Political Notes.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5701, 19 August 1886, Page 4

Political Notes.

[By Telegraph.] [from our own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, August 18. \ PROROGATION. The prorogation to-day was a dismal affair. Both Chambers met at 4.30 p.m. to do a little " washing up " before the Commißßion was read. In the Lower House a few unimportant questions were asked. The Northern Cassandra moved an unopposed motion for a return respecting the ' expen diture on harbour defences and Native lands, and then Mr Macandrew moved his 1 series of resolutions on the unemployed quesk tion. There was only fifteen minutes left to ' dispose of a question which might fairly be expected to occupy two or three days. The " Premier, of course, was not going to permit 1 the motion to be put without Baying some- ' thing on it, and the result was that he was ' speaking at 5 p.m. when an ominous tap was heard at the main door, and the Ser-geant-at-Arms announced a messenger with a message from the Commissioners, summon- ■ ing the House to attend in the Legislative Council Chamber and hear the Commission read. Of coarse, this pat aa end to the debate, and the Speaker, Ministers, and some twenty members, headed by the Ser-feant-at-Arms (the best looking and best ressed man of the lot), trooped out of the Chamber to see the curtain drop upon the political drama. There were not many , lords present in " the other place" — just a quorum, and they looked somewhat sad and dejected. The Hona W. H. Reynolds, P. Buckley and W. D. H. Baillie were the Commissioners, and as soon as the Ctark , had read the Commission Captain Baillie read the formal declaration of prorogation till December next, and the members . bustled away glad that the end had come. The weather at the opening was wet and dismal; it was equally wet, and, if anything, more dismal at the closing. On May . 13 the House assembled full of vigour ; on Augu9t 18 the few legislators left in the Empire City looked washed out and de- , pressed. The Penguin this afternoon took the balance of southern representatives on their 1 way to their firesides, which have missed them so long, and at 7.30 this evening the ! Hinemoa steamed towards the Heads with | a lull complement of Northern members,, bound for Taranaki and Auckland. As I write, in the Press room, silence reigns

around. " The lofafcies are deserted and ' ploomy. The Wellington .members have j fled from the buildings as from some I horrible spectre, and not even the measured tread of the Armed Constabulary man is |to be heard in the vestibules. At this I present moment I apparently am the solitary living occupant of the public portion of the Parliamentary Buildings, and after 14 weeks of drudgery, there is not much life left even in me.