Wellington Notes.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 26, 22 September 1894, Page 12

Wellington Notes.

[_¥rorn our own Correspondent.]

Wellington, Sept. 17,

Bank amalgamation has claimed the attention of city people during the past week. The proposal to weld the Colonial Bank with the Bank of New Zealand has reached a practical point, and has been favourably discussed. It is generally recognised that both Institutions will be benefited by the proposed change, and, although some hardship will be experienced by a number of officials through the cutting down of staff, the shareholders of each establishment will probably benefit by it. A 8 far as the interests of the colony are concerned, the House will be given an opportunity of discussing the details of the scheme for amalgamation. The head office will be in "Wellington. The Railways Bill has upset some of the ideas of Her Majesty’s Opposition, Direct "control has reverted to the Government. It is questionable whether the abolition of the office of Commisstoner is a step in the right direction. Much has been written and said against the administration of tne Commissioners, but a great deal can be advanced in favour of non - political control and the abolition of Ministerial patronage. Between the increase of work entailed by the railway change and the Government action in banking matters a considerable amount of labour is fixed on to the Ministerial programme. The Midland Railway Company has agreed to the proposals of the Committee of the House, and there is a prospect of the work being pushed on in the coming slimmer. The construction of the line from Springfield (Canterbury) to “ the Coast ” will be one of the first works undertaken. While on the subject of railways there is a possibility of some propos 1 being made with a view to the Government acquiring the Manawatu line,, now belonging to a company. It is desirable, in the public interest that the railway should belong to the Government, and the only thing in the way of it is a settlement as to price. Irish National Federation had a night of it last week, when a very large gathering assembled at a social held in the skating rink. Several members of Parliament attended, advocating the cause of Home Rule for 1 reland, and exhorted those present to help the Parliamentary and evicted tenants’ fund. The subscription list was well responded to. A shipment of 500 Martini-Henri rifles has been received by the Defence Department. It is just possible that the money expended on them might have been spent to a better purpose. The Licensing Bill has flitted in and out again ; there is every possibility of its being hung up this session. The House doesn’t seem in a humour to deal with liquor before next year, but some of the more ardent teetotallers —if teetotallers could be ardent — Seemed inclined to force the consideration of this trenchant measure. That much vexed Chemis case is again agitating the legistative mind. An effort is now being made to pass an Act allowing Chemis, who it will be remembered was convicted of murder and sentenced to imprisonment for life, to have a new trial. There is much opposition to the proposal. The murder in question was one of singular atrocity, and although Chemis was convicted after a very patient trial there are many inclined to the belief that he is innocent of the crime for which he was sentenced. Persistence is a strong element in the character of the member who is moving on Chemis’ behalf, and on the theory of constant dropping wearing away a stone he may pull off his desife re Chemis.

We have been ultra-musical of late and promise to continue so. Sapio Urso Company v, ith Herr Seherek opened a round with a mccr complete and artistic set of programmes, Then the Belle-Cole combination viipeared on the scene, but I ommitted to n: >it ion that anterior to either, Bessie Doyh charmed many large audiences; now the ewbury-Spnda Company hare just closed a successful season, and extensive preparations are being made for a musical festival while an amateur performance of the Mika do is pending. Truly, Wellington is earning for itself the reputation of being music;!.

Football has of late been turning the heads o£ the athletes of the place. The visit of the Now South Wales team gave things a spurt, filter being beaten all along the line from Auckland to Christchurch, the result o£ the match between New South Wales and a combined New Zealand team resulted in a licking for the home team. A prophet has so honour in his own country so I won’t propbesv, but of the three matches to be played by the visitors there is just a possibility that they will lose two. At ;V.v Fine Arts Exhibition there are game, very creditable pictures, and here let ua ero w on our own dust-heap. There are Borne real live artists in Wellington ; many of the- noctures come from other parts of the colony . Science and art are fairly well in evidence ia the Empire City. We have Philoso phical Society which _ deals with beetles ct hoc genus cmne, musical societies, microscopical students, amateur photographic enthusiasts, oil and water colour plungers, and a host of other more or less faddy individual.’ bent on some pet subject, too numerous to mention.