POLITICAL NOTES

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2488, 21 June 1888, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES

(BV TKI.KGK.U'ir—OWN COlllf KsI'O.VDENT.)

Wkluncton, Wednesday. THE WEST COAST HARBOUR BOARD. It was fully expected that a stormy debate would result this session over the action of the Government in dismissing Mr Seddun, Mr Guinnoss and Mr O'Connor from their position as members of the Gray month and Westport Harbour Boards. The question came up this afternoon, when the papers referring to their dismissal wore laid on the table by the Minister tor Marine. Mr Fisher, in doing so, made a statement to the effect that he believed the Engineerin- Chief's report was attached to the papers relating to the Groymouth Harbour Board, but in the case of the Westport Harbour Board, the Engineer had not made any such report, merely some confidential departmental memoranda. Mr Seddon said there was nn report of the engineer attached to thcGreymouth papers. He hoped the House would insist on its orders being finally carried out, as it was entitled to know the reason why the Government had dismissed the member of the Greymouth Board. Mr Reeves, the member for Inangahua, spoke strongly on the matter, charging the _ Government with having acted in a most cowardly manner. Ho was ordered by the Speaker to withdraw the term, and he then said that the Government had shown want of courage in dealing with the matter. Mr Seddon spoke at length as to the indignity to which the removed members of the Harbour Board had been subjected. Mr Guiness, the member for Greymouth, rushed into the breach, attacking the Government for their unconstitutional action in dismissing him and the other members of the Board without consulting Parliament. The matter finally dropped. THE AGENT-GENERALSHIP. The rumour as to Sir Harry Atkinson being the most likely man to receive the appointment of Agent-General is again revived, and has assumed quite a new phase in connection with recent events. More will probably be heard of the matter shortly, but at present it is not at all certain whether the Premier would accept the position on Sir Dillon Bell's retirement, A PUBLIC SAFEGUARD. Mr Taylor, member for Sydenham, has given notice of a question as to whether the Government will amend the Public Health Act in the direction of defining infectious diseases, and making more stringent tho provisions compelling medical men to report the occurrence of such diseases. THE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS.

I recently wired you a report that was current about Colonel Trimble, Messrs E. (i. Wright and Nieholls being likely to receive the appointment of Railway Commissioners. The Post to-night refers to this rumour, and unhesitatingly condemns the prospect of such a board being appointed. It says : " Col. Trimble knows nothing of railway management whatever, Mr Wright of Ashburton who is a Civil Engineer, and was chairman of the notorious railway commission which condemned the Manawatu railway, and who formerly represented a Canterbury constituency, and Mr Nieholls is said to be a merchant' of Dunedin, of whom we know nothing. But regarding the other two gentlemen it would be impossible to find words strong enough to condemn their appointment, they arc men utterly without qualification, and their selection would be the grossest of jobs and a terrible misfortune to the colony." I may state that there is a strong impression in Wellington that one of tho gentlemen I named (Mr Wright) will have a seat on the Board. Amongst other likely men Mr Maxwell, the present General Manager of Railways, and Mr Hannay, Assistant Manager, are said to be in the running for the appointment.