr. Seddon's health has been so affected by the strain of overwork through the past six months, that his medical advisers have ordered him to take complete rest of several weeks' duration from all Ministerial duty. It is stated that Mr. Seddon has had three separate seizures— in severity, but ominous in their nature. It is understood that Mr. Seddon will shortly depart on an extended holiday to a place where he will enjoy perfect repose, and where even an urgent telegram will nor, reach him. It is confidently hoped that by this means he will have his health so restored that he will be able to conduct business as Leader of the House of Representatives with his wonted energy and ability when Parliament assembles at the end of June next. It is probable that during Mr. Seddon's absence the Hon. J. 0. Ward will be Acting-Premier. THE SURPLUS. The Post criticises with severity tho surplus presented by the Premier. Tho writer says tho true surplus on March 31 was £109,190, not £605,351, as alleged by Mr. Seddon. That is obtained in this way: The total revenue is £5,699,617 ; the year's expenditure was £5,590,127. Deduct the latter sum from tho former, and there remains a credit balance of £109,490. Mr. Seddon gets his surplus by adding £495.861, the balance carried over from the year 189899, to the credit balance of this year. By carrying over from year to year large balances, Mr. Seddon has in the seventh vear of his Premiership, and the fourth of his treasurership, obtained his record surplus. It is a system of financing peculiar to tiio present Government, and as misleading as it is peculiar. MR. G. HUTCHISON, M.H.R. The member for Patea is on his way home from South Africa. He obtained passports from the civil and military authorities during his stay at the front, He was thus enabled to sco a great deal. He visited Durban, Ladysmith, and Maritzburg. He also visited the'Maino hospital shin, the vessel which was given to England by American sympathisers.