WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7841, 10 January 1887, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

.(By TELEGRAPH—own CORRESPONDENT.]. ' / Wellington, Saturday. ■? POTITICAL. The rumour that the Hon. Mr. Bryoe would oonsult Major Atkinson before addressing his constituents have set " political wires " at work, and the consequence is quite a crop of speculative possibilities. The Post again swells with indignation that Ministers are absent from Wellington, and that those who are now here are preparing for a flitting, one going due North and the other to the West Coast of the South Island. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The, intention of Ministers to bring in a Bill next session of the General Assembly for the reform of the Legislative Council has taken most people—except the local newspapers—by surprise. The statement is admitted to be correct; but the Post says the new Bill is like an old Bill that was adopted eight years ago by the present Ministers, and the Times discovers that Sir John Hall formerly brought in a Bill with the same objeot. It says" This is in a large degree a reproduction of the measure proposed by Sir John Hall, which, however, never came up for serious practical discussion. The Bill introduced by Sir Fredk. Whitaker for the reconstitution of the Council provided for an election by oolonial electors to be conduoted by the Hare system, but that also fell stillborn. It remains to be seen whether the proposed measure will have , any better fortune than its various predecessors, or whether it will simply share their destination—the shelf. For our own part, we must confess that we do not view these proposed reforms of the Legislative Council with any great enthusiasm." It adds: "Do the Government really desire to reform the Legislative Council* If so, they have only to hold, their hand to abstain from making any new appointments until the Council's numerical strength shall have diminished to 40, or even SO, and the thing is done without any Bill at fall; or, if they mußt bring in a measure dealing with the subject, let them omit the elective scheme, and simply provide a limitation of number, and security against deadlock. Nothing mors is required." The Post does not think that the proposed reform of the Upper House will be carried, and suggests that it is put forward as a feature of the Ministerial programme in view of the approaching general election. It considers that it is unlikely the measure will be passed during the coming session, but it is thought desirable that the question Bhould be placed before the country in a definite form, and it will probably be among the subjects submitted to the electors at the next general election. The opponents of the Government look upon the reform of the Legislative Council as a political "red herring" put across the path of the Representation Bill, enabling the Government to leave both these important matters to the constituencies, at the same time that they take credit for initiating a reform in the constitution of the Upper and Lower Houses of the Legislature, thus taking the "wind out of the political sails" of their adversaries on the hustings. HUMOURS. The Times evidently thinks that Ministers will have little time next session to pass organio measures of any kind, tor the triennial limit of the present Parliament will have been reached in the last week in July or the first week in August. On this it states " When Parliament meets every effort will be made to slip through the session quietly and with as little fighting as possible, relegating all moot questions to the general election which must follow the session. Ministers still profess (as they did last year) a fixed intention to push through the Representation Bill at all hazards, but there are many sceptics as to this determination having any more substantial foundation than it had last year. It was whispered that soundings have been attempted in certain high quarters as to the probability of dissolution being refused until a redistribution should have taken place, but that " no bottom" was reaohed, but all these expectations appear to' lead up to the general election that will follow the demise of the present Parliament. The aspirants for Parliamentary honours are one by one putting their heads above the political horizon. Yesterday it was Mr. Joe Warbrick and Mr. Jas. Carroll for the Eastern Maori district; to-day it is announced that Mr. D. H. 8011, of this city, will contest theThorndon division with Dr. Newman, who has been a steady opponent of the present Government, and a firm supporter of Majar Atkinson. It is further stated that the leader of the Opposition is to have an opponent in the person of Mr. McGuire, J.P., who desires to represent the electors of E'gmont. Various statements have appeared within the last few days to the effect that the major will not go on his stumping tour for some time, on account of illness in his family. I have from time to time informed you that this circumstance might have an important influence upon his political action. It gives a double interest to the reappearance of Sir John Hall in New Zealand politics, for no one appears to think that any of the former colleagues of Major Atkinson would take his place if he were compelled to absent himself for a time from active political life. It is said to be praotically settled that Sir John Hall will stand for Selwyn, his former constituency, and that his return for that district is certain. The reason assigned for his not standing for Heathcote is that Sir Julius Vogel's influence is strong there, and it would not be advisable for the Opposition to risk the defeat of so important a member of their party. It is further affirmed that active negotiations are in progress among the prominent members of the Opposition, with the object of selecting Sir John Hall as their leader in the House of Representatives, Major Atkinson to have the post of first lieutenant. This movement is said to have the concurrence of Major Atkinson himself, and of Mr. Ormond and Mr. Mitchelson. No account is taken of the rumours which have been recently in circulation that Mr. Mitohelson intends to retire for a time at least from the political arena. It is confidently affirmed that, with Sir John Hall in the House, the Opposition could defeat the present Government upon several important measuros whioh the Government propose to introduce, but the fact of a general election in the next spring suggests the desirability of awaiting the decision of the country, which will be pronounced on the hustings. It is not thought advisable at present that the hands of the Opposition should be discovered in any arrangements for the approaching eleotoral campaign, but it is an open seoret that the Opposition will put up candidates for several constituencies in the Southern Island whioh are thought to be secure in their support of the present incumbents of political office. The signs of political activity ate becoming manifest in various directions, but no single constituency appears to think it prudent to make stir during the life of the present Parliament, KAWHIA. The Minister of Native Affairs received the following telegram this morning :— " All very quiet here, the Land Court and its possible decision being the principal subject of conversation among the leading natives, A party of about 50 excursionists arrived here on Saturday last, leaving at eight p.m. yesterday. They were exceedingly well met by all classes of natives, and no objection made to their visiting places not usually viuited by Europeans in the King Country. Everything very orderly. No drunkenness that I could see or hear about. The visitors were loudly and repeatedly cheered on leaving. TITOKOWARU. This notorious Maori chief has joined Te Whiti, and both are the guests of the Hon; Wi Tako, M.L.C,, at his residence at the Hutt. A large number of natives of tho Ngatiawa and Ngatikaune tribes are also on a visit to Wi Tako.