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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4850, 7 October 1876, Page 2

The question of whether an Attorney-General for the time being has a prescriptive right to succeed to a vacant Judgeship is exercising the public mind in Victoria just now, and it is proposed to legislate on the subject. One suggestion for the solution of the difficulty that is constantly feared, viz., that men of little ability, but who by the emergencies of political warfare have been jerked into the Attorney-Generalship, may be placed upon the Bench, is that twelve gentlemen should be selected by the Bar, the Law Institute, and the attorneys, from whom the Governor in Council might select one for the Bench. Another idea is, that when a Judge has to be appointed to the Supreme Court, the Governor should summon to Council all the Executive Councillor-" in the colony, including, of course, the Judges; and, by the wisdom of this body, comprising all shades of public opinion, the action of the Governor in making the selection would be fortified.'

In the House of Representatives last night Mr. Rees got what may be vulgarly termed a “set down” from the Speaker. Mr. Rees had been remarking in Reesian style oh the speech of another hen. member. The Speaker ruled him out of order. Mr. Rees wanted to know why he was rut of order, and, having received an explanation, still wanted to know “ the why and the wherefore.” The Speaker replied in effect that these matters could not be defined and were matters of taste, and Mr. Rees, with the unanimous consent of the House, subsided.

In the course of the unexpected and lengthened debate which occurred on the third reading of the Counties Bill last night Sir George Grey intimated that within the next few days representations would be made to the Home Govern-, ment which would cause very important in-’ stractions to be issued to the Governor, very different from those he now acted under ; and that within the next few months statesmen would arise whom posterity would applaud, and subsequent history render immortal. As Mr. Burchell said, so we say—“ Fudge.”