POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 7343, 15 October 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 14. An Elective Governor. The question has arisen whether the people have power under the Constitution to elect their own Governor, and Major Atkinson to-day expressed his doubts on the point. Sir G. Grey, however, says that when he framed the Constitution he was very careful to leave the power in the hands of the people. There is little or no chance of the Bill even getting into Committee this session; but in view of the present determination to retrench, there is a feeling that the House would be quite prepared to affirm the principle and carry the measure. Auckland Railway Board of Appeal. No further delay will be allowed to take place in the appointment of a Board of Appeal for railway servants in Auckland. I understand that the Minister of Works has wired to the Auckland City Council requesting them to nominate the third member to act on the Board, and that when the name is received it will be gazetted. A Bad Outlook. The Government supporters declare that when the Financial Statement is brought down, the financial position of the country will be in a much worse condition than has yet been represented, and that the House and country will be astonished at some of the disclosures made. It is a significant fact that the ' Post,' which is recognised as the Government organ here, deprecates the wasting of the time of the country by disclosures of supposed shortcomings of the previous Administration, and the washing of departmental dirty linen in public. A Rumor about Sir Julias. It is reported here that Sir Julius Vogel is to receive the appointment of editor of the * Lyttelton Times.' I merely give the rumor without expressing an opinion as to its authenticity. What Next ? Mr Reeves is moving for an impost duty of 5s per ton on coal. Native Affairs. ! At a meeting of the Native Affairs Committee, Mr Kelly was appointed Chairman on the motion of Mr Carroll, seconded by Mr Ballance. Ministers Mean Work. Ministers are determined not to be worried or interrupted during the ensuing fortnight, aud have given members and special correspondents alike to understand that they will not be " at home " to anyone. The Opposition on the Alert. The Opposition are jubilant over the reported abolition of the Land and Education Boards, which are the last vestiges of provincialism, and say that if Government evince a centralising tendency in declaring their policy a no-confidence motion would be carried. October 15. A Hostile Motion Threatened. It may be taken for granted that whatever the financial proposals of the Government may be there will be a hostile motion from the Opposition. It is understood that with Mr Ballance's following and that of Sir J. Vogel's forty-two members can be reckoned on to vote in a division against the Ministry. The probabilities are that as soon as the Financial Statement is delivered a meeting of the Opposition will be held to consider the course of action. The Oppositionist are agreed that such a motion should emanate from an ex-Minister. Personal. Mr Allen, Mr T, Mackenzie, Mr Mills, and others leave for Dunedin by the Waihora on Monday. The Council. The Legislative Council met this afternoon, and passed the Imprest Supply and Public Revenue Bills. The Council have adjourned till November \.