In the Public Eye.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume VIII, Issue 5, 1 August 1903, Page 323

In the Public Eye.

Hon. W. Walker, who has recently

when that gentleman resigned the portfolio of Education. He has sat on the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, and was also at one time a member of the Land Board of Canterbury.-

resigned the portHOU.W.WAIKEE f^ £ |. of B^tio^ and has been appointed Speaker to the Council, arrived in Canterbury in 1862, and devoted himself to sheep-farming. In 1884, he entered the House of Kepresentatives as member for Ashburton. On contesting the election again in 1890, lie was defeated. He was called to the Legislative Council in 1892, and succeeded the Hon. W. P. Reeves

Mr. Guinness who has been unani-

». A. B. GUINNESS. JJ OUB & 1 the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives, in

succession to Sir Maurice O'Rorke, is a very old member of the House, having represented the Grey electorate for many years. He has filled the position of Chairman of Committees with much distinction during several Parliaments, and in,.. .the absence of Sir Maurice, through illness on several occasions, showed that he possessed the qualities necessary in the presiding officer of the popular Chamber. He will have

no light task to live up to the traditions of the post, but it is admitted on all hands that no other member is so well fitted for it, both by training and natural ability.

The Hon. Seymour Thorne George Hod. s. thorne came to New Zeaueotige. land in 1864, and for a time resided at Kawau, ?nan-

aging the island estate for Sir George Grey. His political experience has been s6mewhat limited. In 1878 he was elected member for Hokitika, and at the next election he represented Kodney. Ab this time he acted as Liberal whip. Some years later he stood for Parnell bat was defeated. Recently he was again requested to stand, bat refused- He has, on two occasions, occupied the Parnell Mayoral Chair, and has always done all that lay in

his power to further mining and commercial enterprise, and the general welfare of the district in which he has resided.

The recent elevation of Mahufca Hon. MAHTITA Tawhiao Potatau tawhiao. Te Whereo Whereo to the Legislative Council and also to the Executive has been the subject of much discussion.

Mahuta is a man of considerable reserve, thei type of man, by no means uncommon among the Maoris, who would accept the position of King of England, if it came in his way without exhibiting, the slightest surprise, and certainly without being inordinately puffed up with pride. Taking it as a matter of course, he would commence to rule to the bestj of his ability, of

which, by the way, he has a very fair share. His claim to his present position has been the strenuous way which, with the help of his advisers, he fought for the formation of a Maori Council, and his evident deisire to elevate 'Ms race. Since his appointment he has taken the pledge, and been the means of persuading a large number of Ms followers to do the same.

The Hon. E. Mitchelson, the present Hon. Mayor of Auckland.

years, "Mr. Mitchelson has preferred devoting his attention to the development of the gum and timber trade in the North of Auckland, and few men have done more in this respect than the principal of the flourishing firm of E. Mitchelson and Co., which is a credit to the Northern City.

E. mitchelson. i s a man of considerable business acumen and administrative ability. He had many years parliamentary experience, was once Minister of Public Works, and Has also held the highly responsible office of Acting Premier. Of late