THE AGENT-GENEAL-SHIP.

APPOINTMENT OF ME EEEVE?,

: [PBOM OUR OWN COBBESPONDENT.] f. WELLINGTON, Jan. 5. ; Regarding the Agent-Generalship, the Post published yesterday afternoon, on the authority of the Press Association, that the Hon W. P. Reeves has been appointed Agent-General, and will depart presently for the seene^of his labour. This, I am in a position to .say, is not any longer a secret, open or otherwise. It is an announced fact. As I have always maintained that Mr Beeves •would be Agent - General your readers will not have been surprised. The Post' apropos published a very gracefully laudatory article, which I send you, premising that its sentiments are fairly representative of Wellington opinion iof all shades: — "The nomination of Mr J. L. Scott as the Government nominee for Christohurch in anticipation of the resignation of the Hon W. P. Eeeves, puts the seal of assurance upon that gentleman's appointment to the coveted, office of Agent-General. We do not think he will make tan ideal representative of the colony m London, because he is not what is commonly known as .'a business man ' any more than for. that matter is Sir Westby Perceval. In other directions, however, Mr Reeves is more than equal to the requirements of what is a high and honorable office ; and is certainly the man who can, if he chooses, do more to grace the office, while at the same time serving the colony, than any other prominent man now available within the party. That so young a man should have worthily won a first place among the leaders of the Democracy of New Zealand is in itself unquestioned evidence of distinguished capacity, and that he has pursued a career in politics that has been frequently antipathetic to his class is proof of the strength of his convictions. To the workers of the country he has in their opinion, through good and evil report, rendered enduring service. As a debater he has been a tower of strength to his leader, and, for this service alone, would be entitled to Cabinet consideration. Apart from these things, Mr Jeeves is a cultured gentleman, a ■ public speaker of distinction, and. a journalist with ability to make his mark in a wider field than New Zealand. These are qualities that may prove of the first importance and value to him in the exercise of his new office, and it must be remembered that they are qualities that are not possessed by any member of the party to which he belongs in a like degree. Last, though far from least, Mr Reeves worthily holds the reputation of being an honest and worthy gentleman upon whose name, even during times of the acutest political conflict and passion, there has never been the taint of aught that has savoured of political corruption or personal wrong-doing. His faults of manner and sometimes bitter haste of speech, time and nearness in Europe to the master minds of the age may be expected to cure ; and we hope he will, at the end of his term of office, return to his native land with so wide a knowledge of men and things and so matured a judgment as will enable him to give still better service to the country that he loves so well." The candidature of Mr Scott for the Christchurch vacancy is largely upheld by the Liberal Party here as the candidature of the best of all the possibles. They take it as another proof of the Premier's capacity for leadership, and it is needless to say they hope the Christchurch Liberals will vote solid and put him at the head of the poll by keeping their forces together. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Jan. 5. The appointment of the Hon W. P. Reeves as Agent-General has been confirmed, and he leaves Wellington for London on Jan. 10. The Governor expects to. reach Lyttelton on Jan. 13, when he will receive Mr Reeves's resignation for Christchiu'ch city. The new writ will follow immediately, and it is expected that the election will take place early in February