NOTES IN PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 138, 12 June 1896, Page 2

NOTES IN PARLIAMENT.

COMING EVENTS CABT THEIR B.JADOVVS BEFORE. DISCONTENT AMONG GOVERNMENT BIfiMHEUS. REVOLT OF "DUMB DOGS." MB. WABD-S AFFAIRS, AND MB. SEDDON'S APPOINTMENTS. A BAD QUARTER- HOUR EXPECTED. MINISTERIAL CAUCUS ON MONDAY. MEASURES FOR THE MASSES. BUT NEVER MEANT TO PASS. (From Our Special Correspondent.)

Wellington, June 11. There was a larger muster of the public than usual at the opening of Pnrli craent this afternoon, the approaches to Hillstreet being ihronged with a busting crowd of spectators, mostly of the fair sex. The D, Battery fired the customary silute rind the Wellington College Cadets formed a giiriH of honour. At 2'25 the party from Government House, consisting o{ Lady Glasgow, Ladies Augusta, Dorothy, and Helen Boyle, the Hon, Alan Boyle, and Professor George Forbes, arrived and took their seats in tbo Council Chumber. A few minutes later hia Excellency, dressed in the full uniform of a Naval Commander, put in an appearance, attended by Major Ellioto (Private Secretary), Captßin Campbell Preston (A.D.C.), the Captain and teveral ollicers of H.M.S. Ringdove, and the Mayor and Consul for Italy (Mr G. Fisher), Viscount JoufFroyD'Abbans(FrenchCon9u'), Messrs Onstendyk (German Consm), and Duncan (Consul for Sweden and Norway), and Dr Cahill (United States Consul)

Fifteen members of the legislative Council were present and the faithful Commons being summoned, attended to the number of fifty. The feature of the Speech from the Throne was its prolixity, and when the lists of bills which it is proposed to submit tor consideration was disclosed members laughed consumedly, for it was recognised that a programme for a whole < arliament and not merely for a closing session had been provided. After the Vice-Regal party, the visitors and the members of the House had retired, the Council sat for a few minutes. Messrs Arkwright, H. J, Beeves, and George Jones took the oath. Mr W, Montgomery delivered a panegyric over two late members— Sir Patrick Buckley and Dr Pollen — and then the Upper House adjourned till Tuesday, when Mr Arkwright will move the address-in-reply. The Bret business in the House of Representatives was the swearing of Mr Lewis, the successor to Mr W. P. Reeves in the representation of Christchurch. Then the Premier moved that the House on its rising adjourn till Tuesday. This, it was recognised, was dune to permit Ministers to meet their parly in caucus with a view to considering the Treasurer's position, and the motion evokf d no opposition, resolutions were subsequently passed indicative of the loss the country had sustained by the death, during the recess, of Sir Patrick Buckley and Dr Pollen, the speakers in each instance being the Premier and the leader of the Opposition, Quite a sheaf of bills were given notice of, the most prominent of which are the Referendum Bill (Mr Hall-Jones), Alcoholic Liquors Anicndn.cnt Bill (the Piemircr), an Elective Executive Bi.l (Major Stewarl ), Mntrimoni.il and Divorce Amendment Bill (Mr McNab), Toiiilisator Abolition Bill (Mi 1 Carnell), and Criminal Codo Amendment Bill (Mr Mills), The object of the laßt-named measure la to provide for the retrial of Louis Chemis, convicted of the Kawarawura murdsr,

The Premier says he recognises the waßte of public money which results every session l>y useless returns being printed, and he intends to move that the printing ofall returns and papera be left in the hands of tbe l'rintiog and Debates Committee.

C«plain Knssell unsuccessfully endeavoured to draw the Premier iw to whether the electorates would be altered before the general election is held. Mr Seddon blandly replied ilvit, the matter would receive the attention of the Cabinet, who would later on take tbo House into their confidence,

In the lobbies the tilk is almost exclusively confined to tbo affairs of Mr Ward and their relation to the Ministerial position, and tbo general opinion appear? to bo that Mr Ward must retire from tbe Cabinet, Prominent among, tbe discontented Government supporters may be mentioned Messrs G. W. Russell, Pirani, W, Hutchison, and Crowtber, all of whom openly declare that if Mr VV'urd is retained in office their support ean no longer be looked for. It is rumoured that a ouueus of the party is to be summoned for Monday' to consider tho matter. In that case some plain talking may be anticipated. Another sore point with some members is Mr Seddon'u acaeptanoe of office under (in Anglo-German mining syndicate, This is a matter which is exercising "Kiccarton" Bussell'B mind very greatly, and be promises to give the Premier n warm quarter of an hour 'over. it. In order to facilitate acouracy in tho reporting of members' speeches, the Premier intends to movo that " Hansard " reporters be in future permitted to sit on the floor of tbe House. Mr Pirani, who is a printer and newspaper owner, and an active member of tbo Reporting and Printing DebUes Committee, will move as an amendment that the question be remitted to that Committee. If the amendment be oarried the proposal will be stoutly opposed in Committee by the Speaker, Major Steward, Mr Pirani, and others, and will probably be defeated. Sir Bobort Stout replies to the Premier's Wellington deliverance in the Opera Bouse to-morrow night.