THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERSHIPS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1696, 9 February 1888, Page 4

THE RAIL WAY COMMISSIONERSHIPS.

In a recent letter I told you that applications ,for the .Railway Com-missioner-ships were rolling in thick and fastjfrom all parts of the colony and from all sorts and conditions of people. ; A few days ago I was favored with a glimpse,at a few of these, and anything more interesting and amusing it would |be difficult to conceive.,, Some of them read like deliberate jokes at the expense of the Government, but the tone,of earnestness and supplication in | which they are couched convinces one of their undoubted sincerity. The first that came under my notice was from an ex-police inspector, who claimed to have an idea, conceived and matured in his own brain, for the management of railways and public tramways. By this he assures the Government, it is possible to save half the present working expenses and increase the revenue by many thousands of pounds annually. He will either sell the scheme for £5,000 cash, or accept the chief cornmi ssionership at a salary of £SOO a year and a bonus on results. Another application is from an official of the Victorian railways, who claims to have discovered the secret of Mr Speight's principle, and is ready to administer it here at a salary of £IOOO a year, or £750 with a fire years' guarantee. Then comes a New South Wales politician, who claims to have studied railway management under Mr Denvir, of the North - Western fcr five years and concludes with the remark that "Mr Denvir will be happy to testify as to his fitness." A Tasmanian parson who has had trouble with his congregation, tells the Minister that "he always had a genius for managing something," and encloses a testimonial from his Bishop, that "he is a capital man at figures, and can be trusted to handle money in large sums." A gentleman who has been a bank manager for ten years will "take the billet at any salary which the Government may see fit to offer, remuneration not being so much an object as constant employment." An American" Colonel," who is travelling for his health, says, as he likes the iiew Zealand climate, he would not be averse to settling among us for a consideration, and " running your tramways on genuine American principles." Then comes the ex-editor of an agricultural paper, whose only recommendation is that he has twelve of a family, an invalided mother-in-law, and is, in his own words, " a most deserving subject for appointment." A lawyer gives as his qualifications that he " possesses the knack of turning anything into money," and is a total abstainer 5 but perhaps the most worthy and deserving case of the lot is that of a superannuated government official, who describes himself as the " nephew of a distinguished nobleman, and the brother of the late member for an Otago constituency. —■ Tuapeka Times correspondent.