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Press, Volume LI, Issue 8962, 28 November 1894, Page 5

RAILWAYS. The most important quest ion discussed at the receut Cabinet meetings was that of railway administration. Nothina, however, has been definitely settled, and who is to be the Minister of Railways still remains an open question. The report was curreut yesterday that the Hon. Mr Cadman had declined the portfolio. It lacks confirmation, however, and from what we can gather is likely to produce an erroneous impression. There has been, so far as our information goes, no formal tender of the portfolio to auy Minister, is far as Mr Cadman ia concerned it seems that as some time siuce his name was freely mentioned in a section of the press as tho probable incumbent of the new ottioe of Minister of Railways, he expressed the opintou to his colleagues that his liea th would not permit) him to undertake more arduous duties than he now lias to fulfil. He has no aapiratious in the direction of railway administration. What will be done remains to be decided. One thing, however, may bo regarded as , certain; the personnel of the Ministry will not be increased during the recess in order to provide for the portfolio. We shall not be surprised if in the meantime Mr Seddon himself acts as Minister of Railways. It appears highly probable, at auy rate, that there will be a partial amalgamation between the Publio Works Department ami the Railways Department, that is to say that matters relating to railway construction and so forth, which have hitherto been within the province of the Publio Works Department, thereby involving a good deal of friction and needless axpebse, will be brought into the Railway Department. The whole question of administration is likely to come under review, and it may possibly entail some measure of retrenchment. Another report that is current and which appears to be regarded as well grounded, is is that Mr Ronayne is to be appointed general manager. As to that we are absured it has not yet been settled. That is as far a_ our information goes. The rest is conjecture. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. The Government Advances to Settlers Act comes into operation next week. The requisite machinery is. nearly complete. Regulations are indispensable of course, and these have been drawn up by the Publio Trustee and sent on to the Crown law " officers for revision. The forms of applica- " tion and so forth are almost ready. It has been resolved by the Government that two superintendent valuers shall be appointed for each island—four in all—and we under* stand that Mr T. Kennedy MaeDonald is likely to be one of the superintendent valuers for the North Island. In addition there are to be county valuers, who will be paid by a fixed scale of fees. The Superintendent Valuers, besides making independent valuations, will where practicable supervise and report to tbe Lending Board on the valuations made by the county valuers. Government solicitors are also to be appointed in several centres of the colony. It will be their exclusive function to perform all the legal or conveyancing work in connection with the Government Advances to Settlers Act, and also the law work of. the several Government Departments, with the exception of that appertaining to Crown P_osecuto-*ttips,.whioh are not to be interfered with in the meantime. They will be paid fees, but later on, after matters have been fully adjusted so that all the Government work m the different centres may devolve upon them, they will become salaried officers.

THE AGENT-GENERALSHIP. The vexed question of the Agent* Generalship, which has afforded the Opposition Press so much scope for nighty imaginative speculation during the last twelve months, has at last been' settled. All the confident predictions about one or other ot the present Ministers being about to receive the appointment have gone wide of th. mark. The Cabinet has decided to request Sir W. B. Perceval to' hold office for another year. We understand, unofficially, that not a single communication has so far passed between the Agent* General aud the Government on the subject. NEW ZEALAND CONSOLS. Arrangements are complete for bringing the Consols Act into immediate force. The Government will be prepared next week to - receive applications lor consols. - The rate of interest has been fixed at 3i per cent, TARIFF REFORM. . The Government have resolved to appoint a Royal Commission for the purpose of dealing with tbe question of tariff reform. With a view to the promotion of local industry the evidence of experts in, commerce, agriculture, and the various industries will be taken, so that Parliament may be enabled next session to proceed to legislation in the matter. We understand tbat the Commissioners will. be four or five members of Parliament, who have given special attention to this matter.. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST SHIPWRECK.

Ministers, after fully considering the question of adopting ampler precautions against shipping casualties on the. coast line,'have decided to expend £3000 in fitting up with fog signals someot the lighthouses which are situated on the most dangerous points on the New Zealand littoral. The Commissioner of Customs has been requested to make fall enquiry into the matter, and he has the necessary, authority to carry out tbe expenditure of the money which has been allocated for the purpose. He is also to make enquiries into the expediency of extending telephone communication to Cape Maria Van Diemaa, at the extreme oorth of this island. MOVEMENTS OF MINISTERS.

, The Premier is expected to return here next week, in order to be present on the Bth prox, at the opening of the last section of the Auckland-Rotoraa railway. The Treasurer has engaged to address a publio meeting at Auckland on the lOtb prox. MINISTERIAL RESIDENCES. Government decline to furnish Admiralty House, Auckltnd. and tbe Ministerial rest* . dences in We ilington are to remain onfurnished, that the question of the sale may be more easily dealt with by Parliament during the coming session, when - a strong effort will no doubt be made to secure the residence of the late Mr Ballance for the purposes of the Wellington University. MR STANFORD. Commenting upon Mr Stanford's appoint* ment, the Post, this evening, says:—" Mr Stanford, barrister and solicitor, of Danedin, has been appointed a Stipendiary Magistrate. Why ? We have before us"a list of clerks of tbe Court, which includes no leas than forty-one names, with terms of serviceranging from 1859 to 1880. Home of these gentlemen are barristers and solicitors, and more are, by experience in the Felice Courts, length of worthy service and business capacity, in every way qualified for the office of Resident Magistrate. Why are tbe natural and just aspirations of these gentlemen for promotion in the depart* ment to which they oelong, thus dashed by the appointment of an outsider? If tbe selection had been made within the service, as it shonld have been and as it would have been had we pare and honest Government, there would have boen individual disappointments, but there wonld have been general satisfaction throughout' the service and corresponding gain to the public, that a lucrative and honourable office had been bestowed upon an officer of the department to which he belonged. If the Civil Service is to beoome simply a discontented and disorganised mob without courage to do tbe right, or hope of reward for the doing of it; the methods illustrated by the ap. pointment of Mr Stanford have only to, be persevered in for a sufficient length of time, and that lamentable result will be inevitably achieved. If, on the other band,.the

jerv.ce is ro l>e composed, _s it should i>e_ of & body of _e__-__s___?ecti_ig capable gentletnefl| filffßT ß OU the alert to serve the State to the best of their ability within tne limits ef their opportunities, then above all things It must be felt by every officer in the State that assured promotion will follow upon merit and service, and, as far as may be possible, be kept within the department to which he may belong. FINANCIAL. The Public Trustee is receiving numerous applications for loans under the Advances to Settlers Bill ; and the Treasurer is said to have reason to suppose that trust funds will be largely invested in the local Consols.