WELLINGTON NOTES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10063, 15 June 1898, Page 5

WELLINGTON NOTES.

[By Telegraph.)

[FROM 008 SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, June 14. A recent article in the Christchurch Press about Civil Service appointments, which has been extensively copied in tlie North Island, has caused somewhat of a sensation-here, and a well-known Civil servant! tells mc that it is remarkable for the knowledge of detail disclosed, and also that it is generally approved by the older and more capable Civil servants, who have for a long time past been thoroughly disgusted with tne manner in which incompetent political supporters have been pitchforked into the Civil Service and the Railway Department. Some of the doings in connection with this business that have come to light are of a sufficiently scandalous nature, rut worse things remain to be disclosed; and I know for an absolute fact that in. one case at least in which an appointment has been procured through the influence of a Government supporter, a sum of money in gold has been paid to the latter for his services. We have it on the authority ot Mr John Hutcheson, senioi member for Wellington, that bribes are offered to labour members, and though in hiis case they were refused, it is well-known that in others there is more than a suspicion that they have been accepted. The -guide book business, about- which 1 some time ago gave you a few particulars, continues to give considerable trouble to the Lands Department. A difficulty has no**v cropped up in connection wil'h the advertising in tne Otago book, written by Mr James Richardson. There tire complaints about the Government competing with private enterprise in this matter of advertising in guide books, and tfhe Department is naturally averse to encouraging it. In regard to the book above refered to, Mr Richardson was to be paid a sum of £26, and to have the' money from the advertising as well, but there is now a dispute as to whether the author is to be allowed thirteen or thirty advertisements. The dispute is still unsettled, but political pressure has been brought to bear, and it will be interesting tb note when the guide book is issued whether the Department has "knuckled under" to the extent of publishing the thirty advertisements, or whether it will restrict the author to the thirteen which they maintain was the number agreed upon.