POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WELLINGTON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8834, 18 July 1890, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WELLINGTON.

[from our special correspondent.] OUR DEFENCES. Friday, July 17. — The Defence Boport shows that the total expenditure on harbour defences up to March 31st last was £458,000, of which sum £238,000 represents the coat of war material from England, and £220,000 the cost of the worka in the colony. There are now 123 Volunteer Companies in the colony, with a strength of 7,719, of which 2,912 are in the North Island, and 4,807 in the South. Lieut.-Colonel Hume advocates a partially paid system, and the appointment of an army officer to train and organise the forces. PRIMAGE DUTY. Reporting on the petition of John Hamann, of Dunedin, for a reward for suggesting the primage duty, the Public Petitions Committee say he has no claim on the colony. JUDGE EDWARDS' APPOINTMENT. Correspondence in connection with Judge Edwards' appointment was laid on the table yesterday. The only item of any importance in it is a nota, stating that the Chief Justice at first had doubts whether the Government could appoint more than four puisne judgeß, except during pleasure, but waived his objection after consultation with the Attorney-General. DUMMYISM IN TARANAKI. At the Waste Lands Committee yesterday the enquiry re dummyism was continued, and it is said that a letter was received from a firm of land agents in Taranaki, complaining of cases of dummyism in the selection of land. STATIONM ASTER AT ELTHAM. During the past two weeks Mr Marchant has been communicating with the Railway Commissioners and the Post-office Department on the subject of appointing a stationmaster and postmaster and telegraph officer at Eltham. It h&s now been finally arranged that such officer shall be appointed ; and a goods shed is also to be put up at Eltham, bo as tc give residents railway as well as post and telegraph facilities. DEATH OF THE MEMBER FOR TIMARU. Mr Turnbull, M.H.R. for Timaru, died last evening. He had been seriously ill for the last nine monthß, being troubled with Bright'B disease. He was C 4 years ofage. The colonial steamer Hinemoa will convey the body to Timaru, where the funeral takes place.