WELLINGTON NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 83, 10 April 1900, Page 3

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day. THE HON. MCKENZIE'S HEALTH.

The private secretary of tlie Minister of Lands staites that the health of, the latter is much improved. Mr McKenzie is slowly recovering from his recent illness, but is in a -weak state, and it will be some time before he is fit to attend to business. He i^grdered by his medical advisers to take a thorough rest. With, avoidance of work and worry, there is every Teasson to believe he will live many years. THE HON. J. G. WAED. The Hon. J. G. Ward returned yesterday. WESTINGHOUSE BRAKES. The fitting of all New Zealand railway stock with the Weistiinghouse brake will occupy a period of five years. Preparations are being made for a start as soon as the necessary material is to hand. THE MANAWATU RAILWAY CO. The Government, in reply to the accusations made by the WellingtonManawatu Railway Co., that the Railway Department is pursuing a dog-in-the-manger policy in declining to purchase the Company's interests, state that so far no offer to sell has been received from the Company. What the latter apparently wants is that the Government shall divert passenger and goo|ds traffic from the State line to the Company's, which is an unreasonable proposition. On the other hand, if the Government were to make overtures to buy the Company out, it would have to pay ten per cent, over the cost price, but if the offer came from the Company it would have to fix its price. The other day a volunteer, who seems to be very solicitous of the welfare of the Wellington-Manawatu line, protested in a letter to a local newspaper against the awful cruelty of being obliged to travel by the Government railway, which he said would subject the poor volunteers to a thirteen hours' trip instead of eight hours. lam officially informed, however, that the actual difference in time is one and a half hours, instead of five. Is it likely that the Government would pay for the conveyance of volunteers over a private line, when the State line is available for the purpose, merely for a saving of one 'hour or so? Really, I thought our volunteers were made of sterner stuff. LOCO. SUPERINTENDENT. Nothing has been decided as to the successor to Mr Rotheram, who has resigned the post of locomotive superintendent of New Zealand railways, in order to accept a lucrative position in the Western Australian Railway Department. The selection will be based on seniority, coupled with merit and competency. COMMISSIONER TUNBRIDGE. Police-Commissioner Tunbridge has gone on a visit of inspection to the ; Napier district, but is expected back on Thursday. THE CABINET. The full Cabinet will be assembled in Wellington next week, when large arrears of work will be considered. Ministers will probably be here for a. fortnight at least, dealing with matters which have had tec stand over pending a full Cabinet. ■ THE CONTINGENTS. Colonel Pole-Penton and his staff are still busily engaged clearing up the arduous work connected with the despatch of the five contingents. No one acquainted with the innumerable details connected with the work, especially where, as in this case, everything in the way of organisation, equipment, and drill had to be performed at high pressure, can form an adequate idea of the magnitude of the task, and the strain entailed upon the Defence Department. The Commandant of the Forces and his staff have been most assiduous in giving effect to the wishes of the Government, working all da,y and far into the night for •some months past, and I am sure that, in spite of little hitches which occur even in the most efficiently organised and disciplined regular armies, no one will grudge Colonel Pole-Penton and his officers the meed of praise which they ha.ye so well earned. Toiling- incessantly over returns and reports, stirring up tardy contractors, and the commissariat, and struggling with all the minutiae connected with so large an undertaking, the officers of the Defence Department have laboured without ostentation, often exposed to the earnings and foolish fault-finding of would-be military critics, which they had to bear in silence.