N.Z. MAIL PUBLISHED WEEKLY. FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1888.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 839, 30 March 1888, Page 16

N.Z. MAIL PUBLISHED WEEKLY. FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1888.

The Salisbury Ministry have scored a veritable triumph in their Budget which has just been delivered by Mr Goshen. No such brilliant success has fallen to any Chancellor of the Exchequer for many years past. A genuine surplus of three millions in spite of all the exceptional expenditure involved by Irish affairs, the extension of the navy, domestic disturbances, &c., is, indeed, a remarkable record. The most satisfactory feature of the affair is the strong presumptive evidence afforded that the long depression which has hung over English trade is at last giving way, and is about to be replaced by another period of prosperity. Should these agreeable anticipations be realised New Zealand cannot fail to enjoy . a share of the returning good fortune. The financial proposals of the English Government appear to be admirable in their character, and we are not surprised to learn that the Budget altogether has been received with a loud chorus of cordial praise.

The members of the Industrial Conference, whose report was presented to the Government on Wednesday, deserve the hearty thanks of the public for the very useful work they have done. Many of their suggestions and recommendations are exceedingly valuable, and will doubtless bear good fruit. Even if all their proposals cannot be carried out in extenso, theirremarks on the various subj ects cannot fail to be a great help and guide to the Government in dealing with the great question' of local industries and their development.’ The report is a very able arid infiire’stingdbcif merifc which does c'red it to th'e ability bf the Conference, arid Whether or hot the GOv'emmbnt prove 'able to frame a revised tariff that shall 'satisfy all parties:—which we should deq'm in the highest degree improbable —there is 110 doubt'that their efforts will be materially faciliated by the copious hints given by the Conference as to the desires of the industrialists.” The results of the Conference are an' abundant justification of its having been held, and of the action of the Government in affording it every reasonable assistance.

Wednesday’s violent storm has proved disastrous in its effects. Much damage is reported from all parts of the Colony, but Wellington iii this instance lpis come in for an extra share. The virtual destruction of the railway as far as Bitone is moat unfortunate, occurring just now when the Colony can so ill afford to make a considerable length of railway oyer again, and in a more expensive manner. The work will have to be done, however, and it is to ho hoped that advantage will be taken of the opportunity to lay the line in a more rational course, following a straighter route and avoiding as many as possible of the extraordinary curves and twists which have always made this length of line a laughingstock to visitors and a nuisance to its users. Even if it does cost a little more to lay a straighter line the benefit will be worth the additional outlay. The authorities deserve much credit for the

prompt and efficient arrangements they have made (which are notified in another column) for carrying on the traffic, pending the restoration of railway communication between Wellington and Pitone. We trust that will be at no very distant date.

It has been decided, we understand, not to remove Inspector Browne to Auckland, but to retain his services in Wellington in the position of ‘ ‘ Chief Detective. ’’ The Government consider that there is no need for two Inspectors in one town, the two holding co-ordinate powers, and that such an arrangement is prejudicial to the interests of the service, as one man ought to bo at the responsible head of the local force. They also deem it distinctly disadvantageous to have the detective force worked as a separate body. Experience lias proved in many cases that this plan works very badly. Ministers, therefore, intend that the detective branch shall be equally under the control of each local Inspector with the rest of the police force. Inspector Thomson will, therefore, henceforward command the entire force in the Wellington District.

An excellent suggestion has been made to the effect that a committee of ladies shall be appointed in connection with the Wellington Hospital to assist in looking after the well-being of the patients. We understand that a scheme to this effect has been submitted to the Hospital Committee, and is now under consideration. The proposal is one which certainly ought to be adopted. Such a committee could be useful in many ways, which will at once suggest themselves to those acquainted with the working of the Hospital.