WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11546, 4 December 1900, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

,[BY TEtEGBAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] - '• '• '■-.■? Wellington, Monday. MINISTERIAL. The Minister for Railways (the Hon. J. G. Ward) returned from the South yesterday. It is understood that he proceeds to Auckland to-morrow or Wednesday. Upon bis return from Auckland he will again go South. He says it is not yet quite certain whether he will be able to attend the Commonwealth celebrations in Sydney. lhe Minister for Lands left Wellington this morning for Wairarapa. He is accompanied by the Surveyor-General (Mr. A. Barron), The Minister proposes, during his stay in Wairarapa, to visit the several special settlements for the purpose of ascertaining the requirements of the selectors. The Piemier goes overland from Hokitika to Christchurch, some time during next week. SPECIAL CAMPAIGN PENSIONS. A new order as to pensions has been issued from the Imperial War Office to those who served in the Maori war. The following are the conditions to be complied with : — The ' recipient must have received a war medal ; he must be adjudged to be in necessitous circumstances ; he must not be in possession of any other Government pulsion in respect of the same service, or If in receipt of a deferred pension under previous regulations, must surrender such pension ; he must be 65 years of age and upwards. The daily rates of pensions are to be as follows :—Sixteen years' service Itti.d upwards, Is per diem ; 14 years and under 16 years, lOd per diem ; under 14- years, 9d per diem. THE £40 VOTE. The Progressive Liberal Association of Christchurcb have, in severe terms, criticised what is known as the £40 vote. They .say, "The circumstances surrounding tii".d connected with the passing of the £40 grant to members as sessional allowance, constitutes perhaps the most flagrant instance of political jobbery that has lately occurred. In dealing with this matter the as-

sociation would wish it to be distinctly understood that it is not dealing with the question as to whether members had earned the amount voted. The £240 honorarium may be too little, or it may not be, that is nob the point at issue. The objection is to the way in which the amount was taken. The question of an increase was not before the electors during the late general election, so that the people were not consulted in lie matter, and another discreditable feature was the bringing down and carrying throrgh of the proposal on the last night of the session, which proceeding could but suggest that the Government were aware of the dishonourable nature of the action, and, therefore, would baulk any protest that could be made." THE HON. J. McKENZIE. The ex-Minister for Lands is improving in health. He is now able to take outside exercise. He contemplates a visit to the Cheviot very soon. GOVERNMENT GEOLOGIST. Mr. McKay has returned to Wellington. He will proceed in a few days to examine the range between Palliser Bay and Woodville. His son, who is assistant geologist, has been on the ground for some time.