WELLINGTON NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7079, 3 February 1891, Page 3

WELLINGTON NEWS.

I * [from our own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Feb. 2. CANTERBURY TROTTING ASSOCIATION. A deputation from the Canterbury Trotting Association waited on the ! Colonial Secretary to-day, and asked that steps might be taken to have the Association placed on the same footing as the Jockey Clubs, with reductions of the amount of subscriptions necessary for the use of the totalisator. The Minister asked them to put their wishes into writing. CUSTOMS. The Customs duties received for the ten months ending Jan. 31 amount to the respectable figure of .£1,257,205, which exceeds the proportion of the Treasurer's estimate by .£23,871. The beer duty received for the same period was £47,944, exceeding the proportionate estimate by .£2944. THE ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF. Mr Blair, Engineer-in-Chief, has recovered sufficiently to think about going away for a trip of recovery. Mr Hale 3is acting in his place. MAORI TITLES. Mr Kennedy Macdonald's motion for a return of Maori titles of all kinds in all stages is a matter of conversation. It is understood to be the prelude to a large scheme of purchase of alt the Native lands by the Government, which Mr Macdonald is going to recommend the Government to adopt. It is a large order. What the Government has done in another direction in which the meeting of independent members, convened by Mr Kees, moved last week, is announced to-day. Messrs Bees and Carroll are appointed Commissioners for the investigation of Native titles. They expect to be two months at work. Later information shows that the announcement that Messrs Bees and Carroll have been appointed a Boyal Commission to investigate the state of the Maori land laws, to confer with the tribes and draw up a scheme of settlement, is premature a little. These gentlemen have not yet been appointed, and I can only say that a Commission will shortly be appointed. From what I can hear Messrs Bees and Carroll will be members. One thing is very certain, the Commission, when appointed, will not have to inquire into any titles. That is the special function of the La «r Courts. LOAN CONSOLIDATION. Mr Macarthur's speech during the debate is causing some comment. He said that half a million of money would be available during the next two months, out of the proceeds of certain consolidation proceedings pending in London. That is probably the fact. Mr Macarthur's deduction that the money will probably be used for buying support for the Government is, I hear, no longer true. The advent of the present Ministry knocked it off its perch. A QUEER RUMODR. Some amusement is caused by a rumour to the effect that the Auditor-General, having discovered that the session having passed no statute, is not a session at all, and that therefore no honorarium can be drawn, has made up his mind to stop the cheques. The contention on the other side is that the session was summoned for the despatch of public business, and despatched it ; and the contention renders the happy possessors of the cheque serene. If the worst comes to the worst, a thing not likely, there is always a certainty of a Validating Bill. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Feb. 2. AUCKLAND HOSMTAL INQUIRY. It is understood that the appointments of Dt Giles, 8.M., and Dr Hassell, medical superintendent of the Asylum, as Commissioners of the Auckland Hospital Inquiry, will be revoked, and that gentlemen from another district will be appointed. THE WHITAKER-HUTCHISON CASE. Argument in the Whitaker-Hutchison libel action will be heard before the Chief Justice on "Wednesday. NATIVE LAND TITLES. Messrs W. L. Rees and J. Carroll, M.H.B.'s, were to-day chosen by the Cabinet as Commissioners to inquire into the law relating to the titles to Native lands throughout the Colony. The Commissioners will spend at least two months in instituting their inquiries with regard to Native titles in the North Island. It is improbable that any other gentleman will be appointed with Messrs Bees and Carroll to inquire into the lease of Native lands. The Commissioners will commence their duties almost immediately, starting from the East Coast and then on to Auckland. From Auckland they will come down the centre of the island, on to New Plymouth ; thence to Wellington and back to the East Coast. Mr M. J. Gannon will probably be appointed interpreter and clerk to the Commissioners.