POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 7339, 11 October 1887, Page 3

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] j WELLINGTON, Octouer 10. « Items, s . Ministers took up their quarters in the ( , Government Buildings to-day, and there * received the congratulations of their friends and, supporters. Mr R. Leckie lias been appointed secretary _ to the Premier : Mr Ameliua M. Smith will ' be secretary to the Minister of Education ; and Mr Hamer wiH continue secretary and ' act as under-secreta-y to the Minc3 De- , partment. t Tne remarks made by Sir Robert Stout, in rep'ying to the address from thirty- . three member.] of the Liberal party, left the impression on my mind that he will re-enter Parliament at no distant date, and probably on the first yacancy occurring. Sir Robert and Lady Stout were passengers to Dunedin by the Rotomahana. The new team are likely to be known as the Sporting Ministry. Mr Mitchelson hj an owner of racehorses; Mr Fisher has earned a reputation as a sprint runner; Mr * fergus, in the late Parliament, was one of , the most prominent lawn-tennis players; . tile Hon. Mr Steyen3 has several t'.mes represented his province in the cricket field; and the Hon. George M'Lean, who may ° be regarded as the sponsor of the M? ristry, maintains a racing stud, As business arrangements prevent the Han. Mr Stevens from acoepting the J Colonial Secretaryship at present, he will hold office without portfolio till the recess, x and will assist Sir Frederick Whitaker, who has undertaken the Attorney-Generalship, in the oonduct of business in the Legislative . Counoil, . October U. ? Personal. . Sir J. Hall leaves for Sydney to-morrow ' on a visit to his family. He will be absent about three weeks. c g The Tariff. lam authorised to give a denial to the c rumor that the Government are reconsidering j their intention not to revise the Customs i Tariff this year, and that they may possibly • propose certain alterations in the duties, \ having for their object the assistance of i local industries. No alteration will be proposed at present. 1 The Otago Dock. - As I wired some days ago, it is probable ' that a Select Committee will be asked for to ( inquire into Otago Dock Trust proceedings I and Mr Elder's mission to London for the purpose of trying to float a loan. 4jistrHnit}Qi)<»f Portfolios. Thera'/was aCabinet meeting thia morning, but so far the fiual arrangement of portfolios has not been made. Major Atkinson will also be Postmaster-General; Mr Mitcjielson tajjes Native Affairs with the object of wiping the Department out of existence; Mr Fergus taking Defence and either Mr Hislop or Mr Fisher the Colonial Secretaryship till the end of the session. Mr Stevens has agreed to a hold seat in the Cabinet without portfolio till the end of the ession, and agreed after the session to take the Colonial Secretaryship. Sir" Frederick Whitaker will then give np ther portfolio'of Attorney-General, which will not" be filled tfp again. : Thtf portfolib of Mines will be iibolished after the session, and Mr Fergus Wjll then take that' of Public Works' if Mr R|jtcb,els'on should retire from it. A GoQd Start. The Government are now preparing Bills reducing the number of Ministers to five; limiting the Governor's salary and allowances to L.5,000; reducing the Premier's salary by LSOO, and that of other Ministers by L 250 each ; and limiting the travelling expenses to the actual amount spent, or to one guinea a-day. They are also preparing a Bill dealing with the electoral laws, and providing that every man shall register his own Vote. - ' "*' ' ' * " " ' 1 'The Commandant of the Forces. Anticipating that the office of Commandant of the Colonial forces/ would be dispensed with in the reductions about to be Blade, Sir Cjeqrge Wljitmore \\&b intimated tp Ministers h,is, wijlingness to hold the office without pay, and his services as such will probably be retained as a Volunteer officer. A S)hort Siting. tfhe sitting of the Legislative Council pnfy lasted one minute,' a Message being received from His Excellency shat \t would be inconvenient for him to attend before 2 p.m. to-morrow to deelare his reasons for oalling Parliament together. The Artdress-ln-Keply. No one has yet been asked to move or second the Address-in-Reply, for the simple reason that the draft of the Governor's Speech has not been shown to any of the members, and they therefore do not know what it will contain.