THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10409, 6 April 1897, Page 5

THE NEW PARLIAMENT.

OPENING CEREMONY TO-DAY.

THE SPEAKERSHIP.

NEW ZEALAND MILITARY

CONTINGENT.

STRONG OPPOSITION TO TH]

PROPOSAL.

THE PREMIER'S TRIP. [by telmraph,—own correspondent.] Wellington, Monday. The first session of the thirteenth Parliament will be opened by commission tomorrow. The Hon. Mr. Millar (speaker of tho Legislative Council), the Hon. Capt, Baillie, the Hon. Dr. Grace, and the Hon. W. C. Walker are the commissionera appointed to perform the ceremony. No further business alter the swearin" in of members will be taken until Wednesday. The Southern members have arrived and the Auckland members are expected to arrive by the Tutanekai to-night. Sir Maurice O'Rorke will probably be elected Speaker without opposition. Members of the Legislative Council will occupy the benches where they sat during last parliament. Members of the House of Representatives have ticketed the seats they propose to occupy. Mr. G. Fisher (Wellington) has ticketed his old seat on the cross benches within the bar, exactly opposite the Speaker. Mr. T. E. Taylor (Ohristchurch) has taken up his position immediately behind Mr. Fisher, and nexb to o Mr. G. J. Smith, who romains in his old "seat. Mr. E.J. Allan (Waikouaiti)will sib nexb to the native members. Mr. J. Hutoheeon (Wellington) takes the seat) formerly occupied by Mr. A. Saunders. Messrs. Monk (Waitemata), Bollard (ISden), and Lethbridge (Manawatu) take their places in the back Opposition benches. Mr. Carson (Wanganui) occupies a seat in the cross benches lately occupied by Mr. G. Hutchison, who goes to the front benches among tho leaders of the Opposition. Mr. Pirani goes to the seat lately occupied by Mr. G. W. Russell. There will be no Address-in-Reply. The "approximate" statemont of Mr. Seddon will be made by the Premier instead.

I learn that any attempt to pass the vote for the military and Maori contingents to enable them to go to London with the Premier will bo met by a strenuous opposition. They were booked for the Tongariro, but it is understood the order has been countermanded.

It is now pretty well known that the Premier will not go by the Tongariro. There aro various rumours afloat. One is that he will go by the San Francisco route. Another states that he will join the Promiers of Viotoria and New South Wales, who do not start until the 27th inst. There ie a good deal of gossip afloat, bub none of it is reliable.

The Tutanekai, with the northern members, arrived at 7.30 p. m. She woe detained by a heavy head wind.