WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10018, 9 April 1894, Page 2

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

(Fsom Ous Own Cobbespondent.) Wellington, April 6, THE RESIGNATION OP COLONEL FOX.

Tha Fox correspondence continues tie most * entertaining topic of the hour, and in default of j any reasonable explanation of how the editor of . the Post becamo possessed of copies of the j sultry epißtles of the colonel the wildest state- ' ments are projected. The only important point ' that seems clear to me is that the Post was in possession of tfce information before the ; Ministers in Wellington had received ths correspondence in the course of the post on Wednesday from the Premier. If this be so, unless tho information was wired from the north, the circle of suspects must necessarily be very narrow. That Colonel Fox furnished the documents or their contents is, I think, out of the question, and I understand he has implicit reliance in the integrity of his subordinates. Whence came it then ? Echo gives the proverbial reply, though one wiseacra has more than suggested to me. " The politioal woman, old fellow." Meanwhile there is promise of a lurid atmosphere in Cabinet next week when the king Bhall have returned. TEMPERANCE SPORTS. How many of the legion of men who are addicted to the sport of kings would have assisted at tho enfranchisement of the politioal woman had they foreseen that she meant to divorce liquor from horse racing, yet such a social regulation, I am assured, is within measurable distance, and the Wellington racecourse is to be the first scene of this strange nev? departure. The Hutt course is within the licensing district of Wellington Suburbs, and I am informed on what seems credible authority that a temperance majority ou that committeo is resolved that no special license shall be issued for the sale of any intoxicants on that convincing ground for tho next three years. If this ba so, uot only will the sports be abstinent 1 against their will, but the bucolic countryman 1 who makes his annual visit to the agricultural show will perchance go thirstily away. Fancy a "lemonade" after witnessing au exciting finish, in which the winner ha 3 carried your "bit of stuff," or a copious "ginger beer" 1 Upon learning that you possess the blue ribbon ' of the sheep show. . ' [The Wellington racecourse ;is not to be the , first scene of this new departure, for it is to be witnessed at the Oamaru races next week.] NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE.

At the eighth annual, meeting of the New Zealand Alliance, held here, the Times reports that Dr Newman, M.H.R, moved: "That this meeting expresses its deliberate conviction that no act of Parliament dealing with the liquor question will recognise the rights of the people if it does not givo them the power by a majority of the votes cast to determine for themselves whether that traffic shall exist in their respective localities." As to the Licensing Act, he thought it was simply monstrous that an act should have been introduced so severely handicapping one party as this act did. If the liquor party had .refrained from voting every poll in New Zealand would have been inoperative. He hoped the people would not cease fighting, and he believed that next session the act would be amended. It was said the present Government would bring in an amending bill next session, but he had no snch belief himself. They must have a bill by which both I sides should be compelled to go to the poll— I (applause),—and at the next eleotion they must have purer rolls aud less irregularities than occurred at the last election. If those reforms were made, he thought they would get something like a fair liquor law, but he did not think they could expect anything of the sort next session.