POLITICAL NOTES. Wellington, April 14.

Otago Witness, Issue 2199, 23 April 1896, Page 28

POLITICAL NOTES. Wellington, April 14.

A Cabinet meeting w*s held to-day, when a vote of £1000- for Wellington Harbour defenc.«g was' passed,' and a further appropriation of £1000 made' for the Eketahuna-Woodvill* railway. • It wAfl rumoured that ths vacant portfolio of Atfcornej -g< neral had been filled by the appointment of Lieutenant-colonel Pitt, of Nelson, but_ this proved to be incorreob, as it was decided to defer the matter until a full meeting of tha Cabiuet about two weeks hence. The Hon. J. M'Keczie left for the south this afternoon, and' will be absent about « fortnigtt It; i* understood the session will open gome«what eirlier than last year. Among the measures to be introduced next session will be a bill dealing with private benefit societies and abolishing special juries and coroners' juries. Magistrates will in future con d not coroners' inquiries. The Cabinet decided to grant to the widow of the late Inspector Thomson « compassionate allowance equal to 18 months' salary. .- It has been decided to enforce the vaccination law, as it has been found that there hat been a large falling off in the number of cbildreu vaccinated.

The following board were appointed to deal with applications for decorations for bravery, &c : — The Colonial Secretary, Sir J. Hector, M-ijor Qn ; ck, Mr Martin, S.M., and Mr John Ross, all of Wellington. The Cabinet voted. a sum of £2600 to complete the roads at Cheviot. Instructions were given to »11 registrars »f electors to have the rolls printed and to include in them the supplementary rolls of the last election, so as to make the lists as comple'e as possible.