WELLINGTON NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7232, 3 August 1891, Page 2

WELLINGTON NEWS.

[from our own correspondent. I WELLINGTON, August"2. THE LAND TAX. Mr Shera is bringing forward certain amendments in the Land tax, to strike o<f taxation on improvements altogether* To compensate for the accruing lobb he would strike off fcho £500 exemption. Several other amendments are spoken of from various sources, bub only these two have body as yet. TAXATION BILL. The Taxation Bill will tie brought down on Tuesday. THE PREMIER. I have seen the Premier to-day, amTfind his health much improved. He ia confident of being in. the House again to-morrow, and he will probably follow Sir G. Grey in the federation debate. ONE MAN ONE VOTE. This principle of the Countieß Bill, co warmly discussed the other night, has (your Conservative readers will be somewhat surprised to learn) been adopted from the English Act. In fact, the clause is almost word for word tho same as was introduced by the Salisbury Government. THH AGKNT-GENERALBHIP. Regarding the Agent-Generalship, the position is as I have already told you. I may add that under the Act power is given to the Commissioners (who are now Sir Penrose Julyan and Sir Dillon Bell) to appoint a locum tenens on the retirement of an Agent-General, pending the arrival of the Governor's warrant. DIFFERING OPINIONS. The Chambers of Commerce are divided on the subject of taxation. The Auckland Chamber recommends a tax on unimproved value, no exemption and no graduation. CATHOLIC ORPHANAGE. The event of to-day was the laying of the foundation stone of the Catholic Orphanage, near St Mary's, which was witnessed by a very great crowd. His Grace the Archbishop performed the ceremony. Moßt of the priests of tho district were present, aB well as the various confraternities. Several members of both Houses were on the platform. The ceremony was a moßt impressive and interesting one. His Grace delivered an eloquent address, setting forth the claims of the orphans. Some .£ISOO had already been collected, and a very large addition to the funds wbb made on the ground. THE SESSION. The Government hopes to break the back of the work in a month, so that probably six weeks, or, at the outside, two months will see the prorogation. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BANES. In regard to the taxation proposals and their effect on the banking business of the Colony, I am able to state that the Government has no intention to act unfairly towards those institutions, and that in Committee the banks will be found to be dealt most considerately with. There is, I am assured, a fixed intention on the part of the Government to deal -with tho banks with the utmost consideration. ELECTRIC LIGHT MEETING. At the very amusing proceedings in the Theatre Eoyal last night, Mr De Castro, the Electric Lighting Company's agent, scored very distinctly as against Messrs Fisher and Macdouald, who were pretty roughly handled for their opposition to the Bill. The meeting in the end was about equally divided. FEDERATION. The Fost regards tho proposed Monday's debate on Federation as a ridiculous waste of time, and suggests that a count-out would be the best remedy.