THE New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1895. THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2412, 18 January 1895, Page 2

THE New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1895. THE HALF-HOLIDAY.

With which are incorporated the Wellington Independent, established ISIS, 'and the Ne w Zealander.

The decision of the Oity Council completes the conference which is to fix the day for the half-holiday. It is a conference of nine members, five from the oity and four from the outside districts. The city five are the Mayor and Councillors Harcourt, Tatum, Anderson and Penty, and the outside representatives are: Messrs Baylis (Melrose), Hod (Jchnsonvillo), Bulkeley (Karori), Holmes (Onslow). On the Saturday question the city members are three for and two against j while of the outside districts, two (Melrose and Johnsonville) have decided for Wednesday, and the delegates of the other districts are left with a free hand. It is'understood, hbwever, that they are in favour of Saturday. Should that be the case, Saturday will be fixed as the half-holiday, It is of course impossible to do more than conjecture. The delegates are theoretically all free to decide as they please; that is the plain reading of the Act, which loaves them untrammelled.," But the decision rqally rests with the representatives of the two outside boroughs whoso appointments were not, so far as wo understand, made on tho question of any particular day. We have given our views on the question, wo have thrown every possible light upon it, we leave the decision in the hands of the conference. A CONTRADICTION. “ We again assert that tho suggestion that Mr Ward should go Home on, public business was not before Cabinet before the Christmas dispersion of Ministers, and that the first the Premier heard of his colleague’s intention of visiting Europe was by telegram from Mr Ward. Mr Seddon himself openly stated this during his holiday trip." To that statement .in yesterday’s Post the Premier desires us to give an unqualified denial. Ha informs us that ho never made the statement alleged, and that it was impossible for him to do so without doing injustice to his colleague, seeing that before leaving for the West Coast the Colonial Treasurer had mentioned the matter to him. .■; THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS For the three quarters ending December 31st, 1894. , Balance from last year ... .£290,238 Revenue (including Sinking Fund Debentures, J!II7,800; recovery from Cheviot, .£1500; and other recoveries, £B3) ... ... 3,118,225 £3,408,463 . ■ Balance - - ... 84,173 .63,492,630 Expenditure— * . Ordinary ... ... £3,442,036 Public Works (from revenue) 60,000 „■ ——. i .63,402,630 .