WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12147, 18 December 1902, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[by telegraph. correspondent.] Wellington, Wednesday. REMOUNTS: The Australasian Chamber of Commerce in London is inviting suggestions from the New Zealand Chambers in regard to the question j of the' breeding of remounts for the Im- j penal-army. ' It appears that there is con- j siderable confusion in the minds of breeders as to the stamrj of horse required, and in or- J der that a standard should be fixed for .then- j guidance the Executive Committee of the; Australasian Chamber lias communicated with the: War Office. The secretary of that Chamber, in a letter to Mr. S. Car-oil, secretary of the Wellington Chamber, says: '""The question is still under the consideration of the Executive Committee, and I fin sending you by this mail the Government Blue Book, giving the reports upon the working of the Remounts Department abroad. The Chamber will be indebted to you for any suggestions you may care to make, widen' can bo incorporated in further correspondence with the Imperial Government." . OBITUARY. The Auckland friends of Mr. F. W. Styles, of the Railway Department, formerly station master at Wellington, and afterwards at Auckland, will regret to learn of the death of his wife, who died at Grey mouth on Enday. She had been in failing health since leaving Auckland. V DUTY ON TOBACCO. The Austin Walsh Company, of Auckland,' is applying for ' concessions in the duty on tobacco imported from Fiji. « The Minister j for Customs, in reply to the application, has i asked' for a statement in writing from the company, and if he finds that the concession is warranted he will bring the matter before the Cabinet. He has advised Mr. Walsh to turn his' attention ti the Cook group as a field for tobacco-growing. Mr. Mills has just now in his possession a good sample of tobacco grown at Mangaia. » NEW ZEALAND BRASS BAND. '

Besson and Co., the well-known instrumentmakers, have written to the. promoters of the tour of the New Zealand brass band in England, informing them that, a set of instruments, valued at £700, described as the finest yet made by \he firm, awaits the band on its arrival in England. The instruments are to bo. used bv the band in its tour at Home. It is stated that about £750 is all that requires to be still, collected of the fund to send the band Home. The band, the organisation of which has been left in the hands of Lieutenant Herd, who will go with it as bandmaster, will consist of 28 playing members, representative. as far as possible of the whole of the colony. It will be got together immediately after tho next band contest, which iis to be held at Masterton in. February next, and will probably have about a month's practice before sailing from the colony. The members will be paid during the time they are on tour, but only a small ( wage, until the subscribers have been re-. couped out of what profits may bo made. Then salaries will be raised to a. certain limit, after which the subscribers are to share tho whole of the profits. ; If there are no profits, but a loss is shown, then the bandsmen, as well as the subscribers, will suffer, but there is no further liability cast upon the subscribers. It is probable that before the New Zealand band sails on its tour it will give at least one concert in the colony. The uniforms for the band will bo provided out of the funds raised by the bands of the colony by local concerts. ORGAN FOR TOWN HALL. At a meeting of the executive of the Wellington Industrial Association last night, Mr. T. Ballinger presiding, a letter was read from Mr. Maughan Barnett stating that a suitable organ for the new town hall should be procurable for £5000, and that if it is to bo erected in time for the opening of the exhibition no time should be lost in making the necessary arrangements." Ho suggested the names of a number of English firms which should be communicated with on the subject. Jfte'committee resolved that a letter be sent id the City Council pointing out the need for taking immediate steps in regard to sending plans and measurements of the hall to the leading organ-makers in England by next San Francisco mail, asking for specifications, and estimates for an organ suitable for the building. It* was also decided to send a copy of Mr. Barnett's letter to the City Council. DEFENCE. - The statement that General Babington has prepared a scheme for the improvement of the defenco force is denied by Ministers. It is stated that no such scheme is before Cabinet.;.