WELLINGTON SPECIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 301, 30 December 1901, Page 2

WELLINGTON SPECIAL.

VOLUNTEERS AND AUCKLANDERS [Special to Timms. | Wellington last night. Questioned as to the truth or otherwise of the complaints that - unteers had not been paid expenses in red in taking part m the ducal festiv : ' at Christchurch, the Premier told a -t porter that all the trouoie in l'ep .to t.fis business came from Auckland, r .d v: .s caused by the exorbitant claims of some of the men. They had sent m claims for 7s a day for the whole time occupied in going to' and returning from the review. They had even charged this rate whilst travelling on steamers. The maximum terms offered to volunteers were 4s per dav. and they had to provide their own board ; yet some Aucklanders charged for steamboat travelling, though their passage and their food had been provided. This trouble was altogether a storm in a teapot, for A'-jO would cover all the claims made. The claimants were few, and the eases isolated, and it was really a question of adjustment which had caused delay, li As a matter of fact, said the Premier, -■ the whole thing arises out of electioneering tactics. The Auckland members arc playing this volunteer question and Main Trunk question oil against each other, and as one gets a point the better of the others so wc hear of it. These members have got a general election in view, and so they bring me into their troubles." RAILWAY WORKS.

-hollowing the lead given by the Minister for Public Works, Mr Edwards, known as the Liberal Organiser, declares that only two hundred men have been " sacked” from the North Trunk Railway works, and that the records will show that they are all single men ; but a curious commentary on this statement is supplied by the fact that the co-operative laborers of Taihape district have sent down Mr Robert Hornblow, of Mangaweka, to interview the Premier concerning their difficulties due to the stoppage of works. Mr Hornblow states that not only laborers, but also settlers and storekeepers of the district, are seriously affected by the suspension of operations, and he declares that the position has not been too vividly pointed out by recent reports. The small settlers had put themselves in debt in order to get together teams of horse o for contracts oilered them, and now work ceases without warning, leaving the settlers helpless and in debt. This, of course, entirely backs up tho report furnished by the Railway League Commissioner, who recently went over a portion of the lino and personally interviewed tho men who had been knocked off. GOVERNMENT SERVICE.

Complaint is made that in tho new appointments in tho Lands and Survey Department preference has been shown to the office staff as compared with the field stall. It is contended that this is inconsistent with the practice usually followed, and field officers consider they have been unfairly treated. QUIET WELLINGTON.

The port of Wellington has now fallen into lino with other important shipping ports, and prohibited tho use of either steamers’ whistles or ships’ bells by vessels while lying at or leaving any wharf. Tho prohibition of bell ringing has been brought about at tho instance of the Superintendent of the Firo Brigade, who asserted that it would demoralise his brigade if continued longer.