WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 24

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

(From Our Own" CoitnEsrconDENT.) WELLINGTON, April 3. POSSIBLE RETURN OF THE AGENT-

GENERAL.

Letters received by the last mail from the Hon. W. P. Reeves, Agent-general for the colony in London, state that it is possible that he may return to Nev? Zealand in time for the next general election. THE FEDERATION REFERENDUM.

The sudden countermanding of the decision to submit the question of federation to the people i« said to be due to the Federation Commissioners. On hearing of the proposal they considered the matter, and decided to "resign their commission if the referendum Vv-as persisted in. ,They were, it is said, just on the point of deciding to abandon their work when a message "came to the effect that the pioposal had been abandoned.

PROVOKING DELAYS

There is much dissatisfaction amongst local volunteers at the treatment meted out to them by the Government. One company some six or seven weeks ago completed their annual camp training, and the bills for expenses have not vet been settled by the Defence department. Tradesmen, cooks, and others have been dunning the officers for the amounts due, but the latter could get^ no satisfaction out of the Government, and have had to pay the bills themselves In this case the amount came to about £120. In another case a company got some books of instructions, printed. The Government approved of the books, and. asked the company to get some thousands printed, so that they could "supply them to other similar companies. The Government took over a supply of the books, and have sold them to other companies, but so fir the company that went to. the expense of publication has uot received one penny for the work, ard the officers have been billed for £77.

The following telegram, wh>ch lias not vet been published, was received (says the North Otago Time°) =ome time ago by the Natives of Trooper M 'Bride, vho was a member of the Queen's Rifles, of Oamaru : " Re your letter of the 7th October to the Hon Mr SecMon, the Government agent at Capetown, under date 12th December, reports that your son. Saddler M'Biide, was soverely wounded at Reitfontein. but iva? doing at> well as could be expected. General Paget reported that your son had specially distinguished himself in that action — Arthur C Doughs, Under Secretary, Defence." The references in the messages are very complimentary to Trooper M'Bride'a braverr

New Winter Shipments — T. Ross has opened a grand lot of ladies' handsome fawn jackets beautifully braided, 12s 9d to 4-ss. New shapes in best rainproof costs 21s to 425. Two thousand umbrella? with pretty handles Is lid to 25?. New lace and silk ties, white, cream, and all colours, from Is. New fm* necklets in white, grey. fawn, brown, and black, from Is 3d. Muffs to match from bs lid, and the finest lot of Lid glo I . c- and c athinerp btot kings m toy. a at T. .Ross's, importer.