WELLINGTON NEWS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 16, Issue 61, 4 August 1905, Page 5

WELLINGTON NEWS.

[By Telegraph-Own Correspondent] Wellington, Last Night. In its ariicle on the attitude taken up in the House yesterday by Mr Fisher, Junior Member lor Wellington, the Times says:—“ ‘ I was mistaken; I will take all the blame, but I will not apologise.’ This, in effect, was what Mr F. M. B. Fisher, by the will of the ©lectors Junior Member for Wellington City, told the House of Representatives yesterday, in his long; rambling statement on the subject of the charge he had made of an improper payment of Sublio money to Captain Seddon. It id not seem to strike him that an apology was due to the Premier and his son, both of whom he had accused of grossly corrupt practices, and who had been completely exculpated by evidence which even Mr Fisher himself had to admit was convincing. The House, as we anticipated, was indulgent to its youngest Member so far as political experience goes—not a single representative had a word of blame to utter, but the silence was perhaps more eloquent than torrents of condemnatory oratory. It was an indication that the House as a whole shared the Premier’s expression of regret that Mr Fisher * had not taken the proper course.’ The feeling on the subject in the country generally, and in Mr Fisher’s Electorate in particular, will, however, be more one of resentment than of regret.” The article concludes: “We are sorry to have to say that not only has he failed to justify, extenuate, or explain his former action, but be has also aggravated his offence by repeating the accusation in a form so intangible that it cannot be gappled with and exposed as the first one was.” To-day the Premier laid on the table the copy of correspondence between himself and the Treasury on the subject of the alleged payment to Captain Seddon of between £7O and £BO for re-organising Defence stores. The Treasury state that no trace of any such payment could be found, nor could trace be found of a voucher for payment of a wreath at the late Mr Walker’s funeral, with Ministers’ names upon it. The Premier added that he thought he would be best consulting his own dignity and the desires of Members if he treated any further reference to this matter with supreme contempt. (Hear, hear). According to Mr James Kowin (of Messrs Lovell and Christmas, the great London dairy produce firm), who recently returned to Wellington from the Old Country, the prospects for the • coming dairy season are better than they were at the beginning of last year, and he will not be a bit surprised if the year proves a record one for prices. The Hawera Borough Council last night decided to offer the Government a site at a nominal rental for a dairy experimental school. A West Coast deputation, with regard to the completion of the East and West Coast Railway, leave Greymouth on the 24th inst., and will be I'oined at Wellington by the Canterbury delegation.