WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10236, 3 January 1894, Page 5

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[FEOM OtJK SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Jan. 2. BRILLIANT IMAGININGS. The Evening Post, finding it impossible to divine Ministerial intentions regarding tha Railway Commissioners, is giving rein to brilliant imagination to-night as follows :—“ A statement is current in usually well-informed circles that Mr Hannay will fee reappointed a railway commissioner, Messrs M’Kerrow and Maxwell being dispensed with; Mr M’Kerrow being succeeded by Mr Larnach as chief commissioner, and Mr Rcnayns, at present locomotive engineer and district manager at Greymouth, taking Mr Maxwell’s place.” Ministers have not yet dealt with the matter of tho railway commissioners; it is to be considered and settled at a full Cabinet meeting to ba held ia Wellington the week after next.

The same paper gives publicity to the following further effort ot imagination “It is stated that some members of the Ministry are holding conferences of_ railway employes of the ‘ right colour’ in reference to tho commissioners. One such conference is said to have been held at Palmerston North by the Premier a short time back, while recently & meeting of railway employes was, it ia alleged, held at Christchurch. This latter meeting was addressed by tho Minister of Labour, who is said to have given his word to the railway men that two of tho commissioners, Messrs Maxwell and Hannay, would bo removed.” SIB WESTBT PERCEVAL. The Times and Post congratulate Mr Perceval on hia knighthood, whilst tha Press belittles hia claims to distinction. The Times says“ We congratulate Mr Perceval—Sir Westby now—on the honour which has been done to ,the colony iu his parson. Ho entered the political field in ISS7, served some time as a whip of the Opposition under Mr Ballance’a leadership, accepted the Chairmanship of Committees in the second session of 1891, thereby saving the party from a difficult position, and was appointed immediately afterwards to the Agent - Generalship. While holding that office he has shown energy as an organiser, has written and published some able papers on the colony against Mr Wilson and other assailants, has been tho intermediary of some important and delicate negotiations with tho Imperial Government, and with Sir Walter Butler baa contributed much to the success of the New Zealand court at the Imperial Institute. Considering that his is the briefest career on record to the credit of any member of the Order of St Michael and St George, Sir Westby must bo regarded as an exceptionally lucky politician. It would be idle to protend that there are not others of his party who have borne more of the heat and burden of the day. At the same time, as he has deserved well of the colony, we congratulate him unreservedly.”

The Post says The Knight Commandership of St Michael and St George has been very worthily bestowed on Sir Westby Perceval. If it were always conferred with as much good judgment, the order would command greater respect than it does. We need scarcely say we did not approve of the appointment of Mr Perceval to tbe Agent-Generalship. Wo held then, as wa hold now, that the important duty of representing the colony in London should not be entrusted to any man who h&d not held Cabinet sank, iu New Zealand. Mr Perceval lacked this essential qualification, and despite the undoubtedly able and satisfactory manner in which lie has discharged the functions of the office, we should bo sorry to think that his case would bs accepted as a precedent, and justify farther appointments of the kind. Mr Perceval has, however,' made an exceedingly good Agent-General. We have no hesitation iu making the admission that he has represented tho colony with dignity and ability, and lost no opportunity of advancing its interests. His knighthood ia well deserved, and will, wa think, bs received with satisfaction as a compliment to the colony. We wish Sir Westby and Lady Perceval many years of happiness and proaperty to wear their new honours. That Lady Perceval is a native of Wellington will increase the satisfaction felt here at the distinction conferred upon her husband.” The Press says :—“ Merit and long service in public affairs in tho colony do not appear to constitute claims on Downing Street for Imperial honours at the present day. Sir Westby B. Perceval, as he will in future be known, by fovea of circumstances became agent-general for the colony. During his residence in England TVTr* Pjai«/»otrnl vorteitrMf? vt. piltrAf medal from

tho Mu ual Admiration Society for writing a school-boy essay, took an active part iu founding the Imperial Institute, now the scorn of tho world, wrote a few papers on colonial subjects, which any second-rate journalist could have written better, and he now after soma six years of public life is pitchforked over the heads of old public servants like Messrs Rolleston, Bryce, Steward and others. Birthday and New Year honours have long since ceased to be looked upon as indications of personal or political worth, but this last selection is the most ludicrous ever made by the Imperial Government. 5 ' THE ELECTION PETITION. j Mr Jeliicos hao been retained by Sir R. s Stout to appear in opposition to the peti- j ticn. Tho defence will be an absolute j denial of tho petitioner’s allegations.' Tho j hearing is not likely to take place before | the end of the month, as the law vacation j extends till Jan. 25. The mode oY procedure in dealing with an election petition j is for the returning-officer to tend it on 1 to the Chief Justice, who then gives fourteen days’ notice of the time fixed for hearing. Tho real instigator of the proceedings, it ia freely stated, remains in the background; but many people confidently assert who he is, and allege motives for his action. It is understood j that tbo ground relied upon in petitioning i ia that one of Sir R. 'Stout’s principal i agents in the election wagered Captain 1 Jackson Barry a suit of clothes that Sir j E. Stout would not head the poll, and that j after tho election ha signed an order for | tho clothes as agent for Sir E. Stout. On i the other side the wager ia denied, or ; that Bairy received any consideration on | account of tbo election. i The Evening Press says:—"lt ia not | contended that tho principal in tho i matter was in any way cognisant of the j wager, ncr, for that matter, does anyone, j even the most rabid opponent, dream for | a moment of accusing him of being a j party to a wager on the result; but tho j petition is, we understand, founded on j the wording of tho Corrupt Practices Act, | 1881, clausa 18, Section A, by which I a candidate is deemed an offender | if guilty by his agents. Wo uuuer-1 stand that tho action has not boon taken by any of the defeated candidates, but by j parties with a personal feeling against Sir Robert. The matter has created a good deal of talk in tho city during the past few days, and some uneasiness amongst tha friends of the senior member. The Act, which no doubt was drawn with a view to prevent bribery and corruption in any i form, did not include wagering. That has been constituted an offence by the Electoral Act of last session, and although no doubt a very desirable addition ia the abstract, has left it open for the action of an indiscreet supporter or enemy in the camp to plunge au innocent and prudent candidate into a law suit, with the possible loss of his neat.”