WELLINGTON NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9021, 6 April 1888, Page 5

WELLINGTON NOTES.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. OFFICE OF AGENT-GENERAL. The cablegram announcing the retirement of Sir F. D. Bell from this office in October next, has supplied the principal topic of conversation to-day. It is. an old notion with the Post that the Premier, Sir Harry Atkinson, covets this office. Whether that is so can hardly be known to any one so thoroughly as to the Premier himself. Hβ is not likely to take any one into his confidence in such a matter. But if Sir H. Atkinson desired to go to London, we may rest assured that it would be for reasons very different from those which the local paper assigns. Tho following ie its deliverance of thie evening on the announcement :—"lt is not probable that if Sir Harry Atkinson desires the office very strong opposition will be offered to his obtaining it. He would probably make as good a London representative as anyone whose services the colony would be likely to obtain, although he can never fill the same influential position at home that Sir Francis Dillon Bell holds. The appointment will be readily given to Sir Harry if he wants it, butf he will not be allowed, as we believe he desires, to nominate his successor in the Premiership. We have strong reason to believe that if the session could have been got over without the question being raised, Sir Harry Atkinson would in due time have handed over the Premiership to Sir John Hall, and have gone home as Agent-General. Such an arrangement may not have been distinctly formulated or openly expressed, but that it was what was seriously contemplated we are convinced. Now if Sir Harry Atkinson decides to go home the House will determine the, political succession for itself, and we are pretty confident that the choice will not fall on Sir John Hall." The definite announcement of Sir F. Dillon Bell's retirement will probably have considerable influence on the course of events during the approaching session. THE S.S. RIMUTAKA. His Honor Mr. Justice Johnstone, Major Jervois and Miss Jervois, Miss MurrayAynesley, Miss Hadtield, and Mrs. F. C. DeMalet were passengers to England by the above vessel, which steamed out of the harbour this afternoon. AN OLD IDENTITY. It is reported that Mr. Travers, one of the oldest political and legal luminaries in the colony, intends going to England by the noxt mail. He is now 80 years of age. THE RAILWAY CHIEF COMMISIONERSHIP. The Agent-General in London has forwarded to the Government the written applications for the above office. They are twenty-five in number. None of the applications are from candidates in America. A great number are from India. None of them appear to be candidates- of the status and acknowledged reputation which is desired. Several of them are from persons filling very subordinate offices, and some from persons whose services would be of no utility whatever if accepted. The following is the general impression conveyed to the minds of Ministers by the perusal of these documents —that none of them are of the stamp contemplated by the Government for the position of Chief Railway Commissioner for the colony. No applications were received from America, although when the Agent-General wrote the time had not quite expired; and the twenty-five received include English and Indian only. The English railway officials who apply occupy, it is said, only very subordinate positions, such as goods clerks, accountants, traffic managers, locomotive superintendents, and engineers. There is one general manager among them, but his present charge is that of the Mersey Tunnel railway, a system of three miles in extent. The Indian applicants are Imperial officers in charge of military railway districts in India, but having no experience of any English railway system. THE NEW PERMANENT FORCE. By a general order issued by the Minister of Defence the following changes have been made : —The engineer and rifle branches of the force are abolished, and the members thereof have been distributed between the garrison, artillery, and torpedo corps as third-class gunners. The first and secondclass gunners and torpedo men only comprise men who have passed the required examinations in artillery or torpedo subjects. The rate of pay to men hereafter enrolled in the force will be os until they have .qualified for the higher rate. There is a saving clause that no compensation will be allowed to those accepted after the Ist inst. upon the scale existing before that date.