WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2600, 13 January 1904, Page 24

WELLINGTON.

The mail service referred to in the cable message on the 4th, for which the Agentgeneral is reported to be inviting tenders, is supposed to bo a steam sc-rvice from the colony to Glasgow and West of England ports, advertised in the colony recently. The-re are at present employed on the North Island main trunk railway about 950 men — 500 at tho southern end, and 450 at the northern end. Work was resumed on the sth met., after the holidays-. Messrs W. Cable and Co. have eeoured th.a contract for repairing the Wesfcport Harbour Board dredge, whioh is at present on the patent slip. It is estimated that the repa-irs will cost between £2000 and £2500. The dredge will probably bo re-launched towards tho end of the month. There were two deaths during the voyage of the white Star liner Cormthic, from London. On Saturday last Mrs Lane, wife of John Lane, died of acute anaemia, her caoe having been almost hopeless before the steamer loft London. Deceased was 55 years of age. The othca 1 death was that of a boy named Towsett, 3on of Sir and Mrs E. Towsett, third-clais passengers. Both bodies »yero buried at $ea. On Wednesday afternoon three Chinese were removed to Soa.nes Island ponding investigation. Sympcoms of itsuspicious nature have been developed by ono of tho trio. The patient originally came from Canton about two months ago, and wont to Wanganui, subsequently arriving in Wellington. As a precautionary measure, il was deemed advisable to isolate, all contacts both here and at Wanganui. The patient is not sickening for, but is recovering from, a suspected contagious disease. The arrivals in Now Zealand for Nov ember were 2963, and the departures 1218, against 3016 and 957 for the pi-eceding year. The Public Works Department has accepted the tender of Messrs John Anderson and Co., Christohurch, for the construction of steel bridges in connection with the Paeroa-Waihi railway. The bridges are to be completed within 17 months. It is expected it will be s.ix months before the contractors start, as the material has to be obtained from England.