WELLINGTON NOTES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9116, 29 May 1895, Page 5

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Bx Telegbaph.) (FBOJI OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT). WELLINGTON, May 28. As to whether a knighthood has been offered to the Premier there is no direct evidence within my knowledge; and as, notwithstanding hie statue as a statesman, hie manner of treatment of the repreaenta* tives of what he is pleased to call the Tory journals, ie not always suggestive of the historic Chesterfield, I do not propose to make personal enquiry, but through v third person, who wonld be esteemed a credible witness in a court of law, I am told that the Premier haa alleged that he was asked if he would be willing come two months ago, and that he thereupon expressed his unwillingness. One of his colleagues has also, I am assured, stated that the decoration was at the disposal of either the Premier or the Treasurer in the order named. I have some reason to suppose that the correspondence oia the subject, of which we shall hear more anon, iB interesting, and it is conjectured by some that there is a common agreement is the Cabinet that Imperial titles shall be firmly, but respectfully, declined all round.

The Post urges that it is the duty of Sir George Grey to resign his seat. Auckland, it says, is entitled to have its opinions represented by three votes in the House, and it is not fair to Auckland or to the colony that this representation should be reduced to two. Sir George Grey, for many reasons, may be entitled to exceptional leniency in the matter of attendance to Parliamentary duties, but it has already been extended to him most fully. Few constituencies would have been as patient as Auckland. The limit of reasonable endurance has, however, now been reached, and the members of the Committee responsible for Sir George Grey'e candidature and election owe it alike to themselvea, to him, to their fellow-citizens, and to the colony to call on Sir George Grey to either fulfil the important public duties confided to him or to retire from a position the duties of which he is nob capable of discharging. Application was made to-day, before a Judge in Chambers, for a charging order against certain moneys voted by Parliament in settlement of the claims of Mr Ell, of Canterbury. The Judge dismissed the application.