WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2363, 8 June 1899, Page 28

WELLINGTON.

The committee which, has taken the initial steps towards -working the Parapara iron deposits in the Nelson district will interview the Premier on his return, placing the project -before him. They will suggest that the Government take work up as a State concern, and if that is not feasible that steps be taken to obtain certain concessions from the Government, and obtain the necessary capital. About a quarter of a million sterling is required to carry out the works. The Postal department notify that in order to meet the requirements of the Postal Union as agreed upon at the Washington Convention, it has been decided to alter the colours of the id. Id, and 2id

stamps in' use in New Zealand. From an early date the £d stamps will be printed in gieen, the Id in red, and the 2£d in a darker blue. This change is also to be adopted by the Australian post offices. The colours of the 4d and 6d stamps will, owing to this change, require to be altered, but the new colours have not yet been decided on.

During May, rain fell in Wellington on 26 days out of 31, the total being 6.87 in. The average in previous years was 4.88 in.

At a public meeting, held last evening, it was decided to form a branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation here. Mr Edwards, organiser, said there were branches in every electorate but three, and communication had been opened, on behalf of the federation, with someone in the neighbourhood of every polling place in the colony. He suggested that they should adopt the plan arranged in Dunedin, where the professional and commercial Liberals were to select one candidate, and the Labour another, and decide the third at a conference between both sections. Mr T. Carmichael was elected president.

A meeting of clergymen was held on the 30fch in response to an invitation of the Christchurch Ministers' Association to consider the question of united action on the liquor question at the coming election. Bishop Julius presided. A resolution was carried, with three dissentients — " That this meeting of ministers of religion agree to adopt the 'no license ' and ' reduction ' votes at the coming election as the basis of united action."

In the annual reports of the Wellington City Council it was stated that the drainage scheme, which is now complete, had cost £173,202, the estimate being £175,000. A few hundred pounds had siill to be spent on connections. The engineer stated that too much water found its way into the sewers, and unless stopped a third pumping engine would have o be obtained. The influence oi a proper drainage is shown in the steady decrease of typhoid cases, which have fallej' from 104 in 1894 to 41.

The City Council &< opted the mayor's scheme involving the ''Xpenditure of some £350,000 upon traniTs ays, electric light, town hall, water an; ply extension, and minor work.

The jury found a veuJcfc of " Not guilty " in the case of Charle* Henry Carter, charged with manslaughter :n connection with the Rakaia railway disaster.

The Dairy Regulations Committee, who by means of a majority of country members have persistently refused to fall in with the plan of Government inspection, have given way before the threat of the city, voiced by the mayor, to withdraw and insist on rigid inspection of all milk sent into town. Despite considerable opposition a resolution was passed on Thursday asking the department to bring the act into operation.

The Gazette contains a letter from a number of master mariners drawing attention to the advantages of Cloudy Bay as a haven of refuge when storms are raging in Cook Strait. They state that it is commonly smooth water and calm there when gales are blowing a few miles away.

In tlie case against a licensee for Sunday trading, which was dismissed, it was stated in evidence that a man named Johns, to whom the liquor was supplied, asserted that he wa-s a traveller, whereas he lived in Wellington, and the S.M. ordered him to be prosecuted.

The Seamen's Union have appointed a deputation to urge upon the Minister for Marine the preventing of coal-laden steamers from carrying deck loads, and a request that greater vigilance be exercised in loading vessels at coal ports.

A man who omitted to put a penny receipt stamp on a bill for £2 Os 6d was fined £1 and costs (14s).