POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4081, 20 August 1884, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[by telegraph.]

(From otjr Special Correspondent.) Wellington, This day. Wellington natives havo an advantage over other parts of the colony in having during tho year one or tAvo spectacular cheap shows at their disposal, and it must be said for Wellington that the natives freely avail themselves of their privilege. On tho opening of Parliament tho streets in the neighbourhood of the buildings were croAvdcd to excess to see the procession, hear the band, and listen to the thunder of tho "■uiis announcing the Governor's arrival. I was just able to foiward you a short account yesterday, which InoAV proposesupplementing. A glance at the Council showed very little alteration, and only eighteen members all told were present. The most noticeable change was that Sir George Whitmore occupied the bench formerly taken up by Sir F. Whitaker and Mr Oliver, while, by a Nemesis of Fate, Mr Oliver choso for his seat tho one vacated by Sir George Whitmore. At five minutes past two His Excellenery took his seat, tho floor of the House being partly occupied by ladies, carefully fenced off from members, while all the galleries Avere croAvded. Sir George Whitmore banded the speech to His Excellency, and theie was the silence that might be felt, but presently it Avas relieved by a private discussion between Messrs Ackland and Pharazyn. The latter, being very deaf, the former had to pitch his_ voice very high, which to some ladies in the gallery seemed as if the usual formal prayer was being given utterance to. There Avas an anxious expectant hush, anel then the members of the other Chamber marched in. Mr Stout, of course, had the place of honor, and in the front row were Mr Macandrow and Mr Montgomery, while Mr Seddon supported Mr Stout. Close behind these were Dr NoAvman, Mr Hursthousc, and Captain Russell. Mr Shepherd was in a prominent place. Among the seventy "▼-"members present Major Atkinson was entirely in the back ground, Avith that modesty which has not hitherto been thought part of him. Not far away also in the ruck was the elect of Napier. The speech Avas unusually short, and of course as as the best friend of the Ministry could Avish,

and debatcablo legislation, it is quite evident, is not to be the role to be played this session; there is as little to object to in the speech as might be expected In such a document. When" it Avas concluded members of tho Assembly rushed back to their own Chamber, where a large amount of business Avas transacted, Avhich is also not unusual on a first clay. I watched to see how the local members sat, to see if any political significance could bo attached to such. Mr Ormond took his seat close to a door between Mr Hursthousc and Charlie Johnston, so he is strongly supported by two staunch folloAVcrs of Major Atkinson. Captain Russell sat very near where Mr Sutton formerly sat, also near a door, and opposite to Mr Ormond, between Dr Newman and Mr Hurst, the celebrated aminal painter, two strong Atkinson men. Mr Smith aviis supported by two ex-members of tho Grey party, namely, Messrs Cadman and Turnbnll. As if avo had not been bored enough with the indefinitcness of the speech as read by the Governor, the Speaker once more repeated it. Once only did it seem as if a display of fireworks Avas to bo in the programme, as Sir George Grey marched doAvn the House to consult Avith a member sitting as far aAvay from him as possible, but it came to nothing. There was nothing in it, and Aye Avho, after a Avcek's loafing, Avere itching for a row, Avcro disappointed. I Avont to bed Avith the fiim intention last

night of doing a big thing in an elucidation of tho speech. I have heard of people -wlio, in such a frame of mind, have fallen off to sleep, and while in that state have managed to get up and write out a brilliant account of their ideas on the subject far surpassing their Avaking efforts. I have never had such an experience, nor was it vouchsafed to mo last night, and so this morning must do tho prosaic and try to unravel its hidden moaning, for no matter how commonplace a thing is, if we elo not understand it, avc must jump to the conclusion that there is more in it than is to be seen on tho surface. I think the speech is just an attempt to be all things to all men, and is consequently weak—Aveaker than oncAvould have expected from Sir Julius Vogel, and Avhich is only understandable on the principle that too many hands have been at Avork. At times the commencement of a paragraph struck me as the work of Sir Julius Vogel, but the finish seemed so different that I detected the hand of Mr Stout, The whole secret seems to bo to suit tho eager, sanguine men. Public Avorks arc to be carried out faster, and then it is suddenly recollected there are fossils in the House, and the break is put on, anel though public Avorks are to be carried out faster the break appears and the addition is made, not too fast, and so on all through. I Avas able to Avirc you some days ago that the railway polie-.y Avould include three big lines, and these on a different footing, and tho result has fully ■justified my confieloncc. Let me givo another shrewd guess—least avc Avill call it so if it turns out right. Should it turn out Avrong —well, have mercy to the scribe, and obliterate it from your files—anel that is the reference to an increase in local government. My suspicion is that that means that the cost of education Avill be thrown on the local bodies.

I have not yet been able to get the name of the sccemder to the Address, but I am in a position to state positively that an anienelinent will be promptly moved this afternoon —or, rather, evening—for I suppose the debate Avill not begin till after the dinner adjournment. Apparently a mine is to be sprung in the Ministry by the amendment being moved by a supposed Otago supporter. I have not been able to penetrate the veil as to Avho the individual is. Like a good many men, I thought I Avas a bit clever, and at once said—Mr Larnach ; only to be rebuked, and told that Mr Larnach had thirsted for tho job, but Avas refused the doubtful honor, and then I gave guessing up, and must leave it to the discerning reader. It Avould bo prcmuturo to say what tho result will bo—further than it is a fair fight between parties, tho ins must be beaten by the united outs. There arc no parties in the House, and there arc too many parties. Such is the paradox. The position approximates to French politics in olden times. There arc tho Rights, the Lefts, the Extreme Rights, and the Extreme Lefts, and tho Centres—and Avhat the outcome mny be it isi impossible to forecast. Mv caligrahy has never been of the best, and in consecrueneo I have registered against me an awful amount of needless and useless profanity as tho result of having my -rood things. The other day I telegraphed Mr Richardson had had no practical railway experience, and my hair stood aghast —that is better than saying " stood on cud," as it is getting thin—when I read that

I had Avircd " had no parliamentary experience." An older pressman than myself once gave me the advice, "Never read what you yourself write, as it saves you many a heart-burning." I think I will try and follow tbe aetvice. A strange oversight occurred yesterday. No Local Bills Committee Avas sot up. It Avill be remedied to-day, I suppose.