POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WELLINGTON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8832, 16 July 1890, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WELLINGTON.

[from our special correspondent.] Wednesday, July 16. —The "Hutchison Committee " met yesterday morning, and elected Mr Withy as Chairman, on Sir John Hall's motion. Mr Hutchison referred to an article in Tuesday morning's Times condemning the circulation of his speech, and explained it was done by some of his friends, who thought it , advisable to circulate it among the members. There was a dispute as to the order of reference, but no agreement was come to. It was decided to subpoena Mr Buckley, Mr Murray (late General Manager of the Bank), Mr Gavin (Secretary to the Treasury), and a Committee Clerk* as witnesses. PROPERTY OWNED BY ABSENTEES. Returns presented yesterday show the value of real and personal estates owned by absentees (whose absence is believed to be permanent) at £8,058,098. The properties owned by absentees consisting of more than 2000 acres, and higher in value than £10,000, are vrfued in the aggregate at £1,635,289, the acreage being 1,027,399 acres. The largest is that of Clifford and Weld, in Marlborough, valued at £135,000. NO MORE BORROWING. I understand that, in the course of an interview with the Premier, he expressed himself against any further borrowing than at present provided for by the Government Loans,to Local Bodies Act; and also strongly objected to cutting down salaries to effect retrenchment.