The disclosure by us in a late issue, of the fact cf the Government secretly sending home for an Inspector-General of Prisons, has causul quite a commotion at Welhng to" and has received no small amount of •>47r.tion in various parts cf the Colony to which the ari-.de V>'M telegraphed. The Vot -efeirine to tho ai'tion of tho Execu tive V.vs — '"it would be iu^vesting to know ihv' the Government consider jt necewary ?o Ls <mr competent and t-Wo men within

yet the Victorian Government have within our recollection appointed three successive Inspector Generals from the Colony itself." The Post, in proving that there are men in New Zealand thoroughly competent for the position, says it has only to mention the name of Mr Caldwell— " Therefore, there is at least one competent man in the Colony, and we cannot see why his claims, or indeed, those of any other competent and experienced man, should be overlooked. The chances are that when the Englishman arrrives he will be found to be much inferior to many of those who could have been obtained here. More over, colonial experience should be a recom mendation in such a case as this." A re mark which it makes is apparently a hint at the belief which obtains that the situation wns nii'de for some friend at home :—": — " It is all very well to give these big bilk-ts to friends, but who has to bear the expense if these friends are incompetent ?" The fortnightly meeting of the Kaikoiai Star of Freedom Band of Hope took place on Monday night in the Linden school. There was a large number of youthful mem bers present, and the President occupied the chair. The entertainment consisted of sing ing aud recitations, in which some of the chddren did very well. A supply of the new Bind of Hope song books, by the Rev. Jas. .Yearns, having been procured, thoso present were supplied with them. During the course o f the evening, several pieces from this col lection were sung. 