WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2200, 30 April 1896, Page 23

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

(From Octr Own Correspondent.) Wellington, April 22. THB EDITORSHIP OTP THE POST. Although it has not been announce], it is generally known among journalists here that Mr Gretuey Lukin, who sinoe November latib has bean acting editor of the Post in the absence of the late Mr Gillon, has bean appointed editor of that journal. THB CEOP OF LAWYERS. Mr Harris, the secretary to the Law Society, has compiled tome iuturosfcing statistics relating to the legal fraternity. According to his statement there are now 126 members of the logal profesiicn practising in this district, 67 of whom are resident ia this city. The proportion of solicitors to fee population is one to 1413 peopie, or it n estimated one to every 353 male adults. Last year the proportion was one to every 340 male ndults, but in addition to the »bo?e there are a Urge number of persons, most of whom are qualified to practise as solicitors on payment of th«ir fees (42 of these reside in this district alone). Tha p*st year shows a decrease of 11 practitioners ia the colony, the number being 524 »• against 535, while the population had increwsad in the name period from 728,121 to 740,699. Auckland district has 106 limbs of the law, Canterbury 92, Otago 71, and uuhjappy Wellington 126. The Law Society now numbers 82 members, 55 of whom practise in this city. * April 27. THE UNEMPLOYED. The unemployed trouble here seems to have fizzled out for the present, as very little is hoard of it vow. A few gangs, of a d?zen or so men in each, have been sent away to Government works, and about the s*tne number have found employment through private sources, while the major portion of them remaining appear to have either shifted for themselves or rebed on the local relief works to keep them through the winter. SIR W BTTLI.BR AND THB MINISTER FOR LANDS.

The Horowbtmu* Comxii»sior>ers would not allow Sir Walter Buller to call the Minister for Lauds as a witness, bub Sir Walter in his first address succeeded in getting in a shot or two at the Mininter. According to the report of a Poit orrexpondent, the first piirt of Sir Walter Bullet's npeech was naturally devoted to the Hon. John M'K«nzie and his allegations in regard to tho Horowhenna block and Sir Walter's dealiuga tbetewith. He said that although the eornminsion would not allow him to tender rebutting evidence as to Mr M'Keuzie's statements outside of the Horowheuua question, he had been permitted to put in the Hansard report of hi* speech and examination at the bar of the Home for the purpose of affirming its truth on oath ; and he bow claimed tha right to commont on all the Miuinter for Lands had smid about him in tho House in relation to the Huro whenua block and generally. He quoted many passages froaa Haasaid, aad wound up that part of his subject with tbe following words :—": — " The commission refused to issue a subpoena en my application to compel the attendance here of Mr M'Keneie in order that I might have an opportunity of croet-exaoainiag him upon the statements he made in the House, and I had of course to bow to that ruling. But there was nothing to prevent Mr M'Kenzie coming forward voluntarily, At I myself have done, to give evidence, and thus tender himself for cross-ex»min*tion. Sorely I had a right to expect that after all he ha* said about my * disgraceful dealings.' When he refuied to meet me face to faceMn the Supreru* Court, on the ground of expense, he Raid in the House (I quote from Hansard, p. 769) : ' Sir, 1 1 hall be accused by the Tory press of being a slaudorer, a li*r, and a coward. The Pout already puts me down as not having the pluck to face this matter.' And now Mr M'Kenzie has refused to meet me before the Royal Commission — the tribunal of his own creation."