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New Zealand Mail, Issue 879, 4 January 1889, Page 29

Sib Fbedebick Whitakeb is unable to come to Wellington this week as originally contemplated, but will almost certainly be here by Sunday’s steamer to meet his colleagues in full Cabinet for the purpose of settling, if possible, the long moot questions of the vacant Judgeship and the Railway Chief Commissionership. It is fully expected that the former appointment will be made next week, and numerous names of wellknown lawyers are still mentioned in this connection. Mr Seth Smith, R.M., has been spoken of as one likely man. With regard to the Railway Commissionership, it is rumoured that the recommended candidate is of far less imposing standing in the English railway world than was at first reported. The story now goes that

he is only second in command at one of the large English provincial goods stations, and, therefore, is by no means in the first rank of experts so far as mere standing goes. This, of course, may be mere gossip, but the report comes from an apparently well-informed quarter, and with some specific detail which imparts a character of vraisemblance to the rumour. "We hope, nevertheless, that it is incorrect, for the sooner this important appointment is filled up the better for the public interest. The long delay has undoubtedly a most demoralising tendency as regards the railway service.