WELLINGTON NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9025, 11 April 1888, Page 5

WELLINGTON NOTES.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday. J GRAIN FREIGHTS BY RAIL. Some time since complaint was made by a Northern farmer that in Auckland grain freights by rail were 25 per cent, more than in the South Island. This statement has elicited the reply, "upon authority," that such a charge was never made in Auckland, the grain rates in Auckland and Canter* bury being precisely the same. PROVINCIAL DISTRICT AUDITOR. The following statement is made this evening in a local paper :—" Although the Treasury intimated to Mr. R. Macalister that his services as Provincial District Auditor were not required after the end of last month, he still retains possession of his office in the Government Buildings, steadily refusing to recognise the power of the Government of the day to deprive him of his appointment, or to transfer his functions to anyone else without the direct authority of Parliament. The questions raised by Mr. Macalister as to his status are of a most important constitutional character, and the way the Government elects to deal with them will be regarded with much interest by the public. 'he points raised by Mr. Macalister are that his particular office was exempted from the general operation of the Provinces Abolition Act, and that he received his appointment under the authority of a provincial Act, that is, that the General Assembly recognised his appointment as made by virtue of an Act of a legislative body having concurrent authority in New Zealand, wherefore, he says, he holds his office during good behaviour, and cannot be dismissed by a Minister or Ministry." Whether there is anything in this point, it is difficult at present to say. lam rather inclined to think that the late Provincial District Auditor retains his place temporarily through other considerations than those assigned for the fact nevertheless the point or points raised possess considerable legal interest. THE NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAIL-

WAY. It is broadly hinted that the expedition of Mr. Buchanan, M.H.R., Mr. J. G. Wilson, M.H.R., and Mr. W. Beetham, along the routes proposed for this line is invested with something approaching to an official character, and that their mission : is to report that neither line should be constructed in the present juncture of the affairs of the colony. The arguments adduced in favour of this are .that Mr. Buchanan has been and still is opposed to the construction of the line by either route, that he is supported in this view by Mr. -Geo. Beetham, M.H.R. The Post goes much further, and says that the construction of the line, is an item which the Premier would be glad to see put on the pblitical shelf for the present. This is not probable, for the sincerity of Sir H. Atkinson in favour of the Stratford route cannot be doubted. It is again affirmed that it is a veritable " rock a-head," for at least three members of the present Government, viz., Messrs Mitchelson, Fisher, and Fergus. So far as Mr. Mitchelson is . concerned, the question is not now what it was in 1884, and he is released from allegiance to the Central route by the fact that the means of construct tion are no longer in hand. ' Mr. Fergus, as South Island member, may be regarded as indifferent, and Mr. Fisher, like Mr. Mitchelson, would have to accept the inevitable. There is an element in the suggestion which is made by the Post, showing that it does not come from a quarter friendly to the Government. The Ministry upon a question of this importance will doubtless proceed under the authority of Parliament according to the means at hand, and perfectly free from any influence local or political. The idea would appear to be to gather a cloud of suspicion about the sincerity of the Ministers in this respect, although according ,to their own account their path is perfectly plain. It is, therefore, to be presumed that they will keep in it.