CHANGES IN RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2064, 5 October 1880, Page 3

CHANGES IN RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.

[By Tbubgbaph.] [xaosr oua own ooehbbpondsnt. j WELLINGTON, October 5. Many rumors were afloat on Saturday as to impending departmental changes, but I was assured by Ministers that nothing was definitely settled. To-day, however, a decision was finally arrived at, and was given effect to immediately. It has been decided to abolish the office of Commissioner entirely as quite unnecessary. The oommiasionerships of both islands are therefore to he done away with altogether, and Mr J. P. Maxwell, who at present acts as assistant to Mr Blackett, engineer in charge of the North Island, will be placed in charge of working railways as General Manager, while Mr Hannay, District Manager for the Oamaru section of the Amberley-Kingston Railway, who acted as subs'itute for Mr Conyers while ho was suffering from his accident, will be AssistantGeneral Manager. Both gentlemen are said to be sufficiently qualified for the duties. The present Commissioners of Railways, Messrs Conyers and Lawson, will retire on compensation allowance, and notice has been given them to that effect to-day. A considerable saving will be effected by the changes, as the abolition of the commissionership will involve dispensing with the expensive staff of clerks, &0., attached to the respective offices. Messrs Maxwell and Hannay also will receive smaller salaries than those paid to Messrs Conyers and Lawson. It was currently rumoured to day that a similar change was to bo made in respect to the engineer in charge of both islands, and that Mr Blackett would probably retire, but I am authorised to give this report a distinct contradiction, no steps of the kind being in contemplation.