WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2045, 4 May 1893, Page 23

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, May 3. THE SITUATION. The political excitemenb which pervaded all all classes during tho week past has partially subsided. There is, however, a good deal of curiosity about the position of Sir Roborb Stout relative to the Ministry. Ib is said that he will certainly not have a walk over if he stands for Inangahua, and that he might perhaps be beaben there. Ib was rumoured this morning thab bwo candidabes have entered bhe field besides Sir Roberb. Laber on ib was reported that one of these was a very " dark horse " indeed. In the evening papers the sbatemenb was reiterated that Sir Robert Sfcout has no desire to re-enter the sphere of politics. This statement probably comes from himself, because ib is in complebe accord with all I have heard of late from his most intimate friends. The secondnamed candidate for the representation of Inangahua might, in the particular juncture of circumstances, become formidable. He is spoken of as coming forward on the independent ticket, bub this is regarded as beiDg rather in opposition to the Government. Some people say that he is put forward by the Roman Catholic body as the exponent of the recent sband baken on bho quesbion of secular educabiou. Ib is furbher affirmed that although the constituency as a mining community would poll strongly for the Hon. Mr Seddon, the Roman Catholics are very numerous, and would vote to a man against the present system of education. Sir Roberb Stout and the Hou. W. P. Reeves are strongly pro- < nounced advocates of free, secular, and compulsory education. The name of one of these competitors is O'Regan. He is spoken of as a schoolmaster, formerly of Auckland, and having charge of the instruction given in Catholic schools. Since writing the above I have had a conversation with a gentleman thoroughly acquainted with the West Coast. He declares ; that Sir Robert Stout would bo elected for , Wanganui now that Mr Carsou is absent. Ib is even affirmed that Mr Stevens aud Mr Parsons

would be disposed to relinquish their claims in his favour. So far as Sir Robert Stout himself is concerned, I believe that he is sincere in wishing to postpone the date of his re-entering politics. It is, however, generally felt that his aid will be wanted in the coming session, for his reputation as a debater and his fertility of political resource in the presence of adversaries, political or otherwise, is well known. The above is the political talk of the hour ; you must accept it for political gossip, not for authentic fact. But there may be much truth in it.

THE MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. The rumour persists that Ministers are anxious to postpone the opening of Parliament for a fortnight. When this rumour was first circulated I spoke to the Hon. Mr Seddon (the new Premier) on the subject, and he told me there was no foundation for it. It was impossible it could be true In the form the rumour originally took, because the Auditor-general could refuse to pass any expenditure of public money after the 30th of June. The statement now takes a different shape. Ifc is said that Parliament will meet on the date fixed, that an imprest supply will be immediately asked for, and then Ministers will move that the House adjourn for a short period to enable Ministers to mature their policy. It is said by the supporters of the Government this proceeding would be reasonable ; others denounce it as unreasonable. The reason assigned for it is that the new Colonial Treasurer would require to mako himself master of the details and the figures which would make up the Financial Statement. Another reason given is that while the late Premier's policy will be strictly followed, there are numerous matters which were perfectly familiar to him which would have to be investigated by his successor in order to ascertain what the scope of the policy was. The opponents of the Government look upon this reasoning as groundless and covering some motive to secure an advantage. THE NEW ARM. Commandant Fox in his report recommended that the new arm should be the Martini-Henry rifle. The Government have given an order for 1000 stand of this arm to be supplied as soon as possible. THE IMFEBIAL AUSTRIAN VISIT. The Premier (the Hon. Mr Seddon) has received official notification that the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand will nobvisib New Zealand on his present tour as at first intended. THE WAIKOMITI MURDERER. I learn that the case of Scott was the subject under consideration in Cabinet yesterday and this morning, bub no decision has been come to. It appears from what I can gather that the immediate subject of discussion was the grounds of the petitions presented in favour of a commutation of sentence. The final determination will be come to, not in the Cabinet, bub at the Executive Council.