WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 16, 19 July 1906, Page 2

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

! - - . - ■■■••** ' \ [By Telegraph.?' ~ . (From our Special Correspondent.) i Wellington, Thursday. ' There is much adverse comment in > commercial sections because of the ■ action of the Government in keeping • the people of the colony so long in the i dark regarding the question of the re--1 ciprocal treaty between Australia and i New Zealand, as also regarding the I extent to which New Zealand is affected by the proposed Federal Mail Service. t Regarding the latter, the few driblets of information available have come 5 from Australia. The Premier made t the excuse somo timo ago that he had , not yet received tho papers of the late Premier bearing on the subject, but as [ one of his own supporters pointed out, if Mrs Seddon had not handed over I tho papers, Mr!Hall-Jones could easily get particulars by cabling for them. I It appears that five tenders were rej ceived for the service, and that of Sir i James Laing & Sons being the lowest t .was accepted under the 636 hours' > time-table. The steamers will leave Brindisi, calling en route at Port Said, [ Colombo, and Fremantle, arriving at j Adelaide in. time for Saturday's cxl press, thus enabling simultaneous de- |. livery of mails to be made both in Sydney and Melbourne early on Monday, and permit of replies being sent j by the outward mail of the Same I week. On£the outward journey^fe steamers will leave Adelaide on Friday. In connection with this imI proved ocean mail service, an improved railway service is;contemplated, avoiding the delays which now occur, and ensuring greater expedition in both directions. It seems to be taken for granted in Australia that the service will be extended to New Zealand. t The commercial community in. New . South Wales regard .the service as a i distinct gain.