Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1881.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 83, 7 April 1881, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1881.

Whbk Messrs Batkin and Seed were instructed tor mike an official tour of the colony with the view of reporting upon further - reductions in the Civil Service, there were some .who thought the appointment was an unwisß one on tb« ground that the gentlemen named would have «o much fellowfeeling for their brother officers in the Service that their recommendations wou'd probably be, a little too much tempered with consideration for those who were to be affected by' their verdict. Any apprehenBions, however, that might have been entertained on this account are likely to be entirely removed by the report sent in by these two 1 Commissioner!. They recently completed their work, so far as the Norih Island is concerned, and on Saturday last, says the Post of Monday, they "presented • their report to the Government. It is a very bulky document, containing a vast a\nount of information and some very important recommendations in regard to possible reductions and reforms. Tor obvious reasons the' precise nature of their suggestions has not yet been allowed to transpire, for premature publicity would be undesirable as hampering the action of Ministers and tying their hands in respect to retrenchment, owing to the pressure which would be inevitably brought to bear by the friends of the officers proposed to be reduced or dispensed with. We are in a position, however, to state that Messrs Batkin and Seed show the practicableness of very large further reductions in expenditure, and this not only without any diminution of efficiency, but with an absolute improvement in this respect. They demonstrate clearly that by a judicious course of reorganization, amalgamation &c, as sketched in their report, the service can be rendered much more efficient thaa at present, and at the same time a most : material saving of expense secured. The report is now under the consideration of Ministers, and it is understood, that early action will probably be taken in the matter. Some of the recommendations indeed will be given effect to at once, but others we believe are of so sweeping a nature ds to demand weighing very seriously before it is finally decided whether they shall be adopted in their entirety. We understand: that the chief reductions suggested •are in the Department of Justice, and that a saving of over £10,000 per annum in salaries alone is deemed practicable. This of course applies to the North Island alone. Messrs. Batkin and Seed start to,day on their tour of the South Island." The publication of the report will be looked forward to with some impatience, for it will doubtless prove an interesting document to many othera besides those whose status it is likely to affect. TheiV.Z. Times Bays that it has leaked out that the recommendations are " somewhat draßtic," and therefore are likely, to fall short of their object, and consequently that the sum mentioned as the probable saving is placed at too high a figure. All doubts on this Bnbject, however, trill be, removed on the return of Messrs Seed and Batkin . from their southern tour pod the publication of the complete report,

We have received for publication a letter signed " Citizen." Although the subject matter is of a semi-public churacter,\there is so much that is personal in the letter' that we decline to publish it unless with the writer's name attached. Tenders were cparsed to-day by the Camp Committee for the right of canteen, &c , at the Easter encampment, when that of Mi Bennett, of Wellington, was accepted, he having offered £55 in addition to the £25 to be paid for the use of the Foresters' booth. The only othtr tenderer was Mr Lawrence, of Nelson, who offered £35 in addition to the £2!> for the booth. We understand that the Deputy Property Tnx Commissiouer has received ins'rjctions to enforce the penalty of ten per cent upou all amounts remaiaiug unpaid to-morrow. Thk Wellington Amateur Dramatic Company have completed their arrangements for paving a visit to Nelson, where cliey will arrive on Good Friday, ;,nd will give a sacred coucerfc ou the evening of that day, the pro- I coedß of which will be present? d to the local Charities. As they will briug an excellent orchestra with them tltid are arranging a programme which will give both vocalists and instrumentalists an opportunity of doing full justice to their powers, the concert should, and no doubt will, prove more attractive than anything of the kind that has ever yet been heard in Nelson. On Saturday and Monday evenings the Company will give dramatic performances. • The Postal Guide for the current quarter contains the time table of dates of departure frem Melbourne of English mails via Galle and Brindißi, and by the Orient steamers via Naples. They are as follows, the Orient steamers in each case leaving a day after 4,he P. and 0- boats:— -April 25 and 26; May 9 and 10; May 23 and 24; June 5 and 6; June 19 and 20; July 3 and 4. Mails from New Zealand to Melbourne to connect with the above will be conveyed by chance steamers, the agreement with the Union Company having expired last month. Correspondence by the Orient steamers should be specially addressed, : and if marktd "via Naples" should reach London seven days earlier than if taken on to Plymouth by steamer. We learn that Mr Joseph Mackay, the present resident and mathematical master at Nelson College, has been unanimously appointed by the Governors Principal of the Wellington College. After having for twelve years performed his duties at our local institution co faithfully and successfully, he is ut least entitled to our congratu lations upon obtaining the promotion he h.i 3 sought for. So great, however, is the loss that Nelson' will sustain in his departure that we feel that it is only in a half-hearted way we can offer that which ought to be given cordially. He will carry with him the good wishes of all who know him, and the WelliDgton Colleso Governors may consider themselves very fortunate in having secured the services of so able and painstaking a teacher as Mr Mackay, and so excelleut a supervisor of the internal economy of the College as Mrs Mackay.