MUCH-NEEDED REFORM AMONGST FOSSILISED OFFICIALS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 480, 12 November 1877, Page 2

MUCH-NEEDED REFORM AMONGST FOSSILISED OFFICIALS.

Since the accession of the Grey-Larnach Ministry to power, Under-Secretaries and heads of departments generally have not been reposing on that bed of roses they

formerly enjoyed, and stories leak out in all directions how Jtfctis and that " big bug " m tbt Cifil," Service-has boon snubbed and and takeli clown a peg or two by various Banisters. ' Even Mr. Cimitwers, the terror of contractors, has not escaped lash, and the Under-Sottfletary of Customs has been informed by™A\o Premier (who was struck with consternation when told that ha had ordered this and ordered that) tlmt it is his place to recommend, the Ministers to order, and that it was necessary ho should recollect this so long as he (Sir George) remained in office. In like manner, the Engineer-in-Cliief has been hauled over (lie coals, and ordered peremptorily to give effect to an instruction from the Minister for Public Works which he had previously neglected to carry out. It appears that tenders were invited for the construction of railway waggons for use on theChristohurchOamaru section of the Great Southern Railway, and it was stated in the advertisement that plans and specifications were to be seen at Christchurch and Dun edin. One of the hon. members for Waitaki (Mr. Shrimski) received a telo r » : £ gram from the Oamaru firm, asking that gentleman to exert liimself with a viewto having plans and specifications sent to Oamaru as well. Mr. Shrimski saw the reasonableness of the request., and, with characteristic promptitude, interviewed tho Minister for Public Works, laid tho case before him, and urged that a firm which had previously done work for the Government in. tho most satisfactory manner, should have the same facilities for competing as firms in Cliristchurch and Duuedin, and should not be put to the necessity of going to either city to inspect tho specifications. Mr. Larnach, at once coinciding, pressed his thumb on the electric communicator, and tho summons was answered by Mr. Carruthors himself. "Just tho very man I want. Will you please have plans and specifications for these railway waggons sent at once to Oamaru?" " Certainly," responded tho Engineer-in-Chief, and Mr. Shrimski being assured that tlie thing would be done, and thfcl, he might telegraph to that etl'ect, thanked the Minister and retired. Four daj>B subsequently he was the recipient of another telegram from Oamaru to the effect that the plans and specifications had not arrived there. Meeting Mr. Carruthors in the street almost directly afterwards, he asked that gentleman why the plans, etc., had not been forwarded, and for answer lie was told that the tiling was impracticable ; that, in fact, before they could reach Oamaru the time for Bending in tenders would have expired. Boiling with indignation, Mr. Shrimski went straight away to tho Minister for Public Works, who " damned " a little on being told that his instructions, had not boon carried out. The result of this second interview was that plans and specifications were forwarded to Oamaru ihstauirr, and the Engineer-in-Ohiof was in-g| formed, though not iu the precise words™ that Mr. Larnach was boss of the sewingmachine. This means rooting topsails with a vengeance.— N. Z. Sun.