WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9715, 18 April 1893, Page 2

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES

(From Ova Own Correspondent.) Wellington, April 17. * MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS. The Hon. Mr Seddon is expected to arrive here on Thursday, and the Hon. Mr Ward on Sunday. THE PREMIER. The Hon. Mr Ballacco was able to take a trip with the Minister for Lands round the harbour this moraing, in the Government steamer Ellen Ballance. The weather wss not favourable, a drizzling rain falling during the forenoon. DEFENCE DEPARTMENT. It is broadly stated here that the Minister is holding back the report of Colonel Fox upon the condition of the colonial forces on the ground that there is some friction between the com-

mandant aud some other officers responsible for the present state of the service. It is certain the report has been for gome time in possession of the department, but it is affirmed on ths other hand that the report is really addressed to the Governor of the colony, and was forwarded to his Excellency io due course. Colonel Fox, it would appear, has not completed his supplementary report, for it is nnuouueed that he goes to South Canterbury to inspect ihc roluntaers there prior to sending it in. The fact, however, that some observations were made during the course of Colonel Fox's general inspection not at all complimentary to some of the volunteer corps of certain localities is taken to furnish a reason for the report being held back by the Government. Out of the irritation to which the delay appears to have givenrisethere aresnudryotherstatemeuts made which causeda good deal of surprise. One of these is consequent upon the retirement of Mr A. D. Bell, who was engineer to the Defence department, under whose superintendence the fortifications of the colony were brought to completion. It is asserted that Colonel Fox, in the first part of his repost, paid a high compliment to the skill and engineering ability of Mr Bel!, aud recommended that officer for a higher and more impoitant position in the department thau ho held. The result, it is said, was an amount of friction which made Mr Bell's position so intolerable that he tendered his resignation. The statement goes further, to the effect that Mr 3. Y. O'Couor, engineer -in - chief to the West Australian Government, hearing of Mr Bell's intended resignation, invited him to that colony and obtained for him au important position in the Engiueeringdepartmentof that colony. The opponents of the Government affirm thatauother valuable officer has br.en turned out of the public service because he could not act iv accordance with the new system which has been adopted iv the Public Works and Defence departments. Of course the Minister has au answer, a-s I am informed, to charges of this nature which will fiud favour with the friends of the Government. He found that the engineering stall' was quite competent to take charge of the colony, which he considered should include the dufenceworks. Tho defeuce works required no further engineers than was necessary for their maintenance, and the question of Mr Bell's retirement csms from that gentleman, and not from the Minister or other officer of the department- In this

position, I am informed, the Minister decided to Except the resignation of Mr Bell: first, because it was tendered, and secondly, because

it suggested further economy in the administration of a department necessarily iuvolving great expense. I do nob pretend to reconcile these different statements. On the die hand it is asserted without qualification that another valuable public servant has been driven forth to seek his living in another colony, which will benefit by his skill and ability; while on the other it is affirmed that no compulsion was put on Mr Bell, that he was in all respects treated as any other public servant, and that having sent in his resignation it was accepted.

— Intoxicating liquors havo been made from tho sap of tho birch, tho willow, tho poplar, and the sycamore.