DEPARTMENTAL NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1260, 23 April 1896, Page 29

DEPARTMENTAL NEWS.

Cabinet has decided to admit the statue of tho late Bishop Harper, of Christchurch, to the Colony free of duty. The following have been appointed in-

spectors under the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act Mr T. If. Bust wide, analytical chemist, Wellington ; Mr Biekerton, son of Professor Biekerton, Christclmich ; Mr Carnie, Auckland. A tender has been accepted by (he Government for the erection of a Nativo school at ltotoiti. Cabinet has had under consideration tho question of tho necessity of appointing eomo supervision over tho seal fisheries of tho Colony, as there is a fine school of seals in tho Sounds and the Islands, and they are quickly increasing. It Was thought some regulations should be made for their preservation, and the matter was left in the hands of the 1 lon Mr Ward.

The Government have been requested to arrest two deserters from tho French warship Scoiff. They find, however, that the law only permits them to assist tho authorities to effect the arrest, but as it is considered to lie a matter of considerable importance tho Government have decided to bring the matter under tho notice of tho Imperial authorities. Mr H. J. H. Blow, Under-Secretary for Public Works, loft on Fiilay morning for Huntcrvillo to inspect the railway works in progress in that locality. He will bo absent from Wellington about a week. The following concessions have been granted by the Government to delegates from New Zealand Horticultural Societies and Fruit Growers’ Associations to the Conference to bo h»ld at Wellington on May next Ono delegate from each body Will lie allowed a refund of the whole of his railway and steamer fares, and if any further accredited delegates attend they will be gfantod a refund of half their railway fares, and a reduction of 10 per cent, on steamer fares.

Five civilians have been enrolled as mem* hers of the police force under the new regulations. All the vacanc'cs have now been provider! for, and there is no likelihood of other men being taken on shortly. The question of the removal of Mrs Morrison's hotel license from Rotorua to Paoroa, despite the objection of the Government, is now before tho Law Officers of the Crown, and if their opinion is favourable thereto the Government intend to take action to annul the transfer.

Mr Hay, Government engineer, has sent in a report to the Government on the Oliva Gorge co-operative works. It is to tho effect that on several sections the amount paid is, owing to difficulties which have been met with, much below the current rates for works of a similar class. The Government have decided to pay the men in accordance with the higher rates recommended by Mr Hay. Mr McKerrow, Land Purchase Commissioner, has left for Blenheim and Christchurch on departmental business.

Tho facilities which heads of departments have been instructed to give to those under them to join Volunteer companies v ill not, on the recommendation of the Minister of Bailways, ho extended to those railway employees engaged in tho traffic branch, as it has h ;cn represented they could not attend to their Volunteer duties without can-bug intcriereneo with the proper conduct of the service. Cabinet have voted Jj-100 lor the renewal of flic Waitaki Bridge. The tender of Mr Craig’, of Auckland, lor the supply of materials lor the Avondale Asylum extension, has been accepted. Ihe amount of tho tender is JBCU, The Cabinet has declined to grant the application of New Plymouth residents for the remission of the remainder of the sentence passed on Kobe id Wallath, the lanuiakij highwayman. > The Journal o c the Department of Labour for April reports as follows on the state of the labour market in Wellington :-Building trados—Busy ; carpenters, p miters, plumbers and bricklayers are Lilly employed. I'.ngineoring trade Bu'l. Clothing trade Country trade is busy, hut no improvement in town trade. Detail trades—Aery fair; traders state good business done lor the month. Unskilled labour —Iherc has been a large number of applicants for employment during the past month : 87 wore sent away to Government and private works.