WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11539, 26 November 1900, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Saturday. THE VISIT OF THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK. The reception of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York is beginning to gather interest here. Various schemes are proposed. It is suggested that there should be an overbridge from Bowen-street (including Sydney-street and Government House) to the new Parliament Buildings. This affords an occasion for erecting a handsome triumphal arch across Sydney-street. Another suggestion is to enclose the Basin Reserve for an immense garden party. A PRESENT FROM THE MAORIS TO LORD ROBERTS. The Maoris have resolved to present Lord Roberts with a greenstone mere, as a tribute of admiration. The greenstone mere is the symbol of Maori chieftainship. ACCLIMATISATION. The report of the manager of the fish hatcheries at Masterton is encouraging. These hatcheries now contain 3000 yearling rainbow trout. They have also nearly 500 fontonalis. Some improvements and repairs have been suggested ; there is accommodation for a million ova in the hatcheries, 800,000 ova are expected from the Agent-General in London. ANTI- VACCINATION. The S.M. heard argument of applications from persons having conscientious scruples against the inoculation of their children under the Vaccination Act. The number who presented themselves was 25. Exemption certificates were issued accordingly. STAMPS. Forty thousand new penny postage stamps, sent from London by the San Francisco mail, are due here on December 10 ; 60.000 by the Waiwera, between 15th and 20th ; and 900,000 by the Papanui, due on December 31. The other million and the plates have been forwarded by the Gothic. THE LABOUR MARKET. The returns of the Labour Department show that work is plentiful throughout the colony. The number of men on co-operative labour is 3890. Of these, 1702 are employed in the Survey Department, and 2197 in the Public Works. There are on the North Island Trunk line, 729 ; Otago Central, 397 ; Midland, 292. The labourers assisted during the month were 135. A NEW INDUSTRY. Mr. J. C. Cooper of Wellington has returned from the sponge fishing fields of the Greek Archipelago ; he made himself while there acquainted with the whole process of sponge fishing in the hope of being able to introduce that industry to the Pacific Islands. A poor sample of sponges found at the Chatham Islands were sent to the principal sponge dealers at Home. A few enterprising men in Wellington have formed a syndicate for the purpose of encouraging the new industry. A large firm in London has promised to" take, for testing purposes, all that may be sent to them. MINISTERIAL. The Hon. C. H. .Mills will take up his residence in Wellington towards the end of the present month. The people of Havelock have invited him to that part of his electorate that he may receive their congratulations upon his elevation to Cabinet rank. He will go there at the earliest opportunity, and then go on to Canvastown to receive a similar compliment. The Minister for Lands returned" from Wanganui last night. JUSTICE. The Minister for Justice has directed that a more liberal dietary shall be allowed to prisoners who arc merely detained before trial. This has come out of the complaint of the man Lillywhite (alias Blatch) who is now under examination upon a charge of murder at Colchester, eight years ago. THE NEW MAGISTRATE. The position of relieving Stipendiary Magistrate has been offered to, and accepted by,"Dr. McA'rthur. of Auckland, the present coroner for Auckland. He will arrive in Wellington in about 12 days' time. He will then lake up the duties of Stipendiary Magistrate here during the time Mr. Haselden is absent on the Coal Mine Commission.