POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 7197, 27 April 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[FBOM OUE PaBIIAMENTABY. RePOBTEB,] WELLINGTON, Aphil 26. Tbe Opening Ceremony. The opening of Parliament this afternoon was deoidedly.tame. Wellington was itself on tbe occasion, .the weather being cold, if et, and miserable. The rain fell in sharp shower* occasionally; but cleared off later in the afternoon, There were sixteen Councillors assembled in their Chamber at two o'clock awaiting the arrival of the Governor. The galleries were orowded, the fair sex largely predominating amongst the spectators. Precisely at two o'cloofc the distant booming of artillery announced the fact that His Exoellency had left Government House, aud shortly afterwards he, drove up to the entrance to the Legislative Council, where he was reoeived by a guard of honor consisting of a deteohment of the Per* manent Force. His Excellency entered the Chamber aooompanied by Captains Forteseue and Medley (A.D.O.s), Major Jervois (Private Secretary), Lieutenant-colonel Butts. Lieu-tenant-colonel Baillie; Count Jeffrey d'Abbaris (French Consul), Mr 0. J. Toxward (Danish Consul 1 , Mr C. Oastendyke (German' Consul), and Major general Whitmore. Lady Jervois, Miss Jervois, and a large number of ladies occupied seats in the body of the Chamber. The usual summons was sent to the faithful Commons, who presently crowded into the Chamber in the most approved schoolboy fashion at the heels of Sir M; O'Rorke. The number of the members of the Lower House was larger than usual, sixty-three putting in an appearance. All the members of the Government were present, with the exception of Sir Julius Vogel and the Hon. W. J. M. Larnach. Sir Gcoige Grey was again absent on principle, although he was one of the first members to enter the Lower Chamber subsequently. The Hon. P. A. Buckley handed the Speech to His Excellency, by whom it was read with due effect. This done, the Commons trooped back to Tbe House, where notices of several Bills and a number of questions were given, and the Speech Was read again by the Speaker. Sir George Grey was one of the first to catch Mr Speaker's eye, and with his Bill to regulate the admission of persons to the practice of the law there was an ironical laugh from some of the members of the House. Sir George, does not intend to drop any of his policy Bills. Rabbit Extermination. Mr George Williams, of Auckland, is still in Wellington in connection with his patent for the extermination of rabbits. He complains of the disinclination of Inspector Bayley to give his plan a trial, and at the same time docs not think that Mr Buckley has treated him fairy. Mr Williams claims that his patent will destroy 90 per cent, of the rabbits in any locality, and is very anxious to arrange for a trial in the South. He is willing to give his services free of charge, in order to prove the utility of the system. He p«id a visit to the Wairarapa district, butthe settlers there were unable to raise sufficient money to pay the necessary expenses. ' Congratulates; ilis Acting Speaker. In the Legislative Council to-day Mr Otfvcr took occasion to express the satisfaction of himself and other members of the Chamber at the accession te the chair of tho Hon. G. M. Waterhouso. His remarks were reitei ated by the Hon. Mr Buckley, and in replying the Speaker said that as long as he occupied the chair he would endeavor to conduct the proceedings of the Chamber in strict accord with the usages of the English House of Lords. Not an Enthusiastic Supporter. I have it on good authority that Mr F. H. Fraser, the newly-elected member for Te Aro, is not quite satisfied with himself for having promised to move the Address-in-Reply. My informant adds that Mr Fraser is not likely to be an enthusiastic supporter of the Government during the session, and will differ from them on a number of points of policy. The Curled Barlings. The Civil servants of Wellington are not deeply interested in politics. They were allowed a two hours' holiday this afternoon in order that they might witness the opeuiug of Parliament; but it is hardly necessary to say that they were conspicuous by their absence from the ceremony. They were, however, represented by an army of sisters and cousins and aunts, etc. New Members. The following new members were introduced in the House of Representatives this afternoon: —Mr Thomas Brae en, introduced by Sir R. Stout and Mr Gore; Mr Mont, by Messrs Mitchclson and Fergus; Mr JoMes, by Mr M'Millan and the Hon. E. Richardson; Mr Fraser, by the Hon. Mr Ballancc and Dr Newman ; Hori Taipara, by Messrs Pratt and Fergus, T3:c Opposition Tactics. No amendments will be moved to the Address-in-Reply, but the leading Oppositionists will enter their protest against the policy indicated in the Governor's Speech, and express regret that no thorough retrenchment has been foreshadowed. This course has been determined on so that Ministers may not twit tho Opposition, as they did last session, with giving a tacit approval to the Speech. The Political outlook. So many members have declared themselves as free lances that it is impossible to foretell what the results of tho session may be. The key-note to the position has been pithily put thus: Any direct hostile vote, if proposed in the present state of parties, would prove abortive ; but the Government arc so situated that it is improbable that they will be able to carry any of their main policy measures. The Lands Acquisition Bill is said to be certain to be defeated, a majority of members having been sounded and found opposed to it. The First BUI of the Session was circulated to-day. It amends the Bankers Act by repealing sectons 15 to 20, and provides that a copy of an entry in a banker's book shall be received in regal proceedings as prima facie evidence of such entry, It must, however, be first proved that the book is one of the ordinary books of the bank, and that the entry was made in the ordinary course of business ; and power is given to a Judge to order an inspection of the banker's books. The Incidence of Taxation. Mr R. W. Taylor, the facetious member for Sydenham, intends to ask the to make provision to extend tho hours of polling till 8 p.m., and to bring in a Bill to amend the property tax in the direction of levying the tax on a graduated scale, in order that all classes of the community shall contribute their fair sha e to the revenue in accordance with their means. The Press GangThere is a larger assemblage of Press-men in Wellington this session than usual. A meeting of the "gallery " was held this afternoon, when Mr E. W. Morrison, of Napier, was elected chairman, and Mr Oakley Brown, of Wellington, vice-chairman. A Crop of Bills. Quite a heap of Bills have already been given notice of, but no mention has been made so far of the Representation Bill. Sir Robert Stout promises a Bill to amend tho Employment of Females and Others Act, and also an amendment of the High Schools Reserves Act. Sir George Grey brings foward Bills to repeal tho Contagious Diseases Act, to authorise the purchase or tho acquisition of land for private settlement, and to regulate the admission of persons to practise in the Courts of law, and to provide for the limitation of votes in the elections to the House of Representatives. Mr W. D. Ste war seeks to amend the Friendly Societies Act. Mr r>owxue Stewart to-day introduces the Friendly Societies Amendment Bill, the object of which is to conform with the English Act as to the amount which can be paid to a member of his family by way of annuity. Deserved Censure. The 'Pest' declares that Ministers are not .prepared with their policy measures, and says: "Rarely indeed has aMiciistry had graver ormore momentous questions imperatively requiring to be dealt with; and rarely, we believe, has any Ministry met Parliament in a state of greater unpreparedness. We may be mistaken, but when the House comes to deal with the real business of the session, and looks to the Government in vain for a lead of well-considered suggestions, if Ministers meet with an adverse vote during the session—and the probabilities are strongly in favor of their doing so—they will have themselves to blame for it, and their defeat will be in a large measure due to their having been gadding about the country when they should have been closeted together carefully considering the nature of the proposa's they intended to submit to Parliament." Naval Befence. Among the papers laid on the table to-day was correspondence relating to the naval defence j of the Colony, dealing particularly with comI bined action of the colonies in the event of war. The Government were distinctly of opinion that tbe Australasian fleet was insufficient, and should be strengthened. Sir George Whitmoie in a memo, to tbe Defence Minister strongly favored the selection of Auckland as a coaling station for Her Majesty's fleet. Its value as such, he points out, is greatly enhanced by the fact that of all our harbors it is the one most strongly defended. It has also the coaling harbor of Russell at no great distance, where Her Majesty's vessels can procure coal cheaply, as the freight would be saved. Moreover, Auckland has a dock large enough to repair and refit the men-of-war visiting Australasia, and its situation as regards the Pacific is more convenient than that of any other place in the colonies. The climate favors a sanatorium for sailors whom the great heat of Australia or the Pacific has affected, and already there are foundries and machine-makers capable of undertaking-any repairs that might be required. Wellington is also an excellent and well-defended harbor, with many of the advantages of Auckland, but not.posseting a dock like the Calliope, or a safe coaling place, where coal can be obtained at a price cheapened by the absence of freight, Loan Expenditure. Mr G. F. Richardson to-day gave notice of motion for to-morrow to ask for a return of all moneys spent undor the last loan up to 31st March last, showing under & separate head the amount expended on the formation of permanent

way, sleepers,,**! roffing stock, and the startable balance opposite to web. item. A labor agitator named Hodge has arrived here from Auckland with the avowed object of watching thp doings of -the Auckland members in and out of Parliament, and reporting to their constituents'on his return. The Dunedin unemployed are petitioning tbtf House through Mr Bracken for employment i while John Campbell forwards a petition through Sir B, Stoitt asking for an inquiry inttf his grievance!. Mr Gore asks for a month's leave of abseneft for Mr J. C. Brown. The Premier ibis afternoon asked leave ta in. troduce the Representation Bill and tbe Tret> surer the Female Franchise Bill Mr Turnb'jll is moving for extensive return! relative to the cost incurred by the Grown in the prosecution of Thomas Hall, and the sums paid to the Crown Prosecutor. His object il not very clear. ~ Aran ft. The Hall Trial. Mr TurnbuU intends to bring the whole matter of the Hall trial before the House. He says that there has been a gross miscarriage of justice, and the feeling which has been raised from end to ecd of the Colony is that there is one law for the rich and another for the poor. He alto thinks that the Government were remiss in their duty. A lively debate on the subject is expected. Legislative Council Reform. The Bill for the Reform of the Legislative Council mainly provides for limiting the term of the appointment of new members. The term has not yet been determined on, bat will probably be for seven years. The Representation Bill. The Premier will positively introduce the Representation Bill to-day. It is formed on a population basis, with an allowance in favor of sparsely populated districts; but no distinction is made between the town and country quota of population, and the number of the members is left blank. The West Coast members are determined to Btonewali the measure. Retrenchment. I am assured that the Government have effected considerable retrenchment in the general expenditure. Many members will not be content with anything but thorough retrenchment, and will insi t on a considerable reduction in the Civil Service vote. One Southland representative is going in baldheaded for this matter, and says that when the proper time arrives he is prepared to show how a saving of L 200,000 can be effected. An Opposition Caucus. The fir*t meeting of the Opposition to-day was considered a strong one, but reticence is displayed as to what transpired. I learn that there were sixteen members of the party present, but no definite resolutions were arrived at relative to immediate action, thcugh it was understood that the tactics of the party would be to await developments and not to afford obstruction to the Government, who are believed to be themselves at sea. Mr Hirst and Mr G. F. Richardson were appointed whips. Otago Petitions. Two Otago petitions were presented at today's sitting. That by Colonel Fraser asks for compensation to Simon Fraser for discovering the West Taieri goldfields; and that presented by Mr Bracken, on behalf of Richard Beattie, asks for compensation owing to his having become a cripple for life through coming into contact with a railway train while in motion. The Address-ln-Reply. At 3.10 Mr Fraser began his speech in moving the Address-in-Reply. He referred in feeling terms to the death of Mr Macandrew and Mr Bradshaw. The Address was passed. The Premier announced he hoped that the second reading of the Representation Bill would be taken on Friday. The measure will be pushed tbrough. CatUn River Railway. 4.30 P.M. Mr Richardson Lis just instructed that the Catlin River Railway section shall be opened immediately for the unemployed.