WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5777, 22 January 1897, Page 1

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

[From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Jan. 21. THE PREMIER. The Premier intends leaving Wellington to-morrow for** Lyttelton en route to Hobart via tKe Bluff. From Lyttelton he will proceed by train to the Bluff, where he will embark on the Manapouri. In all probability Mr Seddon will be absent at least one month from the colony. During Mr Seddon's absence it is understood that the Hon J. M'Kenzie will be ActingPremier. i THE OPPOSITION LEADERSHIP. j A friend of mine who was present |at the "social" given to the ?Hon T. W. Hislop on Wednesday evening tells me that, from the tenor of some remarks made by Captain Russell, he (my friend) has gathered that it is not intended by the Opposition to make any alteration as to the leadership of the party, which, as heretofore, will rest with Captain Russell. My friend has heard that this is the result of a conference between the leader of the Opposition and the member for Riccarton, who, till recently, was leader-elect. So impressed was the latter gentleman with Captain Russell's prowess as a leader that he absolutely would not hear any proposal to accept that proudly pre-eminent position himself. So at least the gossips say, but as they are proverbially unreliable, I, myself, do not attach much importance to their statements. There are the subtler gossips who hint at possible dissensions, a split in the party, and so on, but these are even less reliable tban the class already alluded to. . THE HINEMOA. . When questioned as to the confidential service upon which the Hinemoa is to be engaged, Ministers and officials alike give an evasive answer, and consequently there are to be met numerous other people who knowall about the matter, and are not so. reticent. One romancer has ah idea that the Hinemoa's captain, when he opens his sealed orders, will find that he is to proceed to Samoa, or some other South Sea Island, and annex it, while another equally imaginative personage has an idea that the Government has got private information as to the whereabouts of Butler, the Glenbrook murderer, and has been commissioned by the New South Wales Government to apprehend him. Most sano peoplo hold to the idea that the Hinemoa's commission is npt altogether unconnected with the suppression of smuggling. THE STATE FARM. Next week the Hon J. M'Kenzie, accompanied by Mr J. Mackay, chief clerk of the Labour Department, and Mr Ritchie, Secretary of Agriculture, intends visiting the State farm at Levin in order to finally decide matters in connection with its disposal.