WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9264, 18 January 1889, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[by telegraph.— own correspondent.] Wellington, Thursday. COMPETITORS FOR OFFICE. It is" reported, aud nob denied, that the Cabinet is equally divided upon tho choice of a successor to Mr. Blackett. The competitors are Mr. Blair (lately Assistant Engineer-in-Chief) and Mr. C. Y. O'Connor (lately Secretary of the Public Works Department. Both gentlemen appear to have very good friends in the Cabinet, and as a result, the discussion on the subjecb was very animated. The outcome of tho discussion, I understand, is likely to bo the arrangement which has been already wired to you: that Mr. O'Connor will become Engineer-in-chiof to the Marine Department, and Mr. Blair Engineer to tho colony. The Marine Department has charge of all harbour works, so that its engineer will have the control of public works upon a largo scale. BANKRUPTCY. The president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, accompanied by a number of well-known commercial men, waited upon the Premier and Minister of Justice today for the purpose of submitting tho present state of the bankruptcy law to the attention of tho Government. The main idea is that the law should consolidate, and that provisions should be inserted to punish frauds through mere insolvency, such as contracting debts by persons not in trade and having no reasonable prospect of being able to pay them, or for non-dis-closure of the particulars of a bankrupt estate. The following: curious colloquy took place between fchePremicr and the spokesman of the deputation : —The Premier : " Is it a mark of disgrace to go through the Court? Do merchants trust a person les3?" Mr. Cock: "Certainly." The Premier: "I'm glad to hear that; I always thought from the repetition, or rather the frequency, of bankruptcy, that there was somebody that would trust them." Mr. Wheeler : "A man always has a black ball against his name if he has gono through the Court with the principal merchants." The Pre mier : " There was a time when it waa so ; I don't know whether it is so now. I was seeking for information." Tho Minister of Justice said the Government was at present collecting all the information available as to the operation of the existing law, and tho amendments to it which would bo desirable. Tho labours of the Government in this direction would soon be completed, and ample occasion would be given for the discussion of tho subject before tho meeting of Parliament. THE VACANT JUDGESIIIP. The Cabinob was sitting in council this afternoon. I havo reason to believe tiiat its deliberation was as to the appointment to tho vacancy on the Bench of the Supreme Court. I naw tho Premier and subsequently Sir F. Whitaker, and gathered from them that no appointment has been made. It ia quite amusing to witness the interest manifested in this subject. Wagers are made upon tho chances of well-known lawyers. The favorite just now is Mr. Denniston, of Duncdin. This gentleman is very popular with the legal profession and tho general public in the South.

THE NEW ZEALAND MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY.

The information telegraphed from the West Coast as to sales of lands by this Company at the same time that the construction of the lino is being hung up for the present, is referred to by the Poet in the following caustic terms : —Tho facta brought before the Westland Board yesterday in reference to tho Midland Railway Company deserve the serious and immediate attention of tho Government. It is perfectly monstrous that such a large area of land should romain locked up from settlement without tho colony possessing any real assuranco that the railway will ever bo made. The facts stated to the Board fit it exactly with tho remarks made by tho chairman of the Council at its recent meeting as to its land dealings and prospects. He seemed to regard the construction of the railway as quite a secondary consideration, and to attach far more importance to the company's land speculations. We have frequently of late drawn attention to the very unsatisfactory position of affairs in regard to this railway company, and the evidence now adduced should certainly move tho Government to take mast decided steps to compel the company to go on with the work.