POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 467, 14 June 1890, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(Special Correspondent to N.Z. Herald.) EAST COAST COMMISSIONER. Wklmncton, Tuesday. Mr Justice Edwards returned to Welliogtrn last evening. He has adjourned his Court in consequence, I understand, of some ditlicu ty he has found ‘in working the special Act under which the Court exists. 1 am not informed of lha nature of thia difficulty, but I learn it bus been found sufficient to make the Act unworkable. I am informed thv Mr Justice Edwards proposes several amendme fl to be introduced to Parliament daring the approaching session, the objects of wbnli are wholly to make the Act more workable than it is at present. The near approach of the session ia causing a good deal of activity in po itical circles. Although there is no absi lute change of position since I last wir d to you on this subject, the interest in the possible history ot th> next session of Parliament is being quickens I by the changes which are foreshadowed in th - relative positions in which the Ministers fin 1 themselves through tbe illness of Bir H. Atkinson, I*, was rumored to-day that some diffrren is had arisen between the Hon. Mr Mi er els-n and the Hon. Captain Fussell. I urn in a position to say’hat that there is no found ition for 'he rumour. It is a device of ha enemy, if there ba an enemy to the Gov« amunt or to either tho Ministers name-1. I on rather disposed to attribute tberumoui to toe irresponsible talk which is always ociksio ied by the near approach of the Bitting of tha General Assembly. In consequence of ths statement mad - by me some time ago that tbe Hon, Mr Mitchel son would probably succeed Bir Harry Atkinson as Premier of ihe colony, the following appears in the Times of thia morning :— •• Nothing is definitely settle 1 yet as to what will happen should Sir Harry Atkinson unhappily ba unable to remdn st thi helm. It has been alleged that lie will remain as nominal Premier, and t iat Mr Miichelsob will lead the House on bia beha f. We doubt the likelihood of thia couri' being adopted, and deem it much mora >robable, al’hougn we have no official informs ion, that it Sir Harry A'kinecn finds hitn-elf, through ill-health, unable to retain lhe active leadership of the Government, ha will resign absolutely, and recommend that Mr Mitohelson, as next in seniority of Minis era holding seats in the House of Representatives, should be sent tor to reconstruct the Ministry, in which case the Hon. Mr. Mitcbeleon would become Premier. It is lhe opinion of many friends of the Ministry in the House that tha course thus hypothetically indicated will be adopted, and the idea appears to meet with general favour among ths parly." Notwithstanding the “ hypothetical" shroud thrown over tbe above paragraph, I am assured that it comes from high authority—in fact, tbe excreting care with which it ie worded betrays its inspiration. It is so accepted here.