Parliamentary Gossip.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 204, 27 August 1894, Page 4

Parliamentary Gossip.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY

(BY TELEGRAPH.—PARLIAMENTARY RE

PORTER.)

Wellington, this day. FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES,

It was rumoured in the Lobbies yesterday thab the Government were considering a scheme for the establishment of a State Firo Insurance Department in consequence of tho opposition of various foreign fire offices doing business in New Zealand to depositing ' tho security required by Government. I have enquired of the Colonial Treasurer, and learn that there is nob the slighest foundation for the above report. MRS MAYOR YATES. . Mrs Yates is now in Wellington and was busy tOday fowarding the interests of her* Bill. To-night we may expect to see her, eager-eyed, in the gallery watching Sir Maurice O'Rorko, as he sits manfully by the side of the measure in committee, and the faces of tho Opposition. Mrs Yates, speaking yesterday to a " New Zealand Times " representative, remarked that there ought not to be much objection to the Bill because it affects only the people of Onohunga, and of them the majority eupport the measure. The lady Mayor speaks highly of the kindness with which sho was "received on her southern trip. In Duuodin, she was asked to spsak at a meeting of tho Women's Franchise League, and cordially agreed fco do co. She is, of course, in favour of the woman's franchise, though, as she says herself, her election' had nothing to do with thab question, for it was not once an element in the mayoral contest in Onohunga. ASSISTANT MAIL AGENTS. • Thacustom of thepostal authorities to send officers of their department to San Francieco on board the mail boats to eorfc tho mails and arrange them for immediate delivery ab tho port of arrival has been regarded, of course, as a very agroeable break in the round of office work, arid men are selected in turn from the various branches throughout the colony for tho trip, but the young women employed in the Postal Department fail to see why they also should nob have this opportunity of a run to San. Francisco and back. Two of them accordingly applied for permission to ,acb as assistant mail agents on board the San Francisco steamer. The authorities evidently do not view the matter in the same light as they do, for the application has been declined.