Ministerial Movements.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 24, 30 January 1888, Page 8

Ministerial Movements.

THE PREMIER ACCEPTS

KNIGHTHOOD.

MR MITCHELSON'S ENGAGEMENTS.

THOSE MARTINI-HENRY RIFLES.

(by telegraph.-own correspondent.)

Wellington, this day. Major Atkinson has accepted tho honour of knighthood.

The Hon. Mr Richardson leaves for the South on Wednesday in order to inspect the country through which it is proposed to carry the rabbit proof fence. Hon. Mr Fergus has declined to accede to the request of Captain Somerville, of Wanganui, to keep open the offer of the New South Wales Government with regard to the supply of 300 Martini-Henry riiles. Hon. Mr Mitchelson hopes to be able to leave for Auckland on Friday. Ho has arranged to visit the Thames, and then go on to To Kuiti, in the Waikato, where an important meeting of tho Ngatimaniapoto tribe will be held in reference to the working of the Native Land Court and other questions. Before returning to Wellington, he will call at Rotofua, where the natives are anxious to see him about tho leases of their lands. After staying in Wellington a day or two, he will go on to West Coast with the Engineer in Chief for the purpose of deciding whether the Government should take over tho harbour works of Greymouth and Westporfc. It is also probable that he will go to Auckland again in February, in oi-der to confer with the natives relative to the purchase of land along the trunk line. Colonel Fraser has obtained a promise from tho Minister of Mines that Mr Mitchelson will visit the Thames next week and deal with the question of the promised subsidy of £2,000' to the Big Pump.