TELEGRAPHIC.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3518, 23 May 1890, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

: Wanganui, May 22, _ A meeting was hold to-night of citizens to consider the host method of getting up a testimonial to prosent to Mr T. D. Cummins, captain of the Fire -,who is retiring after twenty-four years' service in the corps, The meeting was an influential one, and unanimously decided that a canvassing committee be formed to collect subscriptions for a testimonial to Mr Cummins, Mr Cummins has rendered valuable service to the town, and there is no doubt of a substantial amount being collected, The Mayor occupied the chair,

Auckland, May 22. Tho Auckland Railway Deform League have adopted a petition to Parliament urging that the Government Railways Act of 1887 lias been most unsatisfactory, and that it be at once repealed, and an unconditional trial be given of the stage system of railway administration on the whole or a considerable portion of the railways of New Zealand. The petition is to be circulated throughout the Colony for signature,

The Society oi ArtsAuckland, May 22. The annual exhibition of the Auckland Society of Arts was opened to-night at the Choral Hall with a conversazione, when tho President, Mr E, A. Mackechnie, delivered the usual inaugural address, speaking of tho general principles of art. Mr David Christie Murray also briefly addressed the assembly. There was a large attendance, The exhibition is perhaps the best yet held, both as regards'tho quantity and quality of the work, 'l'lierp are 200 pictures', both oil and water colours, and specimens of sculpture, modelling, etc,, the total number of works lein n ' about 300, A large increase is noticeable in the number of figire pieces. The most notable feature is the strong representation of Southern artists/ which has given the greatest satisfaction to the Auckland Society of Arts and to art oircles generally,

The Railway Difficulty.

CipsMHUEOH,-, Miijr ;22. v. The following circular was issued ' ty tho Railway Society to all the employees to-day in connection with the circular of the 19th inst, issued. by the Commissioners, offering to give leave and pay reasonable travelling expenses to enable representatives chosen from tho employees to attend Wellington for tho purpose of setting forth their grievances :-r" The Executive Committee draws attention to the following facts: (!) That the Society is a proper medium throucli which all grievances should be ventilated. (2) That the Executive Committee have already offered to send delegates to Wellington to meet the Commissioners, but tlie offer is so far entirely ignored, .(8) The Commissioners steadfastly refused to nife the Society or deal with the Executive on the questions of the grievances and reform as submitted, but have tried by every mews in their power to induce tho employees to aot independently of the Society, The Executive would warn you against cntertjajning such a proposal.' Thf only syay to obtain reclreßs for the grievances, and successfully reform the existing rotten state of the service, is to aot .unitedly, man to man, shoulder to shoulder, through the. Society, and nover recede one iota from the position taken up. The Executive Society must be recognised as the medium between the Commissioners and the employees, Do not be deluded by offers which look fair an the surface, but are veritable pitfalls of the most bottomless kind.— % I ISmjiD'9."