WELLINGTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 302, 20 December 1881, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

[From our own Correspondent.] (By Telegraph.) Wellington, Monday night. The Governor leaves to-night by the Hineoioa for Lyttelton on a private visit lo Canterbury. Lady Gordon accompanies him, and they will be the guests of Mr Studholme. The Postmaster General returned to Wellington last night. Air Hall win probably leave on Friday to upend Christmas and the New Year with his family on tbe station, returning early in January. The prosecution of Sir Wm. Fiizherbert and the Hon John Martin, M.L.C, for breaches of the Gaming and Lotteries Act has been finally decided on and the informations were laid tbis afternoon. The cases will probabiy bo heard o,_ Friday. Three Judges of the S-iprem-i Court will n_?et in Wellington immediately to draw in thu rules of procedure according to the provisions of the Election Petitions Act, 1880. As several petitions are expected and must be presented before the 9th proximo ihere is no time to be lobl in getting this done.

A rumor was afloat this evening that several appointments to the Legislative Council were about to be made. I find, however,^ op enquiry to-night tbat the sole foundation for this report is as follows :— Sir F. Dillon Bell did not resign his seat in the Legirdalive Council wheu he went home as Agent-General. He has, however, now written cut tendering his resignation as Legislative Councillor. Aa be was an Otago member, and as Otago is considerably underrepresented in the Council, it was deemed advisable that the vacaccy sbouM be filled np by another O'ago man, and accordingly the vacancy hes been offered to Mr George McLean, late member for Waikouaiti. Mr McLean has accepted the offer and will he called to the Upper Hou3o immediately.