WELLINGTON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2107, 5 February 1908, Page 4

WELLINGTON.

(Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Fob. ■(

On Change to-day Talismans sold al. X'2 12s Od. .No business was done in Wniliis. Bunk of Now Zealand dunes sold at Jt'i) ,1 Os Od, and Now Zealand H and .M. A. shares at ss. L ostport Stockton shares were ijuitted at IDs 3d.

The proposal to increase the number ol .Ministers does not Had furor, the general opinion being that we have already too many members and quite enough .Ministers. li .Ministers would attend more to their departmental duties, leaving details to the heads ol departments, and not

go running up and down the country, ■ I is contended that they would not have to work any harder, if as hard, as the head of any big commercial concern. Moth the “Dominion” and the “Post” condemn the proposal foreshadowed by the Premier and Air. McNab. Members of Parliament continue to be pestered with letters from the billet-lmnting fraternity and applications, a leaving politician informs me, are becoming more numerous than over. It would appear too, that the Maori is joining the ranks of those who are hiring up for Government billets. Apropos a Maori at NYhakarewarawa has sent the following letter to Mr. Donne, head ol the Tourist Department: —“1 write you these few lines hoping it will 'find you in the happy days, dear sir, for those days passing by my mind was very atvxiuos to get the billet which I spoke to you. in the hall some evening with Maggie Pannkura, so 1 haven’t much to say. This is my age IS, .and my school teacher is Mr 1!., .Standard 0. NY ell Mr B. will iell you more about mo if you are particular, so 1 must closed, with much Arolia. Excuse of my writing dint I want a Tourist Department's ollioo if von have a room to spare. ’ To-dav Mrs Jus. Bull and Mrs Edward Bull, the first twins born in Wellington, celebrated their noth birthday. They were born, a year after the arrival of their parents m the ship London in 1812, and since thou, they have not been out of N\ ollington for more than a month. Ferro concrete has been used for building purposes, with satisfactory results, by the Tourist Department. Mr. Don tie says that this material is very light, but exceedingly tough. It is impervious to rain, and it permits a building, to be cool in summer and warm in winter. He says that there is no reason why all the houses in tho l.lot Lakes district should not he built of this composition,. No rise in firo insurance rates has yet been decided upon, though insurance managers state that the present rates arc unreinuneratiye. They sav that tho recent bush ih*es have caused the year to open iuanspiciouslv for all'offices, and as a consequence the utmost caution, more so than usual, in fact, is being exorcised in taking risks of every description. The general manager ol the State Fire Office (Mr. Brmdlo) has received no information from the Government of any rise of rates, so far as his offico is concerned. The secretary of the N.Z. Federation of NYatcrside Workers (Mr. D. McLaren) lias, says the “Post,” been in communication with the secretary of the Dunedin Wharf Laborers’ Union, which, according to a telegram published to-day,.has decided to apply for cancellation of its registration and Arbitration Act. The Union, savs Mr. McLaren, desired to bring about an agreement with the employers in an amicable spirit, and mot the employers for tlio purpose of settling tho terms, and although the Union "gave wav on many points, the employers, Mr. McLaren asserts, refused to discuss matters with them m a proper way. or to say what they objected to in the claims that were put forward. “There are/ Mr. McLaren states, “special reasons apart altogether from the rumored strike, whvHio Union proposes this course of action. The award under which they are working was made in 1899, and the men feel it an injustice to be working under an award which was framed when conditions were somewhat different from what they are at present. I am advising them that in the event of re-registration, they should take the time of the Dunedin NYaterworkers’ Union. The whole of the Unions in the Federation are moving in that direction, for the purpose of bringing the names of the Unions into conformity with the name of the Federation. Since tho Waterside Workers’ Conference in .July last year, the Dunedin Union lias' more than trebled its membership. Considering the shortness of the notice given of the meeting, there was a very good attendance of the public at the welcome given to Mr. Hall-Jones. The demonstration, which was a very cordial one, was arranged by the Liberal and Labor Federation,' the chairman of which made the somewhat unexpected statement that it would now be well if the country had..a rest from legislation. Ministers, he said, wanted a rest, and the country also wanted a rest from legislation'. The reception consisted of various speeches, and. a programme of music and recitation. Until Mr. NVilford made his appearance the speeches were of a very tame and prosy naturq*. Mr. NYilford’s eulogy of ’Air. Hall-Joncs, however, roused the audience to a pitch of enthusiasm, especially his urgent warning to the lion, gentleman to go in for physical exercise. “For goodness’ sake, take some recreation,” he said, turning to Mr. Hall-Jones; “if not golf, let it bo marbles.” Mr. 'Hall-Jones joined in the laugh at the suggestion that ho should become a- devotee of either game. “Even the Premier,” added Mr. NVilford, “was putting on avoirdupois, and should take some recreation.” Sir Joseph NVard, who followed Mr. NVilford, also met with a very hearty reception. His speech had no political flavor, the burden of it being the delight of tho Ministry in getting their colleague back in good health, and their determination to help him, so that ho might not be overworked in connection with tho portfolios ho is again about to take up. Mr Hall-Jones, who was received with prolonged applause, spoko with much feeling of the great kindness ho had received from tho Press and the people of the country, of all shades of opinion, at a timo when, without warning, he was suddenly stricken down in health, ami came very near to “crossing the bar.”

“Thank God,” lie said, “I have returned with renewed health, pleased to be in- tliis laud again, to further tho interests of our beloved country.”