WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9221, 8 June 1893, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

(BT TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT. »| > Wellington, Wednesday. • ■ MB. SRDDON'S VISIT TO AUCKLAND. j The Hon. Mr. Seddon informs .me,that he will leave here on Friday . morning for Auckland, where he is to deliver an address. CABINET MEETING. ' ; Ministers are almost constantly in Cabinet. They were in Cabinet the whole of this morning and the-'* whole of this afternoon. The subjects : upon which Ministers are stated to be deliberating arej the Estimates, and the ? clauses of the Financial Statement. It is stated, also,! that there will be an effort made to have the Financial Statement ' delivered, and the Estimates laid on the table of the House of ; Representatives in the second week of the session. The Ministerial journal says that " Long hours and hard work" are the shadows which the ensuing'session is casting before it. There is no fixed programme so far as I can ascertain formally proposed beyond the three great measures, the Conciliation Bill, the Criminal Code Bill, the Amended Land Bill and the Labour Bill. None of these Bills, 1 am told, will present much difficulty, except the compulsory clauses ot the Conciliation Bill about Which there is said to be a good deal of difference of opinion. A member of the '.House, who is usually well informed, informs me that Ministers will work for a short session, but this is simply a confirmation of what the friends of the Government declare. It means, howover, something, more. It implies that the Government will be indisposed to enter' upon any legislation which would evoke serious . opposition, the effect of which would be to prolong the session , indefinitely.. It should not be forgotten that the goneral elections will be close at hand whenever the session may terminate, and that, hon." members on both sides of the House will be eager to approach their constituencies. * TUB DISQUALIFICATION ACT.

The rumour is again, revived that the appointment of the Hon. Mr. Rigß» M.L.C., and the Hon. Mr. Jenkinson, M.L.C., are invalidated by the Disqualification Act which provided ulmt such appointment shall not be made within six months of the appointees being in receipt of any public money as salary or wages. I am told that ib is not absolutely certain that the Disqualification Act extends so for as workmen's wages, but there is now no difficulty in the case. It is far beyond six months since theso gentlemen had anything to do with the Government work, and their reappointment could not be disputed. THE MAORI PARLIAMENT. Tomoana (speaker) Kemp, Parata, Whatahoro, Taita, Paku, and the Rev. G. P. \lutu waited yesterday on the Native Minister, their principal object being to lay their petition beforo His Excellency the Governor with the Bill annexed. The Hon. Mr. Cadman proceeded with the Maori chiefs to Government House, where they were graciously roceived both by Lord and Lady Glasgow. Kemp was spokesman, and Mr. George Davies, of the Native Office, acted as interpreter. His Excellency after hearing the petition read, said ' that he would consult his responsible advisers upon the propositions submitted to him, and return an answer with as little delay as possible. PARLIAMENTARY OFFICKRS. It is well known that the Premier has expressed an intention to utilise during the recess the services of certain officers. The position, however, of these officers differs materially from others in the public service. They are expected to have the confidence of both sides of the House of Representatives in the due performance of their duty. Their ordinary duties are of the most onerous character. It is rumoured that the views of the Speakers of both Houses of the Legislature are unfavourable to the proposal. LAND PURCHASE fOR SETTLEMENT. The Government are desirous of obtaining land for settlement in Hawke's Bay. Two properties were, I understand, offered some time since, but the negotiations fell through. The Minister of Lands has decided that none of the land offered in Canterbury is suitable for the purpose, the areas being too small.