Parliamentary Gossip.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 149, 23 June 1894, Page 2

Parliamentary Gossip.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY

THE OPENING CEREMONY

(BY TELEGRAPH.— PARLIAMENTARY RE

PORTER.)

Wellington, this day

The pageant of yesterday, if one may be permitted to apply a very high-sounding description to a comparatively modest display, is regarded as the most successful of its kind for many years. No doubt the changes which have lately been effected in Parliamentary grounds served to show it off to better advantage than ib appeared on any previous Bjmilar occasion. The high fences, trees and shrubbery, which used to surround the House, and hide it from the vulgar gaze, have all been swept away, and from* Molesworth-street spectators look over on an eleganD gilded railing across an open-sweep of embryo lawn towards the repainted and otherwise embellished building, This clearance, although regretted by some who loved the air of privacy which the old surroundings undoubtedly gave to the place, was a great advantage to those of the general public who wished bo have a foil view of the Governor's arrival; so, ab two o'clock quite a deep frin»o oi expectant faces surrounded tho grounds, while ou the high ground close to the House itself largo numbers were collecting in flocks, which policeman skilfully shepherded out of the way of carriages arriving. Every few minutea, from tho windows of the wings of the building, could be seen faces of officials, members, and their friends who had been lucky to secure these vantage points. Shortly before the appointed time, the Wellington College cadets, accompanied by the Garrison Band, marched up to the building, and took up a position near the main entrance ; then followed two carriages with liveried coachmen and footmen, conveying members qf the Government House party. Then the cannon startled every one with their report), as they fired the royal salute, and word went round that Hia Excellency had loft Government House. His approach waa further heralded by the advenb of some ol the fleretaunga Mounted Rifles, who came through the main entrance at a swinging pace, evoluted a little on the front space, and finally drew up in position. A few moments elapsed and another detachment came in wight), some in front and some behind the Governor's carriage, and the band struck up the National Anthem. Ib bad been arranged that Lord Glasgow should alight at the main entrance to the House, and nob, as on a former occasion, at the side entrance leading direct to the legislative Council. Accordingly he did so, and ascended the ebeps, and bowed to the crowd. When he turned to enter the House, there was no one waiting to receive Mm. AN UNFORTUNATE MISUNDERSTANDING of the order of ceremony apparently existed among the officials, and those whose duty ib was to meet Hia Excellency were waiting his arrival ab the other entrance, while he, in conformity with the new arrangements, waa waiting for them ab the main door. An awkward pause ensued, and an aide was despatched from His Excellency's retinue to seek the absent ones. He returned with a request that Hia Excellency should go round to the other door. Lord Glasgow, however, vqry properly declined to do bo. As Her Majesty's representative, he intimated that he must be received on the threshold of the House, and conducted bo the Chamber. Away gpeai another aide, bub returns without the'''necessary officerj and again His Excellency Reclined to go round or to go Kb. At l'asb Mr Bothamley, the XJlerk Assistant! arrives, and he receivos Lord Glasgow in proper form and conducts him through the lobbies. The Upper Chamber iB crowded when His Excellency enteri) with his retinue, and the sudden accession of bright uniforms lights up the - place. Of course there are none of those ' gorgeous apparels which lend euch splendour to great European functions, no Prince Esterhazy "all 'jools' from his jasey to his diamond boobs," no wealth of purple ' and gold and fine linen that one Bees when prinses of the, earth are gathered together on high occasions, bub still it is certainly a scene worthy of notice. His Excellency, in his uniform of a pasb captain of tho Royal Navy, with the orders of St. Michael and Sfc. George; Major ElHobb, in the full dress uniform of the 40th; Captain Clayton, in the imposing dress of the Scots Guards ; Major Stewarb, in thatot the 20th Hussars, with consuls and captains and officers of theHi&l.s. Wallaroo, make a very pretty group as they enter. His Excelloncy takes his seat, and Black Rod, bowing elaborately once, twice, and three times, retires baok^ards to summon the Commons. While lie is away, a largo chair is placed in the oentre of the floor, opposite His Excellency, to accommodate the Speaker of the Lower House, when he should arrive. A few minutes later, members of the Lower House return, Sir Maurice O'Rorke loading, with Colonel Fraser bearing the mace. The Speaker bows, and take? his place, while tho Colonel stands rigidly erect beside him. Behind, in the front rank of a mass of Commons, stand the Premier and Minister of Landa, both resting their hands on the back of Sir Maurice O'Rorke's chair. The last-mentioned gentleman sits with clasped hands and crossed legs in the easiest of attitudes. Ho has been there wily times before. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. ■ His Excellency rises, and bowing to left and to right, proceeds to read his address, which in listened to in most decorous silence. Only once or twice one sees a smile pass over the face of one or other of the gentlemen of the Commons whois well hidden in the back ground. He recognises something—reference to which tickles his fancy. It is soon all over. The Governor withdraws, shaking hands before he loaves with Sir Maurice, the Premier and the Minister for Lands. The Commons return to their own chamber, the spectators vanish, and the members of the Upper Chamber are left alone in their glory.. THE FIRST DAY'S BUSINESS. " Now, let us to the work of the session, or, ab least, to the laying out of some of the work of the session," say members, when they regain their seats. It is going to be a serious session, they say, and, listening to (he notices that for the first hour resound from all sides of the House, one begins to to think they say truly. There are no end of Bills, and one loses counb of them. The M'misterfor Labour ha* a sheaf ready for presentation. Major Steward has an Electric Executive Bill, which he will tell us more about. The Premier intimates that on Tuesday next be will move, "Thab the House resoive itself into Committee to coneider the present Standing Orders," and good members rejoico in their hearts. After many petitions and notices of motion, and notices of leave to introduce Bills, Mr Seddon announces that on Tueeday next he will move for the issue of a wrib for Tuapeka. Oub of this arises THE FIRST LITTLE BREEZE OF THE SESSION. and ft) blows so persistently that, instead of members getting over the day's work by four o'clock, as was expected, it is close on half-past five before they leave the Cham, bar. MbEfltbie is the Oeolus, He thinks tberft is no need for such delay over the iMUe'of the Tuapeka writ, aaks why it-waa nob done before, and speaks of the consti-

tuency being unrepresented for three weeks or & month. The Premier explained that no certificate had been sent to the Speaker of the death of Mr Vincent Pyke, and points oub that the Governmenb is not to blame in the matter, wherupon Sir Robert Stout rises, contending thab the fact of the Registrar not sending in a certificate of the death did nob affect the election, that the Government should have sent word to the Registrar to forward a certificate, if they thought necessary, for the issue of a wrib, and much elf?a besides. Mr liucbanan follows, evidently bent on attack, and, before we know ib, the first engagement of the session ia begun. It is a mild one, however. Mr Buchanan, taking hold of an excuse that the Premier had made about the Tuapoka rolls nob being in a fob state since the licensine election, says he believes they are in a perfectly fit state. He also finds fault with a comparison which has been drawn between the Tuapeka writ and that for THE LATE ELECTION FOR WAITE, MATA. Sir Robert begins to speak of Waitemata, and the Auckland members prick their ears, and glance towards Mr Massay, who sibs besides Mr Button, ab the back of the Opposition benches. Before the member for Wellington has done more than in* timate his intention, the Speaker checks him with the information that he has a report of the judges in the Palmer-Monk case before him, and will read the same shortly. Sir Roberb understands, or says he will reserve his remarks, co discussion tails back from Waitemata, and follows aboub Tuapeka. Our old friend, tho imperturbable George Hubchinson, member for Patea, hints something about tho Government interfering with bhe courae of the election in favour of some of their own men by hindering the issue of a writ, a remark which ab least creates laughter. The lawyer spirit of the House being roused, Mr Bell must needs speak, and accuse the Premier of first giving one reaHon for non-issue of the writ, and then another, changing fronb in facfe. We are on the verge of AN OCEAN OF USELESS TALK, When Mr Button interposes. He declares that the whole question tarns on whelher the election is to be delayed for preparation of the rolls. Ho trieß to, fix it there. If it be so, ib appears to him a very serious matter, bub, since the Government has taken on itself all responsibility in case of Tuapeka, he will say no more. He, however, concludes by asking whether the Government was justified in delaying the election until the rolls were in what they considered a lib skate. The Speaker having read the judge's reporb on bhe PALMER MONK CASE, Sir Robert seizes his opportunity, and submits that tho issue of the wrib for the late Waitemata election was illegal. Turning over the Acb of 1880, ho reads extracts, and contends that, putting two and two together, the only proper course would have been for the judges to forward their reporb to the Speaker, who could do nothing by way of issuing a writ for the new eleotion until the House agreed on the course of action. The Governor had no power to open the certificate, and the Governmenb had entirely ignored the Act, which made no provision for such cases »s bad arisen in Waitemata. Sir Robert believes, or atfecta to believe, that a grave mistake has been made, that the matter ought to be sent to the Committee of Privileges. In his opinion the Governmenb had usurped the power of the House. Mr Bell, of Wellington, another lawyer, has also much to say in a similar strum, but, to avoid imitation, he takes up tjhe subjecb from another corner, and speaks away. When he has finished the Premier rises, bub Mr George, lawyer number three, when he understands that Mr Seddon iB going to reply, declares that he must be heard fireb. He begins, iv Macaulay sbyle, but, nob being prepared, does nob keep it up, as he sometimes can do when he ia wall-grounded in his snbjecb. Very naturally, he wants to shine after the other two, but is not very successful, though he makes some daring accusations, and Mr Seddon, who is allowed an opportunity to reply when he has sat down, has little difficulty in justifying himself, or answering his three legal opponents, so the whole attair, which wae merely a lawyer's quibble, scarcely worth noticing, fizzles ou6, and the Premier moves the adjournment of the House. In doing so he takes occasion to refer to THE LATE MR VINCENT PYKE. Briefly tracing his career in Victoria and New Zealund, in both of which countries he had been the friend of the miner in and oub of Parliament, Mr Seddon pays a warm tribute to the ability and good-hearted character of the deceased. Captain Russell, from the Opposition benches, strikes off one great characteristic of the dead by referring to him as one of infinite jesb, and adds his eulogy to thab of the Premier. He is followed by Sir Robert Stoub, and bhe Minister for Labour closes. The House then adjourns till Tuesday. .AGE OF CONSENT. Captain Russell presented a petition from the Convention of W.C.T.U. ab Invercargill, praying that the age of consent be raised to eighteen years. A JUDGE'S PETITION. Distriot Judge Kettle, of Wanganui, in petitioning Parliameub to alter the law relating to District Court judges, so that tenure of office should be "during ability and good behaviour," instead of " during the pleasure of the Government," also that tho salaries of such judges should be equalised and placed on bhe Civil list, so as to make ib impossible to reduce the salary during tenure of office. ' ANTI-GAMBLING BILL. The Gambling Bill which Sir Robert Stoub is asking leave to introduce proposes bo restrict gambling, and will be on lines somewhat similar to the English measure recenbly passed. Ib will prohibit gambling by infanta, prevent recovery ab lav of commission on betting transactions, prohibit " tote " betting and the selling of tabalisator tickets to infants. It will also limit the number of racing clubs authorised to use the totalizator, and the number of days on which race meetings may be held. JOTTINGS. The Lunatics Acb Amendment Bill to be introduced by the Hon, W. P, Reeves proposes to enable the Public Trustee to administer the estates of lunatics, instead of having to refer everything to the Supreme Court. Among the Bills of which the Premier gave notice are the Electoral Roll Act Bill, Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill, and Usurious Rates of Interest Bill. Members of Parliament and their families and friends are invited to an "At Home " onboard the H.iM.e. Wallaroo on Saturday. Mr Montgomery, member for Ellesmere, has given formal notice thab he will move the Addreps-in-Reply. Ib is understood, Mr O'Regan will bo the seconder. • Mr Saunders intends moving for a Committee to inquire into and reporb on the subject of an elected Executive. A petition was presented by the widow of John Lander, late of Devon port, Auckland, signalman, praying far relief in consideration of services rendered by her late husband. Sir Roberb Stout gave notice that he would ask leave to introduce a Bill' to further restrict gambling. Major Harris has a measure read to pub an end to the sale of liquor in Bellamy's. We need hardly ask if it is likely to pass. Major Steward will ask leave to introduce an Elective Executive Bill. Mr E. M. Smith ia likely to be heard

much in the present session, especially with regard to Taranaki. The order paper for Tuesday is a stupendous affair. The printers did not attempt to get it issued last nigbt, as is usually the custom.