Our Wellington Letter

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 27, 17 August 1889, Page 3

Our Wellington Letter

(fbom otjr owh correspondent.) Wellington, August 15. Since writing last week, the Ward-His-lop business has been disposed of, so far as the House of Representatives is concerned, by the Government making the question a no-confidence one, which resulted in the Ministry just saving their necks by a narrow niaj ority . That clearly showed the feeling of the House on the subject, but the Ministerial vessel is no sooner out of one storm than it is into another, and the session which bade fair at the commencement to be a model one is now promising to leave behind it as black a name as its predecessors. The amendment which Mr Moss, has moved, re abolishing the Property Tax, ia not being discussed as a no-confidence -one though the Premier in his speech hinted very strongly at dissolution should the Govern- : ment be defeated. This is a favorite " bogey" of Sir Harry's, and there is no doubt it acts well. The Premier said, in referring to the non-completion of the Eketahuna-Woodville line that it was not intended to complete it at present as it "would seriously affect the Manawatu Railway Company and that the Government would be acting in a very bad spirit if they did anything to put ths damper upon gentlemen who had undertaken so great a colonial work. Mr Ballance has been chaffed unmercifully for allowing Mr Moss to assume the leadership of the Opposition on the question now before the House. A fact that was brought to light a few days ago by the alterations to the Queen's wharf, will be very welcome news to many of your readers. A totara pile, which was driven 30 years ago, was found, on heing taken out, to be almost as sound as the day it was put into position. The only signs of decay being on that part which was affected by the rise and fall of the tide. It would be unnecessary to look further for a proof of the lasting qualities of this, one of our native woods. Mr Parker, the organist of St. Paul's Cathedral, who is looked upon as the leader of the creme rfc la creme of our mußical society, has aroused quite a storm of indignation by his action last Saturday evening in refusing to allow a young lady vocalist (Miss Grady), who was singing for him, to respond to a most enthusiastic and imperative encore. After some ten minutes had elapsed during which time the Theatre Royal seemed to be turned into a perfect Bedlam, Mr Parker rose and said he intended to follow the lead of the best musical societies in England and put down the encore nuisance. The audience, however, were not content with this explanation, and continued their applause, and it was not until Mr Parker threatened to bring the concert to a close that order was restored. It is almost unnecessary to add that the conductor has fallen in for a lot of honest criticism. One writer averring that Mr Parker gives himself more " airs" than he can play. Mr Jellicoe, on behalf of Mrs Chemis, is advertising to-night a reward of ±'100 for evidence that will lead to the conviction of the real murderer of Thomas Hawkings. This is very suggestive.