WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11355, 13 October 1899, Page 2

WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

[PROM OUB SPECIAL COBBEBPONDBHT.] [bt TBL-eaaAPHj W-liMnoton, Thursday. THE GOVEENMENT CAUCUS. The di.ens todajijjflßted' for Dearly three hours, bufc~thoß"B,*j7ho attended it observe the strictest, swreoy as .to the proceedings. I understand. that a lengthy discussion arose . abon^' the bills tfhioh were to be dropped ftfr the session, and the Premier's .announcement * to the House later oriv -was ;the result of -the decision arrived St. ?■' A HEAVY SLAeraHTEB. . There were no . {ewes than 65 'bills struo- off the Ojde**?' Paper this afternoon on the Premier's motion, and aa nearly 40 still remain 'it' follows that a seoond - selection must .Very.; shortly be made if the session is. to olose by Saturday week. Mr Eollesten strongly protested against so many, .inea-roi-es being saonaoed, and said ; the 'whole proceedings of the present session had placed the House ma more humiliating -position than it had ever occupied before. ABSOLUTE MAJOBITY BILL. _Ir M'Nab's bill is not included in the list of measures- struok oft the Order Paper to-day, but.l.uuderstand that the bill has not the slightest ohanoe of passing this session. Even some of thoßewho support the principle of the measure declare that they- will' oppose its being put in force till. after the next general election. They contend- that if the bill is to become law it should do co in the first session of a Parliament, and not in the lost one, and that candidates should explain it on.the various platforms in order to prevent misconception. The principle of the bill is that in, the case of two or more candidates, standing for election the one who is elected K_ust poll a majority of the total votes recorded. If he does not poll a majarity, t_e candidate who ia the next favorite should be designated as No. 1, the next in choice No. 2,, and soon. The whole of the. votes are then counted again, and the candidate who secures an absolute majority of .votes is* declared elected. • c - - - THE CHEISTeHUECH ELECTION. I recently telegraphed, you that it was uncertain whether. Mr Lewis, the Oppo--sition member -for Christoh'nroh, would contest his :-prese_t seat at the general election. . Mr, Lewis' indecision was owing to the f_ct thatf*Ee objected to' be braclceted with Meagre Smith find Taylor, the other two .Christ6_moh;memberß,*both.of whom belong to the left 'wing par^y. I understand- . that matters are now satisfactorily arranged... and. that in addition .to Mr .Lewis himself three other candidates are prepared to Btand in the Opposition interest for Christohuroh City. Two candidates will b& chosen later on to contest " the City -with Mr Lewis, and it is confidently expected that the Opposition will seoure two, if not three Beats, atthe coming contest. ° THE OEDEB PAPEB. A vexatious delay occurred this afternoon over .the printing of the Order Paper, and members complained loudly that.they had no idea about the business that was to pome on. Tbe Premier explained that owing to the pressure of work he had not been able to send the Order Paper to the Government Printing office till 3 o'olock, and he stated that fia he had altered "the position of only two bills on the Paper, they should have been in the hands of . members before that time (2.45 p.m.):' "There is something wrong with that printing office," added Mr Seddon. "It should not take more than half afi, hour to print the Orijep Paper to-day." (Mr B. Thompson: "It was the men's dinner hour.") "They should not go to dinner when there is wort to do," angrily exclaimed the Premier. (Mr James Allen: " W hat a truly Liberal sentiment.") Mr Seddon, who 'professes snoh great affection for. the working men of the colony, did not relish this unpleasant reminder from the member for Bruce, and the Premier's unfeeling remark is not likely to be forgotten at the coming straggle. THE GENEBAL ELECTION. A Southern -member informed me today that he has received letters from various parts of the North Island to -the effect tbat' the Government will lose a good many .seats. -in the North at present _ held by them. Sope ,of the. writers express themselves to the effect . that not only '. ia there a. great revulsion of feeling against the administration of Ministers, people g6neri-,lly consider that the Seddon Government has altogether outlivid ita power of usefulness, and that a ohange of Ministry would be in' the best Interests of the colony. THE BANGITIKEI SEAT. An occasional • contributor from the back oountry settlements writes to the Peilding paper to the effect that the Government oan say good-bye to the Bangitikei seat, as a good Opposition member (Mr Lethbridge) represents it, and will oontinue to 'do so. The writer sftys: — "If what I hear in the back country is correct a number of Government supporters intend passing their votes on to Mr Lethbridge. .His reoent speeches in the House have produoed a good feeling amongst a large number of back settlers, and he can reokon on a number of votes from the backwoods. He has also made a -still better impression through the kind and- private aotions he has performed "when any of hia electors have required 'hiß services, irrespective of party. THWARTING THE PBEMIEB. . Tho Naturalised Subjects' Belief 801 was amongst- the measures whioh the Premier moved to Btrike off the Order Paper to-day, but when the qnestion was put to the vote the Opposition raised a ohorus of " Noes " so pronounoed that the Premier refrained from calling for a division, and the bill remains on the Order .taper. Government supporters were evidently taken baok by the action ol the Opposition in not allowing the bill to be withdrawn, and Mr Seddon will no doubt later on accuse his opponents of forcing him to drop the measure.