Wellington Gossip.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7548, 19 August 1886, Page 3

Wellington Gossip.

— ♦ — [BY TELEGRAPH.] [FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] • Wellington, Wednesday. THE PROROGATION. The prorogation ceremony this afternoon was a particularly dry, matter of fact affair, and his Excellency's .commissioners seemed greatly pleased when it ivns^all over. ■ The inclement weather cost a gloom over the proceedings and prevented a large attendance of the general public. There was, however, a pretty fair sprinkling of spectators who were eager to f witness the , lost act in the drama. About 25 members •of .the Lower House . were' present, scarcely a dozen Councillors, Thepresent ■prorogation is to December, but it is understood that Parliament will not be called together again for the despatch of business until Aprilnext, and that the Representation Bill will bo one of the first measures brought down. ■ . • • ■•' , .. OPPOSITION BINNEIi. ': ■ A' dinner was given by Her Majesty's Opposition at -the Buildings last .night. About 25 members of tlie party were present, including .Major ;Atkinsoii aud Mr Bryce. Mr Roileston was absent, having proceeded South in the : afternoon. Several other staunch followers of Major Atkinson- were, also absent, having left for their, homes' by the Northern and Southern steamers. The 1 whips were present by invitation. There 'were rio formal speeches made (> hut I nnderstand.-thata.very good feeling was shown generally.- ■ Satisfaction was expressed at the^action of the party during the session,, and ; considerable hope was held out for the future. , 1 THE, TREASURER. Sir Julius Yogel intends to occupy the Treasurer's offices in the Goverment Buildings during tho recess, instead of transacting .business at the Ministerial residence as. formerly. I hear that a patent .'lift is' about; to_ be constructed at the Treasury buildings to enable Sir' Julius to be taken up ariddown stairs in tho same manner as is at present done at his private residence. ..■•■• . - „ • ; • THE -PRESS. GALLERY. ' A meeting of the Press Gallery was held this afternoon, atwhich-^a hearty vote of thank's to Mr T.,.Momson', chairman of .the Gallery, was proposed by Mr Rous Martin, editor of the New Zealand Times, and carried unanimously, 'Mr Morrison briefly replied, thanking ' the members of the Gallery" for their good wishes, and also for the assistance they had rendered him during the session in carrying out the duties of chairman. '.' ■ MR-Vf. C. SMITH. I am informed on reliable^ authority that Mr W. C. Smith, who always poses in the House as, the only true friend Hawko s Bay possesses, has been actively lobbying against the. Representation Bill, although, of course, as a North Island member, he dared not vote against it openly. My informant states that lie actually beard the member for Waipawa •endeavoring to induce Wi Pere to " pair" with him against the bill, and when remonstrated with, Mr Smith coolly replied that as the. Opposition were making a. party "question of the Representation Bill he was justified in his aotion in order to avert the defeat of his' political patrons,the present Ministry.- • As a matter of. fact Wi Pero did pair with' Mr 'Smith against the bill, as ■ your readers can see fi>r themselves by referring to tho division list which appeared in Saturday's Herald. It is to be hoped that when Mr Smith next addresses his Waipawa constituents lie will be able to give a satisfactory explanation of his elForts to defeat a bill that would not only benefit Waipawa itself? but the whole of the North Island, which just now is most unequally represented.' Further comment is needless, as the facts speak for themselves. Indeed, I should not have thought the matter worth referring to were it not that I thought it necessary that a little light should ho let into tho transparent humbug which now-a-days passes for, faithful political service rendered to a constituency.