FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6649, 13 September 1889, Page 4

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.

THE BTOCK COMMITTEE'S REPORT was presented to-day. It urges on uhe Government the necessity of increasing vigilance against the scab. It recommends that tattoo-marking on Bheep be a legal mark, and that the wool mark be not compulsory. With "respect to rabbits the Committee think the Government's decision to discontinue importing ferrets is a great national calamity, and Buggest a subsidy of pound for pound be given on money raised for importing ferrets. The Committee suggest that wire netting for fencing be supplied on easy terms to email settlers, and carried free on the railways. Iti is also recommended that the Babbit Inspectors be removed as seldom as possible, and that imprisonment be the punishment for removing live rabbits from one locality to another. The Government axe greatly blamed for not ordering the infected sheep at Miranda to be destroyed. The report was laid on the table. MINISTERS' TEA VBL DING ALLOWANCES. The travelling allowances paid to Ministers from Oct. 1 to Dec. 81. 1888, were as follow :— Hon G. Fisher, .£IOO 0s 6d; Sir H. Atkinson, JBI6 11s 6d; HonT.W. Hislop, £,IZ 17s; Hon G. P. Eichaidßon, JBI6 6s; Hon T. Fergus, j6lB 17s; Hon E. Hitohelson, £9 8e ; total, .£174 10s. DOUBTFUL. The Wfstporfc-Ngakawan Bill will be brought up again, but it is almost certain that it will never get through Committee. The Native Land Court Bill is also very doubtful. STTPPLKMBNTAKT ESTIMATES. If the mail services are disposed of to-night, the Supplementary Estimates will be brought down to-morrow, in which case the prorogation may take place on Tuesday. BOTH SIDES BEST. I am assured on excellent authority that both sides hare got a majority on Mr Ballance'& dissolution amendment. SACCHABINE. The Petitions Committee have further considered the petition of Kempthorne, Prosser and Co. for relief for loss through the duty on saccharine, and have recommended that they be allowed to take out of bond all saccharine under agreement to purchase. from the Company in one year, and that the excess of duty over the old tariff be refunded.