WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8540, 14 April 1891, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

[BY telegraph.— OWN correspondent.] Wellington, Monday. MOVEMENTS* OF MIKISTERS. ■ The Hon. Mr. Cadman is expected to arrive in Wellington to-night. The Hon. Mr. Seddon will be present at the opening of the Puhipuhi Mining Company's battery towards the end of the present month, unless prevented by pressure of public business, having accepted the invitation of the directors. • ; THE VALUE AND PBICE OF GOLD. A matter of .importance is at present engaging the attention of the Mines Department. Why ib should have been overlooked or escaped attention hitheito appears extraordinary. The loss to the mining community must have' been very great. If the value of the produce they win from the earth is worth intrinsically from thirty to forty per cent, greater than the price they can obtain for it. The Hon. Mr. Seddon has received from the president of the Miners' Association of Otago a communication to the effect that while miners get on the average £3 17s an ounce for their gold, its real value to the Sydney Mint is £4 3s. The Minister has decided in view of this statement to make arrangements for the purchase, at each of the goldfield townships, of a parcel of gold (12 ounces) to be forwarded to the Sydney Mint, bo that the value of the gold in each case may be ascertained, and a standard of value provided for the miners. : POLITICAL GOSSIP. Thero is considerable political activity here just now, if rumour is any indication that people's minds are turned towards the cominirtseasion. Those who profess to know most of the inner wheels of political life allege that the Hon. Mr. Buckley's visit to Auckland was for the purpose of conferring with the Governor upon the question of appointing certain new members of the Legislative Council. The names of Mr. Montgomery, of Akaroa; Sir <;. .M. O'Rorke, Auckland ; and Mr. Fcldwick, of Invercargill, are mentioned as those likely to be called to the Legislative Council. But if this was the object of Mr. Buckley's journey to Auckland, it proved abortive, as he did not meet the Governor. TK AKOHA ELECTION. It is said here thab Sir G. M. O'Rorke is likely to oiler himself to the electors, and that if so he would be likely to have the support of the Government. THE AQKNT-OENERALSHIP. The latest rumour about the office the Agent-Ooneral is that it is likely to be offered to Mr. Larnach. INSPECTOR OP VOLUNTEERS. Lieutenant-Colonel Hume has resigned his office. His successor will be appointed from amongst the officers now in service in the colony. DEFENCE DEPARTMENT. 1 understand that it is the intention of the Defence Minister to place the batteries in the several centres under the officers in command of the volunteers with a sergeantmajor in immediate control. Ib is also intended that the permanent force and volunteers shall drill together, and that periodical surprise parades shall be recommended as tests of efficient drill. THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES. It appears that some Auckland and Inver cargill railway employes were desirous of attending as delegates at a gathering of railway servants to be held in Christchurch on the 16th instant. They applied to the Commissioners for leave of absence with that purpose in view, but were refused. They then approached tho Minister of Public Works, who asked the Commissioners the grounds of their refusal. The Commissioners have replied to the Miriistor that they considered the object in view to be inimical to the interests of the service ; this being so, the Minister declines to take any action in the matter. TJIK CASE OF JUDGE EDWARDS. With reference to the announcement made this morning, that a number of the Judges of the Supreme Court have expressed a written opinion about the appointment of Judge Edwards, the question is asked, " What, will bo the position of the Judges (having pronounced un opinion) when the case comes before them in their judicial capacity 'i , ' I have made some inquiries on the subject, and learn that these opinions are given upon a hypothetical case put to them, and not upon any case involving particular facts. I have also been informed that these opinions have not been sent into the Government but to the Chief Justice in reply to the abstract, question of law put to them. The opinion of Mr. Justice Richmond is the only one that touches constitutional law or usage. It is now said that there are two of the present judges of the Supreme Court whose appointments were informal or irregular or both, and bad in substance. It is evident from all this that tho question, involved lies much deeper than persons not lawyers seem to think.