PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 11278, 27 June 1900, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

A Caucus of the Government party was held yesterday afternoon in the The Ministerial new library buiklingx. There Cancax. was a large attendance, about lifty being present. The Premier, who, of course, occupied the chiiir, was cheered on entering the room. Members of the party appear inclined to bo very reticent as to what transpired, but from one source and another our parliamentary representative has gathered a few items. The Premier congratulated his followers upon the result of the General Election—a result which, lie contended, indicated the satisfaction with which the legislation of the Liberal party had been received by the country at large. He gave fatherly advice to the young members, and recoinniended all of the party to work together in absolute unity. The matter of the Minister of Lands's resignation was brought before the Caucus, and, after many sympathetic references had been made to Mr M'Keuzie's state of health, the following resolution was proposed*.—"That the members of the Liberal pa rty send their warmest regards to the Hon. John M'Kenzie, and deeply deplore his continued illness. They unanimously desire that he should continue to hold his office as a Minister of the Crown, and the meeting believe dt would be n matter of satisfaction to the great majority of the people of the colony if he could sec his way to reconsider his decision." Although the resolution was carried unanimously, it was felt that the terms in which tho Minister's resignation was worded precluded all idea of its withdrawal. The question of increasing the number of Ministers was discussed, and it was evident that there was an almost unanimous opinion in favor of appointing two more Ministers, and also of increasing their salaries to what they were prior to 1887. A short talk on the subject of appointing Parliamentary Under-Sec-retaries seemed to show that a considerable majority of the party were opposed to such appointments. While deprecating any discussion upon matters concerning His ExThe GoTjrnor's cellency the Governor, enSal.'ry and the ough was said at the Oaucus Jndldary. to the pro bability of an increase in the Governor's salary this montji. An expression of opinion was also given regarding the appointment of an additional Judge, and that such an appointment will be made may be taken for granted. •♦» Fbom another source we learn tha* ths question of whether iiny steps The? Hansard' are to be taken relative to the Chief. • action of the chief of ' Hansard' (Mr J. G. Grey) in commenting on colonial politics in the columns of a. New York journal wa** raised at the Caucus. It transpired that the master will come before Mr Speaker and the Reporting and Printing Debates Committee at an early date.

It is quite certain that the Ministry will be strengthened before long. At Ministers jn yesterday's Caucus the MinPossp. islerial party decided that it was necessary to go back to the number that existed prior to the Jidfr of 1837, which, in addition to reducing the number outside the Premier from six to five, also lowered tho Premiers salary from £1.500 to £I,OOO per annum, and Ministers' salaries from £1,260 to £BOO. Thi« would create a vacancy for one additional Minister. A» vl reason fw lh» giwi.in *«»»«»■* iKl***..k**m

pointed out that since the Liberal Government oam9 into office many now departments have been added to the service of the State,in addition to which the railways of the colony have been taken from the control of •Commissioners and placed under the care of a Minister. ,The Leader of the Opposition, during the evening sitting of the House; announced his strong opposition to the proposal to increase the number of Ministers, giving as a reason that when there were ninety-five members six Ministers were deemed Sufficient. Having decided on the necessity for an'additional Minister, the party will no doubt havo very little difficulty in selecting a gentleman to fill the office. It is a, common step from the position of senior whip to the office of Minister of the Crown, and Mr C. H. Mills will probably receive the newly-created portfolio. Mr A. w. Hogg and Mr T. Y. Duncan are spoken of as the likely successor to the Minister of Lands.

The proceedings at yesterday's- Caucuß of the Opposition remain veiled The Attitude of in secrecy. On the House the Opposition, meeting last night it was ob-

served that Captain Russell still retains the seat usually allotted to the Leader of the Opposition, but the seat next to him—occupied in the last Parliament by Mr Rolleston—was filled by Mr Jas. Allen, who is apparently to be first lieutenant to the member for Hawke's Bay. The remaining Oppositionists are scattered over the adjacent benches. Captain Russell, last evening, in a measure defined the attitude of the opponents of the Government. It would be the business of the Opposition, he said, to try and aid the Government in every possible way to advance the interests of the country. While they would endeavor to do this, it would also be their duty to criticise, but not to obstruct., They wanted Bills and they wanted business, but they did not want bounce and bluster. They wanted returns and reports (and these qmckly), not rant. They wanted frankness, nguresj, and finance, not flapdoodle, of which generally they got very much indeed. In conclusion, Captain Russell said it would be some time before the united wisdom of the Opposition could find voice. In this last sentence of the member for Hawke's Bay-the attitude of the Opposition will probably be found. It can fairly be interpreted as meaning that the Opposition will not present a united front, but members of the P art ?r, W act ' ils ■ units » each man criticising Ministerial policy and Ministerial measures off his own bat, as it were.

To-day'a meeting of the Benevolent Trustees was attended by Messrs 0. Hayuea (chairman), U AU-»n, P. Tresoder, W. Swan, (J. mie, J. Har.ktt, and J. Irreen. Oataide of the relief oases dealt with— aoventeen in all—the business transacted was of a formal nature. At Wellington yeaterday diplomas were preaented to F. H: M. Kenner, M.A., L. F. Waikins, Mus. Bacb,, Oora Longton (nee Hickson), BA„ all of Canterbury College ; and to H. P. Richmond, 8.A.,,0f Victoria Collegs. The Chancellor praiaed the progress the Victoria College was making under adverse circumstances, especially the want of laboratories ; and complimented the professors on their ayaUm of public leotures, whioh was the theme of admiration all over the colony. The Chairman of the Benevolent Trustees *? u y u allßd afctontion to the fact that although there were only seventeen oases for relief set down on the list no leas than nine were applications for relief from parsons who had never applied to them before. Mr C. Allan interjeoted the remark that he auppoaed they were from deserted women, and the Chairman went on to siy that he would hare a return prepared for the next meeting showing the condition of all the men who were receiving outdoor relief. When the Trustees saw that return and the roporta attached to it giving the condition, ages, and so forth of those on the list they would aee that there were none in which the tendering of relief oould have been avoided. Tne Dunedin Fanciera' Club's show will be held on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this week, and everything promises -well. Mr Charlea Bills, who has the contract for the penning of the exhibits (some 800 in number), haß made good progress with the work, and there is no doubt that everything will be ready for the exhibits to-night. Mr J. Maude, the Melbourne jifjge, who is in Dunedin, haa given a hint or two as to the most favorable positions, with a view to light, _etc, in whioh lo place the different claaaea, and aa far as poasible, without disorganising the numbering arrangements of the catalogue, his suggestions will be carried out. A smoke concert will be given by the Committee in the Viotoria Hall on Friday night. Mr Charlea Bills'a exhibition of poultry trowing is to take place on Saturday at 3 p.m. instead of on Friday. Mr L. Spain, the show auperintendent, and Mr R. A. Crawahaw, the olnb aeorotary, are energetically performing their respective duties, and a successful ae»aon is anticipated. A respectable-looking woman who made her first appearance at the Police Court this morning, for drunkenness, asked Iho magistrate to iasue a prohibition order againat herself. The aub-inepector explained to the Court that the woman had been drinking heavily for snmo time. It waa a family complaint. Tne houee had been the ecene of drunkenness for the last week or ao, and the police had to be sent for on several occasions. There were a little boy and girl in the house, and they were being neglected by the druukeoneie of the father and mother.- The woman made the application to see if a prohibition order would keep her right. The magistrate thought that it would be aa well to grant one againat the man too. The sub-inspec-tor : He is not before the Court, and we can't very well make an application against him. His Worship then granted the order. The brother of another inebriate who appeared before the Court asked to have a similar order granted againat him, and, the man consenting, the order waa issued accordingly.

The oivll case get down for hearing in the Bupreme Court to day, before His Honor and a common jury, was that of Cook and Gray v. the New Zealand Aecident Insurance Company, a claim for £IOO indemnity. When* tho case was called upon, Mr Solomon, who appeared for the plaintiffs, asked that the CM6 might be struck off the list, as negotiations between the parties tor a settlement were proceeding If these were not successful the case could be brought on for trial again, and if they were, nothing more would be heard of it. Mr Sim, who appeared for the defendant company, conourred iq the application, and the caße was struck out. The jury case for to-morrow was Hall v. Bennett, a claim for libel, but this also has been settled, and common jurors were accordingly diFcharged from fnrther attendance. Tho Wuikouiiti case, Harper v. Harper and another, will be resumed to-morrow morning. The Orphans' Musical Olub last night took advantage of the return of One of their original members (Trooper Seelye) to hold a Concert ia their rooms, atClub House, Moray place, to which a large number of guests were invited. The success of the past concerts of the club, who have a membership of »bout fifty, a uapable secr9tary in Mr E. Priest, and a very live president in Captain Fleming at tho head of affairs, has only been known to a few, and Uie outsiders who atmust have been agreeably surprised at the splendid talent this club have at their disposal. The programme was well arranged, and afforded a musical treat, Mr F. Stokes, who also performed the duties of accompanist, played an overture, after which songa were given by Messrs Mirams, Dunne, Stevens, Irvine (comic), Irwin, Eager, O'Meara, Jago, and *M. Priest (comic). A quartet from the Dunedin Liedertafel (Messrs Ibbotaon, Jago, Armstrong, and Eager) gave a number of very enjoyable items, and the Mandoline Band also contributed towards the evening's amusement. Recitations were given by Messrs W % hinam and Carroll, and Mr Withers gave a very interesting aooonnt of an incident in the Maori war. Mr Monereiff, a past president, who occupied the chair, welcomed Trooper Seelye baok in a neat speech ; the latter, in reply, expressing his pleasure at being once more among his old companions. The guests were entertained at supper during the course of the evening, One and all enjoyed themselves thoroughly, and a successful gathering was brought to a "close th*nh (►mum oMi-rfiJsr

-.A very; large, audience greeted the AV hambra Variety Company (now known as tbe Bijou Company) tat evening. Faui'g, tne funny, was to the fore, anif the other artists did excellent work in their respective parks. The Same bill will be given tonight.

At the ordinary meeting'of the St. Kilda Borough Council last evening, ..the Mayor presiding, purely formal business and correspondence was death with, One councillor stated that St. Kilda was an insanitary borough. This was apropos of the police report, in which it was set forth that eighty places out of the 280 in the borough Were in a more or less insanitary condition. The principal grounds of oomplaint in the re. port were on account of pigs, cows, and poultry being kept, or that the'drainage was inefficient. Another councillor remarked that it would be well if the Coanoii began with cleaning the ditobeß in the borough before interfering with private places—let them clean their own bouses, said he, before attempting to clean those of other people. A resolution was finally passed that action be taken against all persons keeping swine in the borough contrary to by-law.

The capping carnival will be held on July. 6, To-night, to-night, ?rand complimentary farewell concert to Mr Manson, Garrison' Hall, —[Advt.] .

Lodge St. Patrick, 1.C., meet this evening for installation.

To-night, to-night, prand complimentary farewell concert to Mr Manson, Garrison Hall. —[Advt.]

Bowden brakes; Humber, Osmond, and Anglo-Specials; repairs our specialty. AngloN.Z. Cycle Company, 6 Princes street.— [Advt.J Cablegrams to all places in Cuba via direct route, New York, Hayti, and Key West are now 7s 6d per word. ' Men's fashionable short overcoats (fit equal to measure), 27s 6d to 49s ' 6d; big. variety. Clothing Factory, Octagon.—[Advt.] We have received a copy of the Otago Stock Exchange Dredging list for Juno 20. Those interested in mining will find much useful information, in a handy form, contained therein. The Telegraph Department informs us that the British Govornment have found it necessary, in virtue of the International Convention, to suspend, at St. Helena, the transmission of all telegrams of foreign Governments or private persons to or from the island written in code or cypher. Telegrams in ordinary language, will be subject to the Censor, and will only-be accepted afc the risk of the senders. Messrs Gresham and Boot, surgeon and mechanical dentists, 63 Princes street, Dunedin (late A. B. Boot). Mr Gresham was for seven years a pupil of the late Mr Alfred Boot, and has been - practising successfully for the last eleven years in Invercargill. All fees strictly moderate, (v consistQnt with bighclas» work. Consultation free.HiAdvt.l The concert to be given in aid of the basilica organ fund, to bo held at Naumann's Hall, South Dunedli, promises to be an unprecedented success. The programme includes Miss Rose Blauey, Herr Zimmermann, Mr R. Eager. The music for the social, which is to be held after the concert, will be provided by the Black family. A bumper house is assured.