WELLINGTON.

Colonist, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5815, 29 May 1890, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

May 28. A meeting of Wellington steamship owners will be held in a day or Wo to consider the circular of the Mercantile Marine Officers Association. It is stated that if the Association insists on its demands, more than one steamer trading from this port will bo laid up. The ironworkers' assistants aie demanding art extra Is par day. The employers are inclined to resist, bat will receive a deputation on the matter. | The acceptance by the Postal Conference I at Adelaide of tha scheme for guaranteeing a redaction of cable rates will involve serious consideration by, the Government of New Zealand's position. From private telegrams it appears that a very bitter feeling was manifo ted against tbft Colony by some members on account of its refusal hitherto to join in the payment of subsidies to the Australian cables. A resolution was passed that non-contributing Colonies should pay higher rates than others, and on its Being suggested they might appoint an agent to receive messages and forward them on, some of the representatives said their Governments would pass Acts ra&lnng suth a tbing punishable 83 treason. A rough calculation shows that New Zealand would have to guarantee about £6000, provided we ate not asked to pay any portion of the subsidf for the dupliaate cable to Western Australia. It does not. follow that the whola of this amount or any of it would certainly have to be handed over. Exact estimates will be drawn up for the information of the Government; and when fall information arrives from the Conference they will go into the matter and decide whether Parliament shall be aaked to take advantage of the cheapened rates and give the necessary guarantee. It will probably be made a condition that tht rates on the oabla between here and Australia shall ba lowered. The ooßt of repairing the Cook Strait eablewa* £8000. This, sum;: though larger (Q&a wai expected oa account of the long

detention of the steamer and the aWdiiili^ diffipalties met with, is only about hilfwfiw it would have cost to bring a Bteat^r tt»]|i specially. Eight miles of the oabre Wf taken np. •/■■ •■ ; ■-•"-■; ■'■■■:. — : '"? ■;*';. The Governor haa annonneed hia intention of spending most of the winter at Lows y Bay, on the opposite side of tbe harbor, and ha went over there this morning. It was aqg* gested that a telephone should be laid on, bat as the cost woald be £200,■•it is not likely tha work will be carried out. ;; i The authorities have np apprehension of . a strike amoDg the telegraphists. They believe the rumours merely; the reflet of an attempt set on foot a short time ago to form a Union among the operators? arid afterwards abandoned. It is recognised, however, that the Telegraph Department is badly ia neoi of classification,' and that there is someoausj* for discontent among the employees whioh it is hoped the legislation of nest session may wholly or in part remove it. The Hon G. M. Waterhonse, who haa dfl* oided to remain in England, has resigned his seat in the Legislative Council. Mr Waterhouse is residing at Torquay, and finding his health improving, has deoided to remain there. Hia residence here is being Sold, The manager of the City tramways bAS written to the Federated Trades Council dadining to approve of the rule 3 recently adopted {by the Tramway and Corporation Bus Companies Employees Union, and whioh it is proposed to bring into force on June lit,; as their acceptance would involve an annual increase of £1463 in wages alone. He adds that the tramways are running at a los 3, end that the proprietors will not submit to an increase of wages or diminution of hours. The Poatmaater General hai received » cable message from Mr Crefobton stating that; the Bill for providing for free entry of New Zealand flax into America has passelths House of Bepresant&tives. The Mercantile Maritime Officers Asioda» tion of New Zealand, whose head quarters are at Wellington, have addressed a.oiroular to every steamship owner in New Zealand making certain demands calculated to improve the position of the officers. They ask that each vessel ohall carry three, certificated i officers, and that the minimum pay shall be, ohief officer £16 par month, second £14 third and fourth £12, this soale to oome into forca <on the Ist June. A request is also made for improved accommodation, and that no officer shall be obliged to handle or tally cargo, and the system of three watches thall be observed. Another item is tbat when an officer cornea off night duty he shall be entitled to refresh, ment as a right aud not at the option of tha stewards as at prssent. DTJNBDIN, May 28. Sir W. Buller ia being examined undo? commission in the case of Cameron v. Blue Spur Company. The criminal calendar comprises 16 oases, mostly of larceny, one of attempted murder, and one of arson. TIMARU. May 28. At a meeting of flour mill employees last night it was resolved to form a Union on tha lines of the Australasian Asaooiation. CHKISTCHUECH, May 28. The Ambulance Association has resolved to form a Ladies Nurßing Guard for the relief of the sick poor. An influential Committee haa been formed. KAPIEK, May 28. The news of the wreck of the Ashteigh Brook baa caused some concern to shippers of frozen meat, as she was to have come here to take 16,000 carcases, and tbe loss of any freezing vessel is Eeverely felt, owing to the pressure on the storage space at the freezing works. AUCKLAND, May 28. An Auckland busines3 man writing from Sydney states that hundreds are out of employment there. When leavingßnssell recently the Hinemoa had a narrow escape of running down a cutter which was showing no lights. An investigation is to be made as to whether tbe reappearance of the hull of the Orpheus at Manukau Heads is due to any alteration in the course of the channel. The ss Richmond arrived to-day. Her crank thaffc broke on the 3rd instant, when between Earatonja and Tonga, leaving the Bteamer helpless in mid ocean. Temporary repairs were made, and on the 12th mat the Biohmond reaohed Tonga, where the shaft w*s strengthened. The vessel had to travel half speed to Auckland, the bolts frequently breaking. Her cargo of fruit is in good con* dition, The Wainni, from Tonga and Samoa, has also arrived. j [ I '