WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, February 21.

Otago Witness, Issue 2088, 1 March 1894, Page 17

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, February 21.

NATIVE AFFAIRS. The Premier has, I understand, requested the presence of Mr Seth Smith, Chief Judge of the Native Land Courts, in Wellington, in order that he may devise with him some effective reforms of procedure to expedite the business of the courts. THE STOUT PETITION. The result of the Stout election petition was received in the city with unmistakable pleasure and satisfaction. The decision of the judges being adverse to the petitioners in both ceurts, there can practically be no appeal. I hear to-day that an action at law will be taken against the principal contributor to the fund that was necessary for instituting the petition proceedings. THE BANKING CONTROVERSY. The newspaper controversy over the banking question and the alleged exodus of gold is becoming very animated. The New Zealand Trade Review, to be issued to-morrow, contains a plain and intelligent statement of the money movements in question, concluding thus : — " These figures certainly give no colour to the charges brought against the Australian banks, but rather the reverse." February 22. THE PREMIER AT STANMORE. I gather from the Premier that his speech at Stanmore will be mainly devoted to Native matters, but that he will not unlikely have something to say upon railway affairs and the recent change of commissioners. Upon the Native question he will indicate the nature and scope of his intended mission to the chiefs of the East and West Coasts, and his desire to ascertain personally as far as may be possible the wishes of these people as to the manner of dealing with their land, particularly in respect of title. Upon the East Coast the tribal law of property in land still survives, and where this obtains a trust is apparently inevitable. On the West Coast and Waikato the Natives, with advancing civilisation, prefer that their rights be individualised. I understand that the Premier will spare no effort to bring owners of both shades of opinion into agreement with the wish of the Government, which is to obtain fair possession of land required for settlement as indicated by Parliament. If the Native owners prove obstinately impervious to fair I representations, I quite expect that they will be told that the Government musb ask Parliament for amended legislation to meet the demands for Native lands. IS THERE TO BE MORE PBOTECTION ? A statement has obtained currency that the Government had settled upon a variation of the tariff for protective purposes. I to-day solicited information from the Premier on the subject. I did not get it for a while. Smiling blandly, he declined to make the smallest sign. Notwithstanding this inscrutibility, I have reason to think that some variation of the incidence of customs taxation is contemplated. There will probably be a remission of duty upon certain products imported that are or may be required for use in local factories, and the duties thus remitted will be further imposed upon certain goods already protected that can be manufactured locally. CO-OPERATIVE LABOURERS. I to-day had an opportunity of asking the Premier if the statement freely made that 25 per cent, of the co-operative labourers had received notice to discontinue work was true. Mr Seddon explained that what had been done was on allfours with the practice of the department in former years — viz., to reduce the number of hands at harvest time, when work was wanted and offering in other directions. In any such reduction of numbers the single men are the first to go, and in all cases married men with families locally resident have a preference. THE STOUT PETITION. Captain Barry — who is, I understand, widely known in the colony, and would have been an important personage in the drama of the Stout petition had the performance been continued — played an unlooked-for part in the closing scene. ' • Just as the court was adjourning (says the Post), Captain Jackson Barry, with whom it is alleged the bet which formed one of the grounds of the petition was made, approached the judges and applied for his expenses. The Chief Justice referred the gallant captain to Mr Jellicoe as the successful party, but Mr Jellicoe in turn referred him to Mr Edwards as the person by whom he had been subpoenaed. Mr Edwarda declined any responsibility, but the captain remarked that he would look to Mr Edwards to recoup him for the month which he had been detained in Wellington in connection with the case." A STATE BANK. The Post, in an editorial this evening, says the whole cry got up by the Ministry and its organs against the banks ie intended to throw the public on an entirely false scent, and to cover and promote designs tending to the establishment of a State Bank — a manufactory of a depreciated greenback currency. There is something to give colour to this statement, and in fact I have already more than once indicated that the Government purpose the issue of a limited paper currency under the Postal Act Amendment Act of last session, which will be found to contain all the powers that the Treasurer may require to issue a legal tender paper currency. More, lam of opinion that the fl'Sb issue is not far off, and that it will be fmt employed in the payment of co-operative labour. February 23. A LEGAL VACANCY. Mr Seth Smith, chief judge of the Native Lands Court, has, I believe, resigned his office in order to proceed to Europe, where he is likely to remain. The office must be filled by a barrister, and excepting Judge Barton, who is wanted for the special validation of titles, there is no barrister in the department. Under the circumstances it is not unlikely that the prize will fall to one of the disappointed of the 12 aspirants for the position of law draftsman, which reminds me to say that the winner of that prize will, I think, be found in the person of a brilliant young New Zealander, who has achieved a distinguished university career. THE STOUT ELECTION PETITION. I have before told of a probable action for " maintainence," or improper interference in an action, which would probably arise out of the Stout petition. The Post in the following throws a side light upon this: — "We are informed that a new and somewhat amusing phase of the election petition case has been developed. The petitioners have, it is stated, served notice on the court not to part with the £200 deposited as security en. their behalf to anyone but themselves. This step may lead to a full disclosure as to where the money deposited came from, a point at present involved in some mystery, but regarding which considerable public curiosity exists." February 26. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. I have reason to believe that the Minister for Education contemplates an important new departure in the management of the industrial schools in the direction of an enlargement of

the boarding-out system. The nature of the reform I cannot particularise, but it is of a kind that will, I believe, be warmly welcomed by the many public spirited and philanthropic citizens who so actively identify themselves with the needs of the helpless infant life of the community. Legislation will be required, and the Minister will at once proceed with the preparation of the necessary measure for presentation to Parliament. RECIPROCITY Ott REPRISALS. I find that the Premier is much impressed with the importance of the facts he has had formulated as to the balance of intercolonial trade values in favour of New South Wales and Victoria as against New Zealand. These he attributes to the fiscal policy of our neighbours, and particularly to the trade restriction of the port of Sydney. His Government, he contends, are willing to establish reciprocal trade relations with any or all of the Australian colonies, and if New Zealand is to be made to suffer by the hostile tariffs of the Continental provinces without hope of any equable adjustment of customs difference, then I shall not be surprised if a policy of reprisals is projected. If, it will be asked, Sydney finds in New Zealand, among other things, an open market for her coal, why should not our grain have a corresponding advantage of a like value in New South Wales ? •' Free oats for free coal" would be a cry that would capture many votes, and would appeal directly to the farmers, who just now are sorely in need of wider markets. MR LUKIN'S SCHEME. The throe Wellington papers to-day review editorially the land and loan policy formulated by Mr Gresley Lukin in an open letter to the Premier, published in the Otago Daily Times of the 19 th inst SUGGESTED REDUCTION IN GRAIN RATES. Speaking at Shannon on Saturday night the Premier disclaimed any personal friendship in the appointment of Mr Ronayne as railway commissioner. He scarcely knew him, and had no idea what his politics might be. He was appointed solely on his merits as a railway expert. Mr Seddon remarked that, in view of the bad harvest in the south, if the commissioners were to allow a discount of 25 per cent, on the ordinary grain rates this season, in his opinion it would be warranted, and the Treasury would not object. If he were a member of the board he would not hesitate for a moment, and believed he would be supported by Parliament. The meeting passed votes of thanks and confidence in the Government. February 27. INTERCOLONIAL IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. The Premier's reasons for projecting into prominence the present condition of intercolonial trade as affecting New Zealand are contained in the following statement which he has handed to me: — Return showing the imports to New Zealand from Victoria and New South Wales. Also exports from New Zealand to Victoria and

Balance of trade in favour of Victoria and New South Wales for 1893, £338.264.

New South Wales, exclusive of gol lor the year 1893 :—: — Id and spei JCM c, Imports. Victoria £383,519 New South Wales ... 460,603 Totals £841,122 Exports. £134,866 370,992 £505,858