Wednesday.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 18, 22 August 1884, Page 13

Wednesday.

Mr. T. Bracken, while en route for Wellington, accepted an offer at Christchurch to make a tour of the West Coast for the purpose of writing a series of articles descriptive of the scenery of that part of the Colony. He has started overland for Hokitika, and will visit the principal places of interest on the coast before settling down in Wellington. Gisborne was lit with gas on Monday night for the first time. The directors of the Gas Company entertained about 40 leading citizens of the town. The New Zealand Times has an article on the political situation, in which it says :— " Are we now to be told that in such an excellent Assembly the absurd Stout- Vogel combination is the only one wkich can be.found unless recourse be had to the defeated Atkinson MinistryIt is admitted that Sir Julius Vogel made a huge blander when he placed himself f n the bands of Mr. Stout. Where, then, toe the men with whom he should have associated, and ought be not in kindness to be turned off the Treasury Benches now in order to afford him an opportunity of regaining his position in better company. That is one view of the case, and as far as Sir Julius Vogel is concerned it is worth consideration. He is quite willing to save the country either as the colleague of Mr. Stout or anyone else who appears likely toibe able to command the necessary amount of support. But putting Sir Julius out of the question altogether, are there no other possible combinations? We feel sure there is some misapprehension with regard to the attitude of the Atkinson party just at present. > It has been assumed that from their camp will come the attack on the StoutVogel Ministry, and that the battle will .be declared in the firm expectation that in case of victory the leader of the party will find himself again in a position to form a Government. We do not think that Major Atkinson will either move or instigate a vote of want-of-confidence. We write without any special knowladgo on the point, but our strong impression is that the late Premier will wait the course of events. But it would be too much, to expect him and his followers to refrain from voting against the present Ministry if a vote of want-of-confidence were seriously moved. Again, we do not believe that Major Atkinson is at all anxious to force himself into office at the present juncture. Doubtless he shares the general opinion that the Vogel-Stout Ministry can effect no good for the country, but we are not at all sure that he would be hostile to every arrangement in which he himself was not asked to take part. But, whatever may be the wishes or the intentions of the late Premier, we do not hesitate to say that in our opinion the House will act wisely in questioning the position of the present Ministry at an early date, except in the very improbable event of the v ice-regal Bpeech being of so eminently satisfactory a character as to tbiow doubt) on the justice of the verdict which the country has already pronounced in no uncertain toneß." A fatal accident has occurred at the Petane railway workshops. A young man named Albert James was engaged fixing a driving belt on to a pulley, when he slipped and fell on the pulley, which threw him on to the sawmill bench, head first, a distance of 10ft. He was at once taken to Wellington by a special train, but died just before reaching the hospital. He had only recently arrived from England. The House of Representatives met at 2 p.m. yesterday. Members were summoned to the Legislative Assembly, where the Governor's Address was delivered. On re-assembling Mr. Shrimski gave notice that he would introduce a bill to amend the Licensing Act ; Sir Georgs Grey, to introduce a bill for abolishing plurality of voting in the election of members for the House of Representatives ; Mr. Barron, to introduce a bill to extend the hours for polling at elections for members of the House of Representatives. Mr. M. J. tS. Mackenzie (of Mount Ida) gave notice that he would move an address-in-roply to the Governor's speech. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel (who was allowed to retain his seat while speaking, and was heard indistinctly) said the step the late Government had taken in not resigning till the House met after the general election was a very wise one, as it would have been difficult to have formed an Administration unless a large number of members were present in Wellington. Therefore, the course that had been pursued was a proper one. The Speech brought down from the Throne comprehended the policy of the Government ; therefore it was not necessary for him to speak at any length on that point, but he would leave the policy to be gathered from the Speech, which spoke for itself. On Saturday week His Excellency had commissioned him to form an Administration, and on the following Saturday they were sworn in and were approved by His Excellency, It was unnecessary for him to add more than that his health would not permit of his taking the Premiership ; but had he been inclined to take that position, it would have resulted in considerable dtlay, as it would necessarily take up much of the time which Bhould be devoted to the preparation of the Financial Statement, It was not necessary for him to go further into that question, On all points of practical politics he and his colleagues were agreed. The best proof of that was to be found in the fact that although they were only sworn in on Saturday, they had been able to bring down the Speech from the Throne and transact business on the Tuesday following. The Premier then moved that the House adjourn till to-day at 2.30 p.m. The House rose at 2.50 p.m. Alexander Low, a passeuger by the Botomahana to Dunedin from Auckland, where he had been staying for the benefit of his healtb, died of consumption while the steamer was at the Lyttelton wharf yesterday. The ships had their flags at luif-mast. The body will betaktn on to Dunedin. A fatal accident occurred yesterday at the Tauranga wharf. William Kinwin, a carter, who fell down the hatchway of the steamer Wellington, was picked up insensible, and died shortly afterwards. At the meeting of the Wellington City Council it was resolved that the Mayor convene a meeting of the burgesses of the city, and take a poll as to the advisability or otherwise of raising a special loan of £75,000 for the construction of Te Aro reclamation.