WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6281, 21 June 1882, Page 2

WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

- \ V:a ... L BY XELEG^XPHi .... ■ «^j«^O [PIIOM OTJB SPECIAIi/OOREESPONDESrT.IjC^O '•; ; r- - ; J >.. '-■ Wb£iinqton, Tueßdaf?es?a^ ;: ilt is rumored^in the lobtiea that shouidf^ the^Native Reserves -Bill be throwa.Sttt^ by the House, of which ; there' 'iB f< tveliy** a probability, Mr Bryce will resigja. b|s^s^^« in the. Cabinet. The Government^are^ib^atj fix Over the •bill, .and are "ansipus^'if '^onljjjj^ to conciliate Mr Brybej fpr^t, to,,pas^^j^»' 8f rj second reading, when.they will cpnsenJsto/ijV considerabre -alterations:, in : coQ\raittee. The.,principal objection to the measure iahir that it will lock up a large quantity^of io land in the North Island. I hear that 44fce«(f members have already promised >to votei&v<9 again&t the bill, including ! one 'of «th"e°®- ? 3 Government whips, Captain Morris 1 , his f;: « r " objection to it being that if passed it;lwill tie up nearly the whole of the available' - STCrown lands in Tauranga. Mr ;Bryc;a r! ? ;i > holds very strong ©pinions about his bill^f l; but it is thought unlikely that he would/;; ! * go! so far as to resign in case of its rejec-^'"! tion by the House. • The Opposition now state that they can **""* commend 47 votes, but I am inclined to

think this rather wide of the naark> rj jLf / their estimate is correct this would giva r *jJ them a majority of one, even without, tha-jh-.i vacant Stanmore seat, and excluding,' of U-.-J:i course, the Speaker. They appear to count on Messrs Stevens, Fish, Driver, White (Sydenham), W. 0. Smith, and^l one or two others, all of whom are con-^ '• sidered extremely doubtful. A caucus of**- I *-, the Grey and Montgomery sections is' to' &fr^ be held to-morrow, when probably some';*' 7 ! - : definite action will be decided on. The" ? I course they have. adopted of not appoint-., t ing t a recognised leader is supposed totHe^ . witfi the view of inducing the free laijice^^ to join the party without actually cqmmit^f &sv Uing themselves to follow any particiil«*^rr "leader. -.-,-..,.-,;,- , $ *" I* Spine of the petitions l presented this r a'f^arnoon werp'of a m i>?, fc formidable SharacterT Mr Seddon presiQated one from

the Westland education district, protesting against the proceedings of the Westland Education Board. The petition was 33 feet in length, and when rolled out by the "Irrepressible Dick," as he was familial ly termed la3t session, it extended nearly: half the length of the House, having over 15G0 signatures. Another one presented by Mr Hutchison, complaining of trades being taught in prisons, contained 1620 signatures and was 25 feet in length, although the signatures were 1 written in double columns. The Waipawa people, I should imagine, will hare no reason to regret having sent Mr W. C. Smith to the House, if he continues to look . after their interests as well as he is doing at present. He interviewed the Colonial Secretary to-day to ask him what arrangements were proposed to., be made :by the Government for supplying a Resident Magistrate for Napier and Waipawa after Judge Kenny's departure. Mr Dick said that Judge Kenny intended resigning his appointment attherend of the present month* and he proposed to appoint Captain Preece temporarily '■ to fill Mr Kenny's place. Should the Judicature Bill, which the Government intend to /introduce, become law,, permanent arrangements would be made for abolishing the District Court, .and providing for quarterly sittings of Tjfclie': Supreme Opurt at Napier. Mr Diotalso promised his favorable considera- ~ tiqtt of. Mr .Smith's application for an assistant Resideat Magistrate for the Waipawa County, so as to allow of weekly sittings of the Court being held at Waipawa and occasional sittings at Ormondville and Woodville. , .

Mr Smith's Fencing Act Amendment Bill provides that any person, entitled to fence his*land may cleir the bush for 33 feet on each side of the line of . fence. The bill proposes to repeal section- 19 of the -Act* 1881. .