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Press, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5081, 20 December 1881, Page 2

already arrived, and two other Judges will be in Wellington almost immediately, for the purpose of doing all that is required in the direo.ion above indicated. Sir Arthur Gordon and Lady Gordon leave to-night by the Hinemoa for LjtteHon upon a private and unofficial visit to Canterbury. A meeting of the Bwoutive Council was held at Government House to-day at noon, tbe Governor presiding, and most of the Ministers being present. The bnsineiß, although mainly of ft formal eharaeter, included several items of considerable legal importance. The Premier leaves oaEriday for the South on his way to bis home station, where he purposes spending Christmas with his family, returning to Wellington shortly after the new year. Mr Bryce also spends the Christmas holidays with bis family at his country residence near Wsnganui. Major Atkinson and Messrs Bolleston, Johnston, aod Dick remain In Wellington over the holidays, but little official business i> likely to be done outside of mere routine work during the next fortnight. , ...... A rumour was afloat this" evening that several appointments to the Legislative Council were about to be made. I find, however, on enquiry to-night, that the sole foundation for this report is as follows :—Sir Francis Dillon Bell did not resign his seat in the Legislative Council when he went home as Agent-General. He has, however, now written out tendering his resignation as a Legislative Ceunoillor. Aβ he was an Otago member, and as Otago is considerably under represented in the Council, it was deemed advisable that the vacancy should be filled by another Otago man, and accordingly the vaoant seat has been offered to Mr George McLean, the late member for Waikouaiti. Mr McLean has accepted the offer, and will be oalled to the Upper House immediately.