Wellington, March 4th.

Otago Witness, Issue 1478, 13 March 1880, Page 11

Wellington, March 4th.

Major Atkinson, speaking to-day to the West Coast, railway deputation, stated that, with the utmost possible economy and careful management., the whole of the five million loan would be expended by June next year (1881), after; which the Colony would have to remit Home a million and a-half annually for interest, and would be unable to borrow any more money

for a year and a-half afterwards, or until the end of 1882. He therefore impressed^the urgent necessity of rigid economy and thrift. # A curious incident occurred during the j voyage of the ship Buttermere, which came LTo harbour to-night. She was nub to to land the English Channel pilot, and actually had to brinK him on until she crossed the equator, when she fell in with a Homeward-bound ship and sent him back, after a compulsory voyage of over two months. March sth. The Hon. J. Hall (Premier) left for Auckland this afternoon by the s.s. Arawata. He is expected to be back in Wellington in a fortnfeht. He is accompanied by Captains Smith and Maunsell, private secretaries. While in Auckland the Premier will consult the Hon. F Wbitaker, Attorney-general, regarding the nlouro-pneumonia difficulty in Auckland. He has taken voluminous documents and various information received on the subject. Match 6th. lam informed on gocd authority that the Colonial Treasurer has been obliged to issue an extra L 200,000 deficiency bills, as I intimoted would probably be necessary. This makes the total amount of deficiency bills issued during the current financial year L 1.000,000, and I understand that the Treasurer has obtained power, by Order-in-Council, to issue another L 50,000, if necessary, during the present month. It is now practically certain that the revenue np to the end of the financial year— that is, up to the 31st instant-will fall short of Major Atkinson's estimates by fully L 300.000, but it is hoped thatreductions in expenditure will effect a saving of over LIOO.OOO, thus reducing the net deficit to that extent. The j actual amount of saving will not be known till the end of the month, but it may fairly be announced to be as large as stated, because otherwise another LIOO 000 of deficiency bills would have been required by this time. Marchßfch . The Hon. R. Oliver Minister for Public Works, left Wellington tbis evening by the Stella on an official tour to Piotpn, Nelson-and She West Coast, where he will meet Mr Wm. Oonyew, commissioner of railways for the South laland.with a view to a thorough investigation of the system of working the rwl. ways in those districts, in order to introduce retrenchment wherever practicable. Wellington, March 9th. The dismissal of Major Kemp as native asßessor and land-purchase officer *»»«"} gazetted. The ground of dismissal is stated to be "disobedience of orders and turbulent Co Fou?me mm beb ce r 8 of the Civil Service Royal Commission have now been selected, and it is expected that the fifth will be appointed immediately. The four who have intimated their willingness to act on the Commission are Sir R. Douglas, Mr A. Saunders, M.H^., Mr Thomas Kelly, M.H.R., and the Hon. Charles J. Pharazyn, M.L.C. The commission will probably be issued tomorrow, and in that case the Commission will begin their labours forthW Aconference of insurance head managers is now being held in Wellington, and has been sitting for several days. The insurance companief represented are the New Zealand ComSany, Mr G. P. Pearce ; South British, Mr A. Boardman, senior } National, Mr A. Hill Jack; Union, Mr W. D. Meares j Colonial, Mr F. Allen,' Victoria, Mr John Brindley. The proceedings of the conference are conducted in private, but the business consists of the discussion of various matters affecting insurance generally. A number of the conference waited as a deputation on the Colonial Treasurer on Saturday to point out to the «overnment the hardship of insurance companies being taxed, which theycharactensed as a tax on industry, and one which fell m reality ■ on insurers and not on the companies, as the lalter would have to charge proportionately increased rates to make up for the loss. Major Atkinson promised that the matter should receive the careful attention of the Government, and that an early answer Bhould be returned. The Railway Commission decided yesterday on its programme of business for the current week. The Commissioners will to-day make a personal inspection of the West Coast railway routes between Wellington, .TohnsonviUe, and Porirua. To-morrow they will go to Master. ton, proceeding thence on Thursday over the proposed railway route to Palmerston, via Manawatu Gorge, and then on to Foxton by rail. At each place evidence will be taken as to the land opened up by the West Coast railway, &o. Finally the Commissioners will return to Wellington, along the route of that line, with the object of satisfying themselves by caref al personal examination as to the merits or demerits of the scheme, especially in regard to the quality, extent, and capabilities of the I country which would be affected by it.