WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9465, 14 July 1891, Page 6

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[from our own cobbespondbnt.l WELLINGTON, July 13. THE STRENGTH OP THE GOVERNMENT. The New Zealand Times this morning has a leader, from which I make the following extract : "The Ministers. played the bold game by asking for a vote of confidence, and proved that audacity was the policy. The amendment by which the Opposition sought to intercept this vote would have been suitable in a disorganised House with a weakkneed Government, such as Governments have been of late years. In a House which is (airly well organised, and in the presence of a Government of strong men,the amendment was the very thing to give the Opposition a tremendous defeat. Led on by Mr Dutbio, they rushed to their fate. The character of the debate is as interesting aa its result. On the whole it is one of the best debates ever made in the House. Somewhat disfigured it was by the pettiness of some of the criticism levelled at the administration of the recess. This is a great occasion in the Colony’s history. Great principles are in question, and great results abiding for all time are at issue, yet that is the occasion selected by a number of Parliamentary veterans, who ought to have known better, for discussing the characters and antecedents of petty officers In the public service. The constituents of these members have a right to be wroth with their representatives for dancing on the edge of a volcano. Mr Ballance has impressed his party in a way the majority were not prepared for, the truth being that Mr Ballance has never had good opportunities .hitherto, having been overshadowed by his two more celebrated colleagues when in power, who left him in the darkest hour of their fortunes to lead a broken party without either cohesion or any reason for holding together His tactics in the present crisis, and his speaking power, and the calibre he has displayed have impressed his people considerably, and, of course, greatly consolidated his party.” PERPETUAL LEASEHOLDERS. A deputation waited on the Premier this morning to ask whether any arrangement could be made by which perpetual leaseholders might borrow on their holdings. The deputation pointed out that,under village settlementandfreehold tenure,holders could borrow, and farther, that the Crown held out special inducements to settlers to become perpetual leaseholders, yet when settlers had invested their capital under this tenure, they found themselves unable to raise money. They are, therefore, placed at a disadvantage compared with other holders. The Premier agreed that there was a hardship, but could not recommend that the trust funds of the Colony should be applied in this direction. He would consult the Boards on the subject. MISCELLANEOUS. : I have seen Sir Eoberfc Stout this morning with reference to the taxation of bondholders. Ha considers the proposal \suicidal (as well as immoral) as the Colony will have to borrow at Home. . Mr Wright has obtained the promise of a tiffograph line to Mount Somers, on. a guarantee of .-C2O a year for five years bei.ig given. He also intends to move for a g. sleet Committee to enquire into the distribution of the “ thirds.” The object is to giv. e local bodies power to use a third of their revenue for supplying water. It is .rumoured that the Se’ect Committee on the Labour Bills has discarded the amendments of both sides, and retained the orig.'nal Bills in both cases, viz., "Employers’ Liability” aud "Truck.” A MERITED TRIBUTE. The PresA Association will have informed you of the presentation to the Hon J. 6. Ward to-day’ of an admirably-designed centrepiece l i silver and glass, with a gold cradle attached, in commemoration of the latest to his family. I think I may vary confidently pledge to the hon,gentleman tiha kindest sentiments of the Press on occasion. Mr Ward has unobtrusively wo(\ his way to everybody’s esteem as a gentleman of the utmost integrity and kindliu ess, and aa a Minister perfectly conversant i with the work of the important departmei it over which he presides. May his pern nal, departmental and political shadow neve r grow less. STICKING 5 EAST. I have an idea tba t the Libel Bill and the proposed amendmi mt of the Standing Orders will be " stu ck up.” If the Government takes thei 0 in hand there is only a bare possibility .of their passing. If the Government doet 'not take them in hand, they haven’t (I should say) the ghost of a show. CANARDS. The canard season has .set in, in good earnest. Like big gooseberries and phenomenal potatoes, tho.V do increase and multiply wonderfully. Here is one. It went about to-day that a deputation from the Dunedin Harbour Board Lad been introduced by Sir Robert Stout fct> the Premier and that the members for fcbo district bad been ignored, aud were mighty sore. Lilie the venerable story of "Tnreo Black Crows,” it turned out to be all moonshine. When properly tbld, the facts uns these : There was a dispute between the Board and the Railway Commiasionei s about a paltry affair. The Board infonuaJJy asked

Sir Robert Stout to caU upon the Co 0 ?' missioners to get the matter adjusted it possible, thinking it hardly worth whue to go through the ceremony of deputationismg Ministers, and the little matter of business was quietly arranged. No w for the canard of the season, the most gorgeous canard, i should say, on record. It is that the Hon W. P. Reeves is going Home as AgencGeneral, Sir Robert Stout is to have the reversion of his seat as one of the Christchurch representatives, and Mr Perceval ia to join tho Cabinet. Inis 18 really delicious, and it is niucu enjoyed by the gentlemen referred to. It was refreshing to me to hear Sir Robert Stout’s hearty laugh, when I congratulated him on his reversionary interest in a Christchurch seat. This is something like the seventh Agent-General whom rumour has appointed. We have had Dr Grace, Mr Buckley, Mr Perceval and a string of others. I expect “ your own ” will be in it next. Who knows ? THE OK DEE OF BUSINESS.

To-morrow the Government will, if possible, move the second reading of the following Bills:—Coal Mines, Mining, Public Revenues, Partnership, Local Bodies Accounts, Criminal Code, Bankruptcy, Counties Act Amendment and Electoral. Wednesday and Thursday are private members’ days; pretty full days they will be, too, I am sure, for there is a vast accumulation. On Friday Government will probably introduce the Legislative Council Reform Bill and the Industrial Conciliation Bill, so that the week bids fair to bo a busy one. (P«R PRttns AnBOOIATIOHaI NEW PLYMOUTH, July 13. Messrs Joyce, Tanner, Carncross and Buick, members of the House, are on a visit here. The party went to Parihaka yesterday, and received a hearty welcome from Te Whiti and Tohu. The members, through an interpreter, had a long, talk with the chiefs.