NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4, 6 January 1887, Page 1

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

It baa been stated, on the authority -of tho Wellington " Evening Press," that the Government have determined upon making very considerable reductions in each Department of the Public Service by amalgamating offices, so that the business of tbo country will be performed by about hnlf tho number of clerks at present employed* The same- journal also asserts that fourteen officers in the Native Department have received notice that their services will not be required after the end of the financial year: Our Wellington correspondent, however,' informs us that so far : as he Can learn the latter statement is quite without fcundation. It is probably .an exaggeration of the fact which has been known for some time past that two Native Land Court Judges will shortly retire on their pensions, and that one person, not a regular Government;official, will cease his preseftt connection with the Department oh the 30fch of March.

Although tho Native Land Administration Act came into force on the Ist of January, no machinery has been supplied remake it workable. The Act empowers the Governor to appoint Commi. doners and define localities within which they shall exercise their function-.; Thwbole Act depends for its operation on these Commissioners—nothing, can be done without them; yet none have been appointed. An immense amount of work ia already accumulated fcr the Commissioners to attend to when appointed. It is not thought that the natives will bring much land under the operation of the Act, but settlerß who have been in negotiation for the purchase or leaf, of nativelands are naturally anxious to .-put their transactions straight with the now law.

Mr Justice Richmond made some trenchant remarks yesterday afternoon on the subject of jury challenges. His.Honor said he should like to. express hie a^oag conviction, derived not merely frotn. immediate experience, but from, experience extending over some tim_ in • his district;-"-th»t it would'"be" imperatively necessary for the Legislature to. put somo restriction upon, prisoners' challenges, or rather on counsel acting on behalf of then, for it was father in cases o£ prisoners who were defended than of those who were undefended that challenges were so numerous. Jt was hia opinion that the power of challenges was abured, and it would be necessary tor tho Legislature to consider the qiatter, -:•

_:he people of Wacganui are. 6till greatly agitated because they cannot-make the through train from Taranaki to Wellington mbservionttotbe local traffic. The ','WanganuiHerald" (Mr Ballanos.owripaper, and theMinistetial organ), wiiting: upon the de'-ci-ion of;Mr Richard.on to maintain the present time-table to the great inconvenience of'the district generally, says: "He has shown no backbone, but allowed bitriself to be governed by Mr Maxwell in everything in which refo.m in the Department: is needed." It adels :—J.'Mr. Richardson promised largely when' first in office; he has performed iiothing,' and the country ia crying out from tho Bluff to Auckland against such an unsatisfactory state of things."

Respecting the New Zealand Rifle Association's meeting we learn that, affairs are, proceeding ; satisfactorily throughout. Captain Somerville Btates tbat he has hearc*. nothing yet of the Cbristchurch rjeoplmaking _ move to' solicit sabecnptioxie.Captain Wales being Unable to take ci>r__._ $ mand, Colonel .'...sswell, "_/■■■•■■' Canterbury, or Major Hamlin,.'of 'Waiiiia"-'-'1 will.most lillely till the position,; :,KheJ|i:.s. indication of; a, large attendance, "especfeily ;'" from. Southland, but several old shots are undecided, including Capt. Achesoii; of the "Riverton Rifles, who tied last year for thfe. belt, and Lieutenant Foster, of the' -W__ganui Rifles, who was one point behind . . o . - r™"* uo^lu«i_..'^-._r_r-B-_3