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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5185, 3 November 1877, Page 2

The report of the consulting engineer to the Corporation, Mr. Napier Bell, on Mr. Climie's drainage scheme, will be found in another portion of our columns to-day, and will be read with interest by the ratepayers. On the whole, as will be seen by a careful perusal of the document, Mr. Bell's opinion is decidedly unfavorable to the adoption of Mr. Climie's plana ; and such being the case, we presume the Couucil will pause before they attempt to carry them out. After going very minutely into the details prepared by Mr. Climie, which Mr. Bell says were in a somewhat unfinished state, the latter gentleman states be considers the scheme impracticable, and when this is taken into consideration, together with its great cost, and the large annual expense which would be required to keep the works in order, the Council would not be justified in adopting it unless it could be shown that no other system of drainage was practicable. As to the cost of the scheme, Mr. Bell considers that it would be much in excess of that contemplated by Mr. Climie. This drainage scheme, about which so much has been said and written, is one that only an ergineer can express any opinion upon that it is entitled to carry weight, and unfortunately the opinions of "experts" will often differ. Before Mr. Bell's opinion was received, we had heard engineers express great doubts whether there was a sufficient fall between Charlotte-street and the Te Aro end of the town for the sewage to be carried off, unless there was an enormous quantity of water power from the higher level to flush the drains. The question is one of very great importance. It has been referred to the consult-ing-engineer, Mr. Bell, who is probably as good an authority as can be found here to give an opinion on the matter, and the Council as it appears to us is bound to be guided by what he says. The question will come on for discussion at the next meeting of the City Council, when we presume that body will arrive at some definite conclusion on the matter, which has been in suspense how for a very considerable time.

Many an ambitious office-seeker will be disappointed if the Grey Miuistry has but a brief existence. The Wellington correspondent of the Canterbury Press says it is rumored Mr. Rees has been telling friends in Hawke's Bay that ha is to be appointed permanent AttorneyGeneral after the session. Mr. Rees, of course, will be so modest as to only base his prospect of elevation upon the retention of his chief in office. Many, indeed, are the quiet rambles together of the Attorney-Gene-ral infuturo and the Premier. They are ever together. It needs no strong effort of the mind to contemplate the glowing picture of future reward which Sir George, with that facile delivery he possesses, would describe as the recompense forthe services Mr. Reeshas rendered. Should Mr. Rees seem for a moment to falter in his work, Sir George need only point to the Attorney-Generalship as the home to which the hand that is to save the human race would lead him, and forthwith new life is imparted into the loquacious lawyer who represents Auckland City East. Several other appointments are also .said to have been promised. . It has been muttered in the* lobbies, and whispered in the streets, that in response to an application for a Government appoiutment, the first vacant Judgeship in the Native Lands Court has been dangled before a gentleman whomlhe late Ministry dismissed summarilyfor incompetency. This gentleman is now a partizan of Sir George Grey. There are many minor cases where the keenest personal and pecuniary anxiety is felt in the continuance of the present administration. No doubt, in the interest of the whole human race. Sir George Grey, iu his adhesion to the wilt of the people, will not lose sight of the important and somewhat ancient maxim, that the "laborer is worthy of his hire."