TELEPHONE SPECIALS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 277, 4 November 1884, Page 2

TELEPHONE SPECIALS.

Wellington News. [Own Correspondent.] Wellington, November 4. The members’ ball in the main corridor of the Parliament Buildings last night, was the best ball held in Wellington for some time past. Over 600 invitations were issued. His Excellency the Governor and Miss Jervois, Major Cantley, and all the members of both Houses, and a large number of leading citizens were present.

In connection with the rejoicings at Westport and the burning of effigies, Messrs. Waterhouse, Shrimski, and O’Connor, M.H.R’s. have received the following telegram from the Mayor of Westport The passing of the Harbor Bill was the cause of general rejoicing, and you may feel sure that the burning of efligies did not form part of the programme, but was merely the boys’ amusement, and the citizens regret that anything of the kind should have occurred.” Mr.' Shrimski received a similar telegram. The Government have received a cablegram from the Secretrary of State for the Colonies, stating that the amount to be paid by the Australasian Colonies towards the cost of the protectorate over New Guinea will be increased from £15,000 to £30,000. A deputation waited on the Colonial Secretary yesterday, respecting the salaries of the attendants at the lunatic asylums, the pay of whom is smaller than that of warders in the gaols. The Colonial Secretary recognised the unfairness, and promised to see whether a sum of money could be placed on the supplementary estimates for the purpose of altering the present state of affairs.

The Property Tax Bill provides lor levying from the first of April, a tax of one-eighth of a penny in the £ on all property, and Ils. Sd. for every £lOO of premiums received by Insurance companies.

The following are the appropriations under the Loan Act:—lmmigration, £30,000 ; Railways, £700,000 ; roads, bridges, and public buildings, £620,000; telegraph extension, £30,000 ; goldfields roads and water races, £40,000; lighthouses and harbor works, £40,000; charges and expenses of raising loan £40,000 ; total, £1,500,060. It is understood an effort will be nlade to prorogue next Monday or Tuesday by pushing the estimates through to-night, and the Publio Works Estimates to-morrow.