WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3410, 26 November 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day.

Mr Whilaker in the Legislative Council yesterday tabled copies of telegrams bearing on Sir Julius Vogel's connection with Larnnch's Company. The first one was Vogel's reply to a query as to who were the three Ministers who were aware of and approved his action ? " Stout certainly, and to the best of my belief Macandrow and Ballance." Mr Stout's telegram in reply to Mr Hall says :— "Julius Vogel's telegram is correct; I knew and thought the other members of the Ministry were aware that he inteuded to join the Company. I believed then, and still believe, that the Company in its efforts to settle people on laud must be beneficial to the Colony. I saw no objection to the Agent-General being connected with the company, believing that ho was benefiting the Colony by so acting."

The Petition Committee of the Council hare brought up a report on the petition of Henry Jackson, late chief surveyor, stating that Jackson did nothing which justified the removal of so valuable a public officer. The report was referred back to the Committee in order to take further evidence from Mr Thomson, late head of the department.

A private meeting of the shareholders of the Tramway Company has been held, at which it is stated the promoters were divided amongst themselves. £13,000 oufc of the capital of the company had been spent, shareholders never being made aware that such a thing would be done; also that, instead of the line being handed over in complete working order for £40,000 as arranged, a further sum of £4000 had been taken out of the capital in order to put the line in complete working order. It is staled that the line and its belongings only cost the promoters £27,000. It was resolved, that as the shareholders were induced to take shares in the said company on the faith of certain prospectuses and other statements issued by the promoters, and which the directors had since proved to be a gross misrepresentation of fact, the committee appointed look after the interests of these shareholders, and restrain the Directors from enforcing, payment of any more calls, and compel the promoters of the company to place the affairs of the company on a more equitable basis. Angothsen Just Mackay, a now arrival by the Pareora, took enough chloral last night to kill half a dozeu men. Dt Gallon's services were fortunately obtained in time, and by the aid of a stomach pump and othor means he saved the man's life.

A man dropped dead in Tinakori Eoad this morning. Supposed to be heart disease. A paper is being signed in favor of having tram car 3 drawn by horses. In the inquiry into the accident to the Tui, the Captain attributed tho action chiefly to want of steam, and says the Engineer wks not at his post when the vessel struck. He further states that the bulk head had been broken into and four bottles of brandy taken out of a case.

Report of the Native Expenditure Committee, The interim report of the Native Expenditure Committee, tabled in Council, states that the expenditure for 15 months ending 30th of -September last, was £46,699, including various payments not coming within the ordinary application of the rates for contingencies. Summary of expenditure for three months ending 30th September, 1879.—Liabilities of pr. ceding year : Salaries, £1434 ; contingencies, £6369. Current year : Salaries, £3877 1 Ciril list, £360. In addition to this sum, there is £5799, part of which was paid since Ist of October last and part still outstanding. The Committee wer.i struck with the large amount of salaries and pensions, and think that a permanent change should be made in the mode of distributing these salaries. The Conimitteo think that £8813, as contingencies for the preceding year, so large as to ba.suggestive of irresponsibility not compatible with efficient working of Parliamentary Government and calculated to demoralise the public service and exercise a pernicions influence on the natives. The explanations afforded regarding such expenditure are vague and unsatisfactory and the system must necessarily tend to set at defiance all attempts to properly control the expenditure of public funds. After going at some length into the land purchase transactions of iato Government the Committee record I their opinion that Government have not been justified in entering into the negotiation to so large an extent without sanction of Parliament. Evidence taken by the Committee lends to the conclusion that the said lands are not likely to realise, after the survey, the amount of the purchase money, exclusive of prepayments and expenses on account of such purchase. The Committee express the conviction that the present system should close absolutely, and the Land Purchase Department bo abolished, and all the sale of native lands to private individuals be abolished ; that Government henceforth, upon application of natives to sell lands to which they can show established title, shall cause the same to be surveyed, and after proper reserves be made, to sell the remainedi-r by auction in blocks of suitable area, the cost of survey, and repayment of advances made beinjj deducted together with the necessary deductions for roads.