WELLINGTON NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7341, 22 July 1892, Page 2

WELLINGTON NEWS.

• [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, July 21. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Bryce waß examined to-day before the Petitions Committee. That body has not yet decided upon its finding, but will sit again after referring a question to the Cabinet. A petition from two hundred snd fifty members of five farm homestead associations in Marton waa presented to the House to-day, praying for an amendment of the Land Bill, to allow four yeara to elapse before residence is made compulsory, and to give the option of purchase upon the required improvements being effected. people's bane. Last night, Mr M'lntosh, M.H.R., lectured in the Exchange Building on "The People's Bank." He propounded a scheme to establish a bank in which every Colonist should assist Colonists to purchase land and homes. He illustrated the feasibleness of the scheme by reference to the people's banks in Germany, which had combined the functions of caeh and land banking, and had, tor years past, in a country much poorer than New Zealand, carried on business with much success. He pointed out that euch a bank would enable industrious young men to enter upon the occupation and cultivation of blocks of land, which might in time become their own. Mr M'lntoah contended that the opposition of the existing banks to the scheme would be easily overcome. He proposed that a Promoting company should be formed, with £10,000 capital in £2 shares, each holder of a share to receive a paid up share in the bank. The company would promote the bank by every means in its power. He (the lecturer) would want no more than hiß bare expenses to lecture on the subject from end to end of the Colony. MANUAL AND TECHNICAL JN.TBUCTION. The alterations made in the Manual and Technical Instruction Bill increase the subsidy by 50 per cent to schools in country districts, theße being defined to be schools of over two miles distant from towns of five thousand inhabitants. Classes by a private instructor, society, or committee may not be opened within five miles of a place where a technical class is opened by the Education Board. Inspectors appointed under thia Act shall not inspect technical and manual classes in public schools, unless at the Board's request. These inspectors may aleo, at tbo request of the Boards, advise and report upon the course of instruction in the public schools. The fees oharged for technical instruction are to be fixed by tbe Education Board, managers, or instructor, as the case may require. [Per Press Association.] An Order-in-Council is gazetted, incorporating the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, Auckland. Black swans have been declared native game in the Canterbury Acclimatisation district.