WELLINGTON NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 920, 19 June 1903, Page 3

WELLINGTON NEWS.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, last night. At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to day the President, Mr D. J. Nathan, delivered an address on the question of the preferential trade, strongly urging reciprocity within the Empire. He moved that this ChamDer recognises that the principle of preferential trade between the United Kingdom and His Majesty’s dominions beyond the seas would stimulate and facilitate mutual intercourse, and would promote the development of the resources and industries of several parts of the Empire. After a long discussion, an adjournment was made for two weeks to discuss an amendment to the proposals of the chairman, a later meeting having been moved.

l r p to the present C9O« railway servants have joined the department's superannuation tund, in addition to 162 who, as new appointees, have joined as a condition of their employment. On April 1 there were 6:171 persons on the permanent staff of the ruilwaye. At to-day’s meeting of the Board superannuation benefits were granted to fifteen members who had been retired as medically unfit. At a recent meeting (. f the Hawke’s Bay Ohumbcr of Commerce reierence was made to the alleged wholesale pilfering of cargo on coastal steamers, and a letter was read from the Kaiapoi Woollen Com puny, in which it was stated that “It

would appour as if soldo organised gang of thieves iu the guise of lumpers, sailors, or officers, perhaps some of each.” This statement was resented by the Marine Officers’ Association, and the secretary wrote to tho Kaiapoi Woollen Company, asking them to make a specific charge or retract the reflection made on “ ships’ officers.” The Officers' Association has now received a communication stating that there was no intention on the part of the Company to reflect on officers in the Union Company’s fleet. Colonel Newall, late officer commanding tho Wellington District, who commanded tho Fourth Ooutiugent in South Africa, was to-night presented with an illuminated address and purse of sovereigns, from tho volunteer officers of the volunteer district, on his retirement from tho service