WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4868, 6 February 1894, Page 1

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

I FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.! WELLINGTON, Feb. 5. The highest offer received by the Government for the purchase of the steamer Sfeella is £1550. She originally cost the colony £16,000, and, although idle, still costs £200 a year for maintenance. Consideration, of the offer has been deferred till Mr Ward's arrival. At the annual meeting of she Polynesian Society to-night, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr E. Tregear, seconded by Mr J. E.Blair, to request the Government to take steps to ensure the preservation of historic forts upon Crown lands. Mr Tregear said that when the sites of old pahs and other places possessing historic interest fell into private hands they were usually destroyed, as in the case of the pah at Kaiapoi. It was therefore desirable to communicate with the Government on the matter. Mr Blair- was inclined to inolude places possessing Ecenie beauty. When at Pioton some time ago on a visit he felt very indignant at seeing a boatload of ladie3 go out to an island in the bay and set fire to the buah, whereby one half of it was burnt down. The motion was passed unanimously. Six Maori -chiefs were elected corresponding mem* bera, and all of them were stated to have either contributed or to be preparing valuable papers for the society. One very old member, Te Whetti, had written ninety-seven waiatse (songs) and harakias (religions incarnations). Te Whiti and Tohn, who fcwrtferly occasioned bo much trouble at Parihaka, were "reported to be both preparing valuable information for the society. * . [Per Press Association.! ' Mr T. W. Gale has bseh eleoted the Chamber of Commerce Tepresepitative on the Harbour Board, ; and Captaimßoqe to represent the pay^rs^of dne3 and owners of ships. Both were ttnopp&sed. , !**. '}*?,- 1 In connection. with, the r^ent discussion in London on the New Zealand Football Union, the authorities of "the latter point out, with regard to the suggestion of the English Union relative to increased representation of the largeryjr&vinces on the council, that it has aj<Mrajfi|%Bn granted. At the annual mesg^wPthe Wellington Commercial Tra^B^»ad Warehousemen's Associt^gjfi iSgaifsepoit showed that the roll nujpSretr2b"l, and there was a surplus of assets over liabilities of £369 3s Ba. Mr J. Dathie, M.H.R., was reelected president of the association. As a result of the discussion on the proposals for. improvement in inspection and examination, the inspectors' conference passed resolutions advising — (1) The abolition of pas 3 subjects in Standards I. and 11., form of examination and report to be similar to that at present required for the preparatory class ; (2) retention of the pass and claes system in Standards 111., IV., V. and VI., with some modification in the direction of reducing the number of subjects in the pass grant by the exclusion of grammar and geography. The conference also passed the following resolution :— •■' That, in the opinion of this conference, it i 3 highly desirable that a naw 'Flora' of New Zealand should be prepared and published under the auspices of the Government, and that a deputation from the conference wait upon the Premier to urge upon him the need of taking action in this direction, the deputation to consist of Messrs Wood, Hill, Pefcrie, Hendry and Goodwin."