WELLINGTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 183, 3 August 1881, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(From our own correspondent.) [By Telegraph.] • Tuesday, 10 30 p.m. The following are the Estimates for the current financial year as compared with those for last year:— Oedinaet Revenue Account. 1881^-2. 1880-1. Permanent Appropriations. £ £ Civil List ... . . 29,750 2&,?50 Interest and Sinking Fund ... ... 1,499,318 1,453,161 Under special Acts of ! the Legislature ... 41,851 50,587 i Annual ApprOpTiotions. Legislative ... 35,400 35,300 Colonial Secretary's Department ;... 162,777 191,977 Treasurer's Depart* ment .. ... 28 947 50330 Justice ... ... 112,751 122.796 Postal and Telegraphic 2^7,650 5ei,357 Cnstoms ... ... 69 820 88,622 Stamps ;.. ... 29,395 23,897 Education ... ;;. 277,416 278,684 Native Affair 6 .;. 19,084 26,088 Mines ... ... 21,033 22,8^50 Public Works ... 593,090 602,546 Defence, £204,245 (less recoverable . from loan .£75,000) 129,245 163,446 Isirid Fund Account. Permanent appropriations under special Acts ... ... 84,966 133,717 Annual appropriations (Lands) ... ... 134,584 128,57 C Total Consolidated Fond . ... £3,490,083 For Bervieea chargeable on surplus Land Fund Account .. 9CBO 20,500 On Public Trust Office Account ... 1640 1280 On Native Reserves Account ... 1272 1355 On Government Insurance Account ... 20,231 22,537 Under the head " Legislative " the only increases are " Sergeant-at-arms £50 ; Passages of Members £100. There is a reduction on planting Parliamentary grounds of £50 not proposed thh year, leaving the net decrease oa "Legislative" £100. In tbe Colonial Secretary's Department grants in aid to Hospitals are put down at £24,000 ; to Charitable Institutions £16,000. In the Property Tax Department the Chief Commissioner gets £450 instead of £700, but he receives £25D as Secretary for Stamps aod Land and Deeds. The expenses of the property tax are estimated, at £8493, as against £26,418 last year. Militia and Volunteers show a decrease of £600. Police and Armed Constabulary are set down a 1 £97,649 as compared with £132,213 last year. Under "Permanent Charges" the following changes appear: — " One third proceeds of lands sold on deferred payments payable to local bodies is set down at £30 600 as against £16,000 last year ; New Plymouth Harbor Board Endowment at £33,000 against £30,000 ; Ellesmere reclamation and Akaroa Railway trust at £21,266 against; nil ; Subsidies to Local Bodies in arrears £100 against £103,296; Twenty per cent of land sales paid to Counties nil against £11,421} Special surveys £13,600 against r,U ; Survey Department £0 1 ,278 against £88,436 . The ten per cent deduction is only applied to tbe first three months the year, that is to the 30th June. According to the arrangement entered into at the meeting of the Otago and Southland members held yesterday the deputation waited on the Premier to-day with regard to the Representation Bill. Mr Macandrew, who was the principal spokesman, laid before the Premier the resolutions which had been passed on the previous day, and which were telegraphed last night. The Premier said in reply that the Government could not entertain any proposal against increasing the number of members as it had been carefully considered by them, and they put their foot down on that question. He said the total number of European members for the Colony would be 91, or 95 including the Natives, of which 24 would be allocated to Otago which would thus have an increase of three members. Canterbury would have 21 members, or an increase of seven Marlborough would remain as at present ; Nelson would lose three members, and Westland would lose one. The allocation to the North Island was not referred to. With regard to the proposal of tbe deputation that they •hould allot tbeir own boundaries within their Provincial districts, the Premier said that members could scarcely expect tbe Government to allow them to propose the measures they were going to bring down. If, however, they desired to make suggestions a^ to boundaries he would place at the disposal of the deputation the Registrar Gtneral'g office and the Bnrrey office, where all the information could be obtained, and if necessary, an officer would be told off to help them in their work. The meeting was of a private character and the above information was gleaned from members who were present. Mr Dick attended aa a member of the deputation. Tbe decided attitude taken up by the Government on this question will probably prevent much . further . action in rfrject to ' "assisting " Government in readjusting the boundaries of districts, at least thift assistance will have to be given in the House in the regular way. It bad been rumored that the representatives of all. the different provinces would meet and consider this question if the Otago deputation received any encouragement from the Government, but, as it is, it is not likely that there well be much more extra-Parliamentary action in the matter. The Bill i 3 not expected to be ready for circulation for several days. The Government have received the following telegram reporting the result of the land sale at Hawera yesterday :—" Sale was very largely attended and gave successful results. Sold 128 sections at Mania for £2038 ; 125 sections at OpuDake for £2499-, seven suburban sections at Opunake for £864 ; 22 rural sections £4967. Total £10,368. The average prices realised were : — Large rural sections £3 10s, email rural sections £10 10s, Opuoake suburban sections £16 12a per acre. -The sections remaining unsold are 24 ana -25 Blocks XV t three town sections Opunake, and a number at Mania. Section 39, Blocklll, realised £25 17s 6d per acre. / This Day, 2.55 p.m. There is no political gossip to-day,. Private members' business will bet aken tonigbt. The financial debate will probably commence on Friday. The Public Works Statement is not now expected before Monday. There is no sign yet of the Representation Bill being circulated.