GENERAL TELEGRAMS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 95, 19 May 1909, Page 2

GENERAL TELEGRAMS

PARLIAMENT BLTUMNUS. Bj Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, May 18. A wooden building iias been erected I at the buck of Government House, containing a chamber and a suite of .uu.us for the Legislative Council, and s.i . stantial alterations are bchig made in the room used last year by the Lower House. These, with other additions and alterations, suggest that Parliament will find itself located, there for ten years or so to come.

WELLINGTON'S -MUNICIPAL VENTURES. Wellington, .May IS. The city trams carried 21.U711,!K)2 pa - sengers during the year, and the revenue wis £l3(i,4:'«, an increase of £11,425. The expenditure was £lU,l>7:t. After paying for interest and sniKing fund and allowing .C 111,242 for depreciation, there is a prolit of £5034. The gross revenue from the public and private lighting venture of the Wellington Corporation for the twelve months ended March 31 is £44,321, being an increase of £1554 over th> previous year. The working expenses were £25,018, or £2202 more than last year, principally through extra rentals and rates. The net surplus on the year's workings amounted to £4272.

ALLEGED STREET BETTING. Wellington, May 18. Mr. Riddell, S.M., gave his reserved judgment in the case in which Kienard Eager was charged with street betting. The Magistrate held that as the section of the Act was highly penal, the Court 'must (l<e satisfied' it'lint the icvideii-c showed defendant to have committed an exact offence created by it. In the present instance the defendant's action had been witnessed at j\ distance from an upstairs window by the police, and, though the observations were such as to ilile possible inferences to be drawn, they were not enough to warrant a conviction. The case would l'f dismissed. TIIK BANKRUPTCY LAWS. Auckland, May 18. A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce waited on the lion. Dr. Findbiy this morning regarding the bankruptcy laws, urging that it would he a step to allow the Public Trustee and his officers to be utilised -is official assignees. They also urged the appointment of approved and registered trade assignees. Dr. Kinnlny replied that the Premier had not made ii delinite statement of his intention, but he wns of opinion that economy would be effected by abolishing official assignees and doing the work through the Public Trust Office. What tlry had urged would receive Cabinet's consideration.