Wellington News.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 153, 10 June 1884, Page 2

Wellington News.

[from our own correspondent.] Wellington, June 10. Parliament did not meet yesterday, but today the great fight, if it comes off at all this season, will begin. Some people say that either Mr. Dargaville or Mr. Wakefield will at once move a vote of want of confidence, but an opinion is gaining ground that unless some special chance occurs of a sudden catch vote, the Opposition will not hasten on the decisive trial of strength, and perhaps not try issues this session for fear of failure. Major Atkinson was much better yesterday than since his illness. I believe he went out of doors. He suffers from cold, sleeplessness, and overwork. Mr. M. W. Green seconds the Address in Reply. The Ministry have not yet appointed a member of the Council to assist Mr. Oliver. Saw Wahanui yesterday morning at the Native Office. He has come in with nine Maoris, three of them women, to see the city and Parliamentary proceedings. He is a fine looking, stout, strong man, with nearly white hair. There are a great many Press men in Wellington — Twopenny, of the Otago Daily Times, Loughnan, of the Lyttelton Times, Berry, managing partner of the N. Z. Herald, besides several special reporters of last session. General society in the city is rather dull, there not being so many visitors as last year. The new evening paper, to be called the Evening Press, has not yet been published; it is said to be started by the proprietors of the Wairarapa Daily, with a capital of £4OO. Mr. Hutchinson, M.H.R., is the reputed editor, but he denies it. The opposition paper says, some say that Mr. George Fisher, Mayor of Wellington, has bought a plant in Melbourne, and is the proprietor. It is however very unlikely. Spiritualistic seances are a common fashionable amusement now in Wellington. At one held lately, Oliver Cromwell, Alfred the Great, Henry the Eighth and Horace, rapped out answers, but there were quite at variance with received histories. It is looked upon as good fun. The Normal School is about to be removed to near the cricket ground. Some say it will be abolished in common with all other Normal Schools of the Colony, on account of the expense, which was £2,000 a year each. It is generally thought that the education estimates will be largely reduced. It is quite possible that the report on the Northern Trunk Railway line will be laid on the table of the House to-morrow night. Auckland traders are generally in favor of the coast line ; Wellington, of the central line.

Walter Johnson is reported to be on bad terms with the Ministry, and has resigned his seat in the Council.