POLITICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2207, 18 June 1896, Page 22

POLITICAL NOTES.

(Fbosi Our Own Coeuespondekt.) Thdhsday, Joins 11.

, OPENING Of PARLIAMENT. The first Parliament of New Zealand met on tbe 27th May 1854, and the session which was Opened to-day by his Excellency the Governor is, the third and last session of the twelfth , Parliament that has assembled in the colony. The weather was beautifully mild this afternoon, . the buu occasionally glinting through light fleecy clouds that, contrary to their usual custom, hung motionless over windy Wellington. Shortly . after 2 p.m. the Wellington Garrison Band, playing a lively tune, marched down Cuba , street and along the quay to Parliament House, the publio streaming after them in large numbers. Women predominated, and a few Maoris— male and * female— gave local. colour to the scene. A member of the Upper House' and a few belated M.H.R.'s wended their way through the crowd, while a snaooth-faoed alien, all unconscious of the importance of the occasion and the reference thut was about to be made to him in the Governor's ' Sneeoh, tugged asa.d-faoed monkey by the chain, and it the same. time ground from a wheezy * barrel organ the strains of a well-known operat ic air, whion goes' well to the words of a wellknown «oni{', "If ever I to Parliament by fools am sent," bo. Arrived at Parliament Buildings , we found the Wellington College Cadets were ■' drawn" up in front' as » guard of honour. A U*ge concourse of the general public thronged the grounds and the pavements in the vicinity. -At '20 '„ minutes past 2 the first party from Government House arrived, escorted by a defaohmfint of. the Heretaonga Riuss| some" of whom were, very" poorly mounted, and looked like raw recruite in comparison with tht smarter ■' Otago ' Hussars. In the first Government Boose ' party was Lady. Glasgow, looking remarkably well, and accompanying her were Ladies Augusta, Dorothy, and Hekn Boyle, the Hon. Alan Boyle, and Professor George Forbes, tinker tbe escortof Captain Fielder, A.D. C O. No sooner had this/ party txken their seats in the Council Chamber than the guns of the D Battery boomed forth * salute, and his [ Excel- - leooyi in the-hahdsome'nniform of a naval com* mander*'w*B seen approaching in his carriage. His Excellency was attended by his private . secretary (Major Elliott) atd Captain Campbell Preston, A.D.0., also the captain and several of the officers of H.M.B. Ringdove, the . mayor and .ooncul for Italy (Me G. FieUer), Count" Jouffray D'Abbans (French consul), Mr Caitendtke (German oonml), Captain Duncan (consul for, Sweden »nd Norway), and Mr Cahill (United States consul). The gold laoe uniforms ' of the officers of- tho warship brightened np the scene somewhat, and the aide, Captain Camp-" bell Preston, looked vety sntart in the kilts .and red and black uniform" of his Highland seftioaent. . , The galleries were -packed with ladies, who even infringed on the domain of the Legislative Councillors. The ladies were mostly in winter dress, and a- sombre tone prevailed, though here, and there » ematt bonnet or a nice fur attracted critical feminine eyes. Amongst the ladies present I noticed Mrs and Miss Seddon, ■ Lady Stout, Mrs Collins," Mrs Fitouett, the Hisses Hutchison, and the wives of several members and Councillors. There were only . some 15 Councillor* present, but the " faithful Commonsj" having been duly' summoned, trooped in from the other Chamber' to the number of 50— Colonel Fraser, with the* mac's J on his shoulder, looking' as unconcerned and important mif he owned the whole premises and the Governor and his attendant satellites "were simply there on Bufferanoe.- SirM. O'Rorke took a chair in front of bis flook, -who, closely packed/remained standing. The portljrforms* ' of the Premier and the Hon. John M'Kenzie . graced the front row, and behind, (hem were the other Ministers. The Premier, in spite of recent worries and much hurried travelling tip said down the country, looked remarkably well, and as if thero were a good deal of fight ' left in him yet. He cocked his head knowingly on one side and listened while his Excellency, Bitting in the Speaker's chair,, put on his spectacle* and read the Speech. - -At the conclusion of the Bpeeoh, Lord Glas- ■' cow took his leave of the Speakers, of both Houses and, followed by his attendants, made , his way through the lobbies to the main entrance, where his carriage was waiting. The guns of the D Battery Spain boomed fortb, and the Parliament of New Z. aland was ready for work. ' * HOROWHENUA COMMISSION. Mr Wilson wanted to know if the evidence given before the Horowbenu* Commission would ba printed, but the Premier would not give any assurance on this point in the meantime. Capt*in Ruscell commented forcibly upon (he unfairness to the persons accused, either justly or nnju»tly, through the evidence on which suoh reports were founded bting kept bmck. He had himself suffered from such action. "-,',;-.,;, ' HANSARD. - There is some diit&tisf action among' the . Httokard reporters at the retirement of Mr Barren, chief of the stiff, by the -Government. Mr GrattMi Grey hu been appointed to the vacancy. Mr. P. Marks, reader in the Goverajnent Printing Office, fasji been appointed Hansard supervisor. I u&derstand the Sp?*kar would not agr§© to the proposal to allow Cansard reporters to have seats on the floor of

the Bouse without a resolution of the House to ] that effect. There will be some opposition to the proposal. Some of the reporters also oppose tha innovation, as it will be difficult to take notes of a speech when other members are jabbering to each other near hand. SIR R. STOUT TO REPLY TO THE • PREMIER. . To anyone used to impartial journalism it is rather amusing to read the two reports of the Premier's address last night as given in the New Zealand Times and the Post to-day. The Times ignores the interruptions altogether and is laudatory to a degree, but the- Post does not mince matters either in its report of the meeting or its comments JuereOn. There will bs some more fun on Friday night when Sir R. Stout replies to the Premier. A LIBEL ACTION. The New Zealand Time 3 this morning commented m very savere terms on Mr Crabb, temperance orator, at present holding outdoor meetings in Wellington. Sir R Stout has been instructed to issue a writ for libel against the , pspar, damage* -being laid at £2000. ! THE NEW ZEALAND NATIVES' ASSOCIATION. j The New Zealand Natives'. Association seems to be hanging fire. There was a poor attendance at the meeting to-night, and considerable opposition to making the society a benefit one. Dr Findlay was elected a vice-president, and among the committee the following former Otago residents were elected : — Lady Stout, Dr Mackenzie, Miss Chappie, Mrs T. W. ! Hislop, and Mr A. E. Haggen. As Dr Chappie , is president, all the office-bearers but three may : . be said to be old Obagonians. JOTTINGS. Sir Robert Stout was not present at the opening ceremony as he was engaged in a libel action being heard in the Supreme Court. When the Premier gave notice of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Amendment Bill there was a chorus of " Hear, hear," from behind the Government benohes, and a demand for a bare majority. The Premier is apparently desirous of putting on the break in connection, with what he terms the indiscriminate printing of papers, on. the score of expense. Mr Cadman, in answer to Mr Guinness, said the Brnnner Disaster Commission had not yet reported, but he hoped to have the report in hand by the end of this week. The Cabinet hes approved of the Westpoit Harbour Board replacing the timber approach to the retaining wall whit stone. " The sum of £500 bas been appropriated for the Masterton-Tenui improved farm. j The construction of 85 more waggons for the Westporb railway has been approved by the Cabinet. ••If you want to know the tima a«k a polioeman " But it will be more difficult to do this in Wellington now, as several of the police are mounted on bicycles. I saw one man ecorohing along tho quay to-day in somewhat wobbly fashion oa a steed painted a brilliant hairraiiing blue. The paint is a distinguishing badge. Tbe Government have made several reductions in the sessional staff, so that the olerki and messengers will be hard put to it if there is \ «. stormy session and -long hours. The present intsntion is to entirely abolish the office of bill reader, but I doubt if this will ' work, and I expect to hear of a new appointment sooner or' later. - - -, Mr Lawry will move and Mr Meridith second the Address-in-Reply in the House of Representatives. The Hon. P. Arkwright will move the Addresi-in-Reply in the Upper House.

His Excellency's spaeoh was one of the longest; on record^ It is certainly very much padded. Suoh momentous .questions as the institution of sixpenny telegrams, and the reference to the arming of our forces with " the new improved weapon " (the Martini-Henry) were listened to for the most part in solemn silence, but when the reference to the latter subject was made one or two of the representatives of her Majesty's navy behind the chair The Hons. Messrs Shrimski f Jones, Feldwiok, Taiaroa, Bolt, and Messrs Russell, Collins, Tanner, Smith, Pinkerton, flatman, Joyce, Kelly, Carnorou, Saunders, Earnshaw, and Duncan arrived by the Takapuna this\norning. Several of the West Coast members arrived by the Graf ton.

Tha adjournment of the House till Tuesday will give supporters of the Government, an opportunity of meeting in oauous, and no doubt the position of ~ the Colonial Treasurer will be very earnestly and warmly discussed. It is rumoured that Mr Ward's resignation is already in the hands of the Ministry, but tint it is being held over pending the decision of tbe Supreme Court.