WELLINGTON NOTES.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9432, 2 June 1896, Page 5

WELLINGTON NOTES.

[By Telegraph ]

[F«OM OTTB SPECrAIi OORnESrOSDENT. ] WELLINGTON, June 1. The leaders of tbe National Association are very sanguine of success at the approaching elections, and state that the Opposition will have a good working majority in the next Parliament. Their supporters iv different parts of the colony write of coutinued accessions of members to their ranks, and the call for spaakers to address political meetings continues. Dr. Newman*, in response to au invitation, speaks at New Plymouth this week. Sir Robert Stout delivers addresses at Hustings on Thursday aud Napier on Friday, and the West Coast people are asking for some member of tho Opposition to address meetings there. From the tone of letters from thac district, the recent mining ventures of the Premier do not seem to meet with approval.

Sir Maurice O'Rurke arrired by the Gothic yesterday looking fit and well after his trip home. Members of the Hansard staff did not let him rest long before explaining to him the intentions of the Ministers to place the Hansard staff on the floor of the LLouse instead of their wontod place iv the gallery. From wliat I can glean the Speaker will not agree to the chauge, and consequently the Hansard men will enjoy their accustomed seat.

Mr Efarron, chief of the Hansard staff, retiree oh a pension, and I hear hfs.successor will bo a very popular southern Pressman, and it will not be given to the nexcin seniority. It is rather a sign of a coming storm when two Government nominees for the position of Directors of the sfttn.es newspaper were placed at the bottom of the poll by the shareholders, and the present Directore declare their intention of runniug the paper as a commercial and not as a political venture. At any rate, the rejectiou of both of Mr Seddon's followers hae given rise to much, comment. '.