Parliamentary Notes.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 345, 21 June 1894, Page 2

Parliamentary Notes.

[from a correspondent.] The alterations in the grounds of the House of Representatives are indeed weird and wild. All the picturesque trees have vanished, the main entrance being now in Sydney street. The House, not pleasing to the public eye at anytime, now stands back blank and bare, while in front is a sort of children's playground, with an electric lamp in the centre. The whole place looks bare, blank, and dismal. There are also many alterations in the interior of the building, part of the library being taken up to make a snuggery for the Minister of Education, and some of the committee rooms also being luxuriously furnished for the Ministers. The reporters' gallery, of course, remains as it is, with the exception of hot air which can be turned on and oft' at pleasure. The ladies' gallery is slightly enlarged. The small Speaker's gallery on the right is now done away with, and merged into the public gallery. The Speaker's gallery on the left is greatly enlarged, running down to the ladies' department. Everyone here is arming for the fray, and I expect the sparks to fly ere long. Most of the reporters are down, and the town has a more busy aspect. How the session will end none can foretell. Nous verrons. It is understood, with regard to the Colonial Treasurer's reference to the abolition of the priuciple of franking letters and telegrams, that a system of departmental stamping is to be introduced ; but as yet the officers of the Stamp Department know nothing of the alteration referred to. There will be only iwo Government Whips this session. There were three last year, but the system did not work very well. Mr C. H. Mills, who arrived in Wellington yesterday morning, is to be one of the Whips. The appointment of the other has not yet been settled, but the choice is likely to fall upon Mr Lawry. The House will not sit on Friday night. The usual formal business will be transacted after tho Governor's speecli, and an adjournment until Tuesday will follow. The Address-in-Reply is to be moved at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday.