ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13567, 7 November 1912, Page 4

ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST.

(Special to "The Colonist.")

Wellington, Nov. G. The Supplementary Estimates introduced to-night provide for appropriations of £82,500 But of the public works fund, and £142,000 out of the ordinary revenue account. The items of general interest aro as follows :— Subsidy on the isteam service from «ew Zealand to San Francisco, £3,250. iNew Zealand to Vancouver £8,000. Experiments in connection with bush sickness £250.

Wool instruction class, for inspector,

The salary of the director of physical training, who will take charge of the new system associated with the primary schools, is to be £600 per annum. Provision is made for two instructors and inspectors.

| An annuity i« given to the widow of the late- Sir William Steward on account m Jthe services rendered by her late husband, £150. Expenses in connection with the Trade of Empire Commission, £1000. The grant to cover the expemses of the Minister of Finance while on his visit to London is £1000, the grant to the private secretary accompanying the Minister of Finance, £450; the grant to Sir William Hall-Jone s to cover return travelling expenses, £400; the grant to the Hon. T. Mackenzie to cover travelling expenses while proceeding to London to assume the office of High Commissioner, £500. £250 is set down to meet the expenses in connection with the defence of prisoners under the Justices of the Peace Amendment Act, 1912; and £500 to meet tile expenses of the SolicitorGeneral's visit to England in connection with the Webster claims.

The Mines Department's vote® include £1,000 contribution to the Gold Miners' Relief Fund.

The printing of Royal Commission reports is an expensive item, as the following items in the Estimates showPrinting report of Public Service Commission _ £50, overtime (additional) £500; printing report and evidence oi: the Cost of Living Commission, £455; printing the reDort and evidence of the Education Commission £600; printing report and evidence of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Commission £100. The- expenses of the Cost of Living Commission amount to £400, and those of the Western Taranaki railway £210.

£1500 appears under the heading of salaries for tho staff of the mental hospital in course of erection at Tokaanui. £1000 i e voted for general development work, and bringing land into cultivation, at mental hospitals. Losses and thefts in connection with. Public Departments have to be made upby votes on the- Estimates. £146 m voted on account of a mail bag from Matiere to Ongaruo being stolen; £40 because of a burglary at the Te Hana. Post Office; and £93 on account of cash lost on the railway while in transit from Kakahi to Taumaranui.

An grant is made to tho New Zealand Swimming Association of £300. ■;■ ■

A gratuity to tho widow of the lato Mr Elouston, formerly M.P. for tho Bay of Islands totals £300.

Tho Defence Estimates include £2,000 for expenses in connection with instructional courses to officers of' the- Senior Cadets.

The Customs votes provide for the refund of duty, totalling £343 on an imported casein manufacturing plant, and £1000 on machinery and plant for oD; boring and refining, ordered prior to July 29th, 1912.