THE VACANT LEGISLATIVE CLERKSHIPS.

There nan, wo should think, and hope, be no doubt as to who Major Campbell's buccessor will be aa Clerk to the House of Representatives. Everyone who is familiar with the House and ita work will at once designate Mr. George Friend, the present Clerk Assistant, as the proper man to receivo the promotion. Mr. Friend is a very old Borvant of the Honso, and has had charge o f all its work in ( ommittee of tho Whole for upwards of a quarter of a century, occasionally also relieving Major Campbell in the chair at the table. Ho ia thoroughly familiar with Parliamentary law and procedure, is a recognised authority on tho history and precedents of tho New Zealand Parliament, and he is a universal favourite with all with whom he ia brought into official contaot. The right of appointment rents with the Government, and if Mr. Friend is willing to accept the higher office, he Bhould certainly have it conferred upon him. The succession to the still higher, although little more than nominal, office of Clerk of Parliaments, Tests upon a totally different footing. It was originally held by Major Campbell under warrant from tho Governor, but in 1872 it was conferred upon him by statute. The duty of tho Clerk of Parliaments consists mainly in presenting BUIb to the Governor for the assent of the Crown. In 1871 the Legislative Council discovered that according to tho practice of the Imperial Parliament, tho House of Lords appointed the Clerk of Parliaments. While not asserting any desire to oust Major Campbell, they made it understood that they would claim the right to appoint his successor. In the following year, 1872, the Aot already referred to, confirming Major Campbell in the office, was passed into law, including a clause by whioh it waß provided that after he ceased to hold office, tho appointment should bo mado as nearly aB possiblo in accordance with the practice of the Imperial Parliament. According to that, the right to appoint the new Clerk of Parliaments now vesta in tho Legislative Council, and it is practically certain that it will be conferrod on Mr. Loonard Stowe, the Clerk to tho Council, instead of being given to whoever may be appointed Clerk to tho Houbo of Representatives.

Our roport of the proceedings at last night's meoting of tho Petono Borough Council, and Bovoral lotters to tho Editor, including one from Mr. G. H. Davis referring to a very curious weather table, which is appended, will be found on the fourth page to-day. A long meeting of tho Cabinet waa held this morning. Mr. T. W. Hißlop, late Colonial Seoretary, who was recently re-elected member for Oamaru, came up from the South yesterday. The flax trado with Now York direct is growing rapidly. The New Zealand Shipping Company advertiao another vesael aa arriving to go on the berth, and add that others will follow. Thoro wero twenty-nine applications received for the position of clerk, &c, to the Petone Borough Council. Mr. W. Hester (formerly clerk to tho Wellington City Council) was ultimately appointed, subject to giving his whole time to the duties. Tho salaries of tho applicants ranged between and Wo understand that owing to tho increased facilities recently afforded by the Direct steamers, tho export of butter promises to increase very largely. The Rimutaka, which left Lyttolton on Thursday last, had on board Boveral hundred kegs shipped in Wellington, in addition to a large quantity shipped from Southern ports. In all the steamers of both lines in future space will be specially reserved for oheese and butter. Mr. Jelliooo brought before the Chief Justice this morning the case of William Irvine, engineer of the Lindus, who was committed for' trial in the Magistrate's Court on Monday on a charge of perjury. He pointed out that no bill had yet been presented to tho Grand Jury, nor could any bo presonted until that body reassembled on the 28th instant. All the parties were employed on the Lindus, and as thoy wore waiting in Wellington without means, he had thought it right, as representative of the prosecutor, to bring the matter bofore the Conrt to see whethor tho Crown could not meet them in somo way. His Honour said he saw no reason why the bill should not go before the Grand Jnry on tho 28th. Mr. Jellicoe said that what he was anxious about was tho expense of keeping the witnesses and others horo in the meantime. His Honour observod that he had nothing to do with that. Mr. 801 l informed the Court that so far as he knew at present the Crown had nothing to do with tho case, as it was a private prosecution. Mr. Jellicoe said that the case was left to the Crown. His Hononr said the only person who know anything about it was tho privato proseoutor. Tho application waa quite irregular. Mr. Jellicoo remarked that ho was only anxious that something should bo dono in tho matter. His Honour ended the conversation by stating that Mr. Jellicoe could take what stops ho saw fit. A committee meeting of the Hutt Special Settlement Association was held at the Oddtellows' Hall, Lower Hutt last night, Mr. G. H. Scales, chairman of the association, presiding. The principal b.usinosa transacted was the agreeing upon what roads should bo proceeded with out of the thirds now due. It was deoided to complete the first mile and a quarter on each of tho Kakariki and Pukehoi roads, and half a mile on the Southroad, leading from the township to the river. Mr. J. Ffirrelly was elected member of tho committee in the place of Mr. Cunningham, resignod, and it waa decidod to hold the annual general meeting at tho ond of the present month. Tho chairman reported that tho contraotor for bushfalling was making good progress, and had now twenty men at work. Mr. S- Cimino, informs ua that for a considerable time past he has contemplated resigning the position of conductor of the Garrison Band, as he finds that he is unable to devote sufficient time and attention to tho performance of the dutie?, and that he has now formally intimated his intention of severing his connection with the force. Mr. Maccabe's entertainment was well patronised last evening, and tho audience spent a couple of hours vory pleasantly indeed. The same programme will be repeated this evening. The only business which came before the Trustees of the Benevolent institute at yesterday's meoting was tho passing of the regular ration orders, deciding a few pressing applications for assistance, and some few ordinary matters. The Kav. H. Van Stavoron occupied the chair, and the other trustees present were Messrs. Moaagban, C. E. Willeston, and S. Danks. The Secretary of the Wellington Amateur Dramatic Club to-day handed Mr. Ferguson (Secretary of tho Harbour Board) a oheque for .£Bl Os 4d, the amount raised by tho olub at the recent performance given in aid of the relatives of the viotims of the lato disaster to the pilot boat. The actual proceeds of the performance wera 15s 6d. which was reduced to the amount named abovo by necessary expenses incurred by the olub in producing " The Guvnor." Tho police to-day withdrew charges of j travelling in a railway carriage without payment of fare, and insulting Guard Quinn, preferred agaiust a person named G. H. Harrison. The offences were said to havo boen committed on the 17th of September last, but the police have since been unable to find the defendant, and this necessitated tho withdrawal of ths information. The chimney of the ro&idence of Charles Anderson, in Grainger-streefc, having taken fire on the 2Gth of September and thus constituted an offence against the city by.le.Wß, Anderson was fined ss, with 7s costs, in the I Court this morning. Walter Legg had to pay a fine of Is, with 7a costs, for permitting his horae and cart to stand in Ehodee-street on the 29th of September without first having a chain passed through the wheel of the vehicle. For a breach of the health by-laws, by permitting certain refuse to be deposited upon hia premises, William H. Moore was fined Is, with 14s oosts. That the central office of the Bank of New Zealand will be moved to London nnless there is a marked improvement in the local management in the conrse of the nest yeur j or two may (says tho London correspondent | of the Dunedin Star), I think, be considered , certain, but it is rather surprising to hear of Auokland people advocating the step. It roally sounds almost as funny as if the Dunedin folk wero to agitate for the expulsion of the Union Company, or the Wellingtonians to pray that Parliament might cease to eit there. I am told, however, that the great Majority of Auoklanders are fully alive to the suicidal nature of the proposal, and that the minority have simply been " earwigged " by the President of the Bank. This gentleman, I understand, has already hinted to London friends that his transcendant abilities are " cribbed, cabined, and confined " in the provincial abgosphere of Auckland, and that he could and would do great things for the Bank if only the Board sat in Queen Viotoria-street instead of Queen-street. lam much afraid, however, ■ Mr. Buckley would not find himself such a big man in tho City aß he imagines. In Anckland, of conrse, he really ia a somebody, and rightly. | A sentence of seven days' imprisonment i was allotted a female named Sarah Tindle in the Court this morning for obscenity in Haining-street, on the 2nd of September. The defendant did not appear to answer the charge, whioh waa therefore proved by Constable Cox and another witness. Tbo recently formed Webb-street Mutual Improvement Sooiety held an ordinary meeting on Monday evening last, when, notwithstanding *ne boisterous weather, there was a very fair attendance. An essay oq " British Novels and Novafcais" was read by the Secretary, Mr. LittlceGtt, and being of an interesting character, was well appreciated by the members. An animate^ disonssion ensued, at the conclusion of whioh t hearty vote of thanks was aqcorded tho esß&yiai. We notico that a committee meeting is celled for Thursday evening. Tho Wellington Amateur Dramatics Club propose giving their next private performance Eometime in December next.

The Now Zealand Shipping Company are l advised by cable from Hobart that tho i R.M.S. Rnapehn left that port at 6 o'clock i last evening for Wellington. The election of Mr. Morton as M.P. for f Peterborough, in place of the Hon. W. J. j W. FitzWilliam, is another victory for the , Grand Old Man and the cause of Home ( Rule. The late member was a Liberal- j Conservative, and has represented Peter- , borough since 1878, when he was returned : by a majority of 258 over the Liberal candidate, Mr. Buxton. This Conservative majority ia now reduced to a minority of 151. There seems to be some likelihood that the already extensive litigation arising out of the Kaiwarra murder case will be still further drawn out. It is understood that counsel for the Crown is considering tho desirabloneas of instituting prosecutions for conspiracy against some of the witnesses in the recent prosecution of Detective Benjamin for alleged perjury, though whether any action will bo taken ia yet ver7 uncertain. It was arranged this morning by Mr. Bell, Crown Prosecutor, that the cases against W. E. Bannister, for alleged issue of Post Oflico ordera with intent to defraud, shall bo heard in the Supremo Court to-morrow morning. The Athenseum Committee met last night but tho business transacted vaa purely of a routine charaoter. Mr. Justice Richmond presided at a sitting of the Banco Court this mornine, but only two cases were dealt with. Argument was taken in the case of Moaes Campbell v. the Commissioner of Stamps, an appeal against an assasßment of succession duty, and his Honour reserved judgment. Mr. Edwards appeared for the appellant, and Mr. Gnlly for the Commissioner. The case of Burling v. Thompson, an appeal from a deoiaion of a Magistrate convicting the appellant for the shooting of a doer, waß remitted to tho VVairarapa Magistrate for a more full statement of the case. Mr. Gully appeared for tho appellant, and Mr. Edwards for the respondent. The results of the annual examination of tho Lower Hutt School are aa follows:— Standard VII. , 4 presented, 4 passed. Standard VI., 14 presented, 2 absent, 12 passed. Standard V., 22 presented, 2 absent, 1 oxcepted, 1 failed, 18 passed. Standard IV., 46 prosented, 2 absent, 2 exceptod, 8 failed. 3-1 passed. Standard 111., 82 presented, 3 absent, 1 excopted, 4 failed, 24 passed. Standard 11., 53 presented, 1 excepted, 1 failed, 51 passed. Standard 1., 28 presented, 28 paßsod. Preparatory Standard, 65 presented, 6 absent, 59 passed. Totals, presented 264, absent 15, exceptod 5, failed 14, passed 230. On tho business-sheet of the Banco Court for this morning's sitting there was a motion, of which Mr. Jellicoe bad given notice, for a rule nisi calling upon the publishers of tho Waneranui Herald to Bbow cauße why they Bhould not be committed for contempt of Court for comments upon tho police perjury cases. When the other matters on the paper wore diapoßed of, howover, Mr. Jollicoe waa not present, and tho motion, therefore, stands over until another Banco sitting. In consequence of a complaint made, Constable Kenny last ovening arrested a man named Thomas Faulkner on a charge of begging alms. The man, who was evidently a new arrival in the colony, was brought up in the Magistrate's Conrt this morning, but was discharged by the Bench on Mr. Brandon (who represented the prosecution) intimating that he did net wish to proceed any further with tbo matter. Two imbibers of strong drink who were indiscreet enough to fall into the hands of the police were fined ss, with the üßnal alternative of imprisonment, in the Magistrate's Court this morning by Messrs. C. T. Richardson and J. L. Bacon, Justices. At a special meeting of the Excelsior Lodge of Druids last night at the Good Templar Hall, it wag resolved that the members celebrate the tenth anniversary by holding a social re-union in the Reohabite Hall to-niprht. During the evening two candidates were initiated into the mysteries of the Order, and several wero proposed for admission. It was also rosolvod that the half-yearly balance-sheets in future be printed and circulated to each member of the lodge. After the usual routine business was finished, tho lodgo was closed in accordanco with the Drnidical cußtom. Th« London correspondent of the Dunedin Star writes: — ''I have a lot to tell you about tho N.Z.S. Company and Mr. Dawes, but it is too long a story to commence to-day. I will try and do justice to the subject in my next. Suffice it to say here Mr. Dawes has evolved a notablo schemo for the ridding tho company of the liabilities caused by the reckless management in the bad old times of Sir W. Pearce, and setting things gonerally on a sound footing. There will be no dividend this year, norfor many years, unleßß something' is done to get rid of the inoubna. Mr. Dawes says— 'Write off i! 3 per share.' This, no doubt, sounds a drastic measure, and will fall hardly on those who paid £7 or .£8 for their shares, but these are few." A very small boy named William Charles Jackson was bronght before the Magistrate's Court this merning on the complaint of tho Corporation Inspector, and chargod with hawking goods about the oity without a license. The youngster, it seemed, was in tho habit of Belling meat pieß on behalf of his father, and the Inspector said that other hawkers had complained that it waa unfair to allow boys to carry on a trade of the description mentioned without payment of the customary, fee. It was in consequence of this compWint that the present charge was brought. "The Benoh (Messra. 'f . Richardson and J. U, Bacon) tfioughTthat a warning would be sufficient puniabment in tho present instance, and dismissed the youngster accordingly. A meeting of tho ladies of St. Peter's parish interested in the proposed bazaar will be held at tho parsonage to-morrow afternoon, at 3 o'clook. In the Exohancro Hall last evening Mr. W. F. Wilson, a member of tho journalistic fraternity, delivored an interesting leoturo entitled " Fla6bes from Life." The attendance was not largo. Judgment for £30, the full amount of tho claim, together with £5 0s 6d costs was given the plaintiff in the case of P. O'Shea v. J. Reynolds, heard in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, by Mr. Robinson, R.M. The case, which waa commenced last week, was one in »hioh the plaintiff sought recovery of the amount named as a deposit paid on tho purobaso from the defendant of tho Thistle Inn which purchase was afterwards rescinded by the plaintiff through tho alleged refusal, neglect, and delay of the defendant to complete. Mr. Chapman was for the plaintiff and Mr. Jollicoe defended. The Cyolorama will bo on oxhibition in the Exchange Hall another three nights. Amongst other alterations Mr. Lingard has added a waxwork figuro supposed to represent " Jaok the Ripper." The dances whioh have been given by the Wellington Navals having proved so successful, the members of the oorps have decided to give a series of similar dances, and the next is advertised to be held to-morrow evening at tho Foreßters' Hall. E. C. Batkin, tobacconist, of Lambton-quay, directs tho attention of eiunrette-smolcors to the fact that a now consignment baa just arrired. To-morrow afternoon, at 2 o'clock, T. K. Macdonald & Co. soil by auction the well-known yacht Alabama, aa she now lies in the harbonr. This yacht is well known as being a good son, boat, and has also a good turn of speed. As tho summer season ia close at hand, she should excite some competition among onr aquatio friends. The firm also sell a lot of new and second-hand furniture and a number of goods which wore orifrinaUy purchased as prizes in connexion with a diorama lately sold. To-morrow Baker Bros, will sell at Whitmore, near Palmorston, by order of the Sheriff, under writ of tho Supremo Court, horses, cart, sawn timbor, household furniture, 4c. J. E. Montague will sell to-morrow, furniture, jewellery, &o.

DHESBMAKINQ.— Our head dressmaker has but recently returned from Melbourne and Sydney, and from the abundant opportunities she has Lad of noting the various fashionable atylea, most in favour among the leaders of " ton "in these Australian capitals, offers the following observations to ladios generally, and iq particular to the patronesses of the dressmaking department at Te Aio House:— Dbesßmakin«. — " Blacklace dresses are as popular as ever; Hlk sashes, tied at the side, are much worn, and China silk is also fashionable." We have a full, complete, and elegant assortment of these, at Te Aro House. Dresskakino.—" Plain materials, trimmed with braid and gimp, are in much favour, and the ' Directoire' style of dress promises to be the rage." In these J>latn dress fabrics wo^have an abundant variety, both of French and English make, with a lovely choice in braids, gimps, and buttons of every desoription and shade of colour, at Te Aro House. Dressmaking.— " Bordered dress materials aro about the newest things out, and are bound from their novelty to be much patronised." There is snch an immense ohoice of these in our season's importations that there need be no fear of monotony. Our assortment of these beautiful fabrics, at Te Arc- House, js already being muoh appreciated by the ladiea of Wellington Dressmaking.— " A profusion of embroidery is to be the ' correct thing' this season, as also bows of ribbon, finished off with long ends jn front." Ladies will find that nowhere will they obtain better variety, or a more excellent assortment of these, than at Te Aro House.— Advt.