ABOUT THE LOBBIES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 394, 2 August 1877, Page 4

ABOUT THE LOBBIES.

(From the Star's Correspondent.) It is rumoured that strenuous efforts •will be made to secure the appointment of the Hon. E. W. Stafford as AgentGeneral on the expiration of Sir J. "Vogel's term of office in known to be Mr. Stafford's intention to visit England shortly after the close of the session, and it is understood that the Canterbury members are anxious that he should be installed in the Agency■-Gene-ralship as successor to Sir Julius Vogel ; and they will strain every nerve to bring about that change. In reference to this report, the Post says if the Colony to have any Agent-General at all Mr. Stafford would be emphatically the best man to hold the appointment, as he is a statesman of the highest ability, an admirable administrator, and possesses a special aptitude for carrying out a scheme of judicious and thorough retrenchment in any department, and that such a scheme is urgently necessary in the case of the Agent-General's department. The contents of the Financial Statement are kept very secret. It was stated that the account showed a deficiency, and one department could not balance, but nothing is positively known. Considerable curiosity is therefore displayed, and some surprise, it is confidently stated, will be created by it. Members approve of the Government bringing forward the more urgently required measures. The House is not a full one. The Opposition cannot agree, despite all the whipping. They cannot at all agree upon ttie education or land questions. Mr. Gisbourne is distrusted by many members. The Government have a very failmajority. I am authorised by the Hon. G. M'Lean to state that the Friendly Societies Bill will now be proceeded with, as printed.