POLITICAL PARS.

Observer, Volume X, Issue 604, 31 January 1891, Page 15

POLITICAL PARS.

Eleventh Parliament of New Zealand opened. Ooromandel Cadtnan will be the Auckland Minister. Mr Jackson Palmer is to move the Address in Eeply. Sir Wm. Fitzherbert, late Speaker of the Council, is dying. Mr Jackson Palmer has had his first interview with the Governor. Mr W. C. Smith ie ' favourite ' for the Chairmanship of Committees. Eugene O'Conorand ' Tana ' McKenzie have come over to the Liberal side. Mr Felix McGuire will have another try for Eermont seat, with a better prospect of success than ever before. The present House of Representatives is the first one consisting of 74 members. It formerly contained 95. Major Steward, the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, is a poet, litterateur, aud newspaper proprietor. The Hutchison-Fisher fend has led to the exclnsion of the People's William and the People's George from the Ministry. Lord Onßlow has had the new Cabinet to dinner before the Auckland Minister has been chosen. Another injustice to the North. A strong ' party ' in favour of the abolition of ' party ' Government sounds anomalous ; but it exists, and I hope will succeed in its object. Even in its dyiner struggles, the Continuous Ministry inflicted fearful injury on this long-suffering country. Tt appointed 105 new Justices of the Peace ! Look out for a Government member being elected for the Northern Maori district. Messrs John Lundon and Wm. Duncan are now up North on Government business. Messrs J. B. Whyte. J. D. Ormond, C. J. Johnston, C C. Bowen, W. D. Stewart, and J. Fulton have been created M.L.C., and there is some talk of creating the only O'Rorke as well. Sir Harry Atkinson has taken kindly to the Speakership of the Legislative Council. The hobnailed boots and the stock-whip are now discarded. There are three Thomsons in the House of Representatives—all on the side of the late Continuous Ministry ; two Hutchisons, two Kellys, two Reeveses, and two Smiths— all on the Liberal side. The new Ministry formed by Mr Ballance is as follows : Hon. Mr Ballance, Premier, Treasurer, and Native Affairs; Hon. Mr Buckley, Colonial Secretary and Attorney-General (conducting: the business in the Legislative Council) ; Mr John MoKenzie, Agriculture and Lands ; Mr Seddon, Mines and Public Works ; Mr W. P. Reeves, Justice and Education ; Mr Ward, Minister without portfolio and without salary. There is still one member to be chosen. Shera has been doing yeoman service. He is indefatigable in working up support for the Old Grey Cause. He has interviewed the Governor and hinted pretty broadly to that gilded figure-head that if the L. C. appointments were conformed a direcb vote of censure would be passed upon him and perhaps even he might be told to pack up his lordly carpet bag and go. His Majesty answered by snubbing the deputation. And this is what we pay .£7,500 a year for.