DEPARTMENTAL CHANGES.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6937, 9 February 1906, Page 3

DEPARTMENTAL CHANGES.

♦ DAME RUMOUR'S VOICE

(Br Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. The latest gossip in regard to the Surveyor-Generalship, is that Mr Marchant has applied for three months' leave of absence as from March 31st next, as a preliminary step to his finally quitting the public service on a pension of .£SOO a year, and that the Government will at once take steps to effect a change in the present status of the higher officials of the departuieut by which the position of SurveyorGeneral will be made subordinate to that of the Under-Secretary, who will henceforth have control over the whole of the Lands and Survey branch. Messrs Strauchon (Commissioner of Crown Laucls at Wellington), Humphries (Commissioner of Crown Lands in Canterbury), and Roherts (Commissioner of Crown Lands in Westland) are said to be in the running for the Surveyor-General-ship, the chances being in favour of the first-named. It is understrod that Mr McKenzie, Commissioner of Crown Lands at Auckland, is anxious to obtain a transfer to Wellington, which would probably follow were Mr Strauchoa appointed SurveyorGeneral.

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The probable relinquishment by Mr Gavin of his position in the public service on the score of ill-health has been mooted. The question of his successor and the attendant promotion of other officers is now made somewhat compl cated by reason of the of the Controller and Auditor-General, Mr Warburton, to seek a respite from his' official duties, as the extra strain of work brought about by Mr Gavin's absence from the colony has had a detenent effect upon his health. Rumour says that Mr Warburton would throw up his high office tomorrow were it not for the possibility of a prominent official of the Treasury stepping into his shoes. From this it may be in ferred that the official relations of these gentlemen are not of the most harmonious character. Mr Warburton is said to favour the appointment of Mr P. R. Webb, Chief Audit Inspector, as his deputy, while on leave, and competent authorities are understood to have expressed the opinion that that such a course could be adopted.