Wellington Gossip.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2088, 13 September 1875, Page 2

Wellington Gossip.

X [By Telegram.]

(fkom oue special cobbespondestt.)

!};;,- WELLINGTON. \; ; - {Saturday. „- r/ - The Situation. The upshot of the Caucus meeting to-day may be shortly stated. The Government party rejected the Opposition proposals es framed, but not the principle of them. The Government party have put themselves in the hands of Ministers, wjjo will conduct the ultimate negociations. The Opposition have put themselves in the hands of. Sir George Grey, Messrs Fitzherbert, Macandrew and Eolleston. There is no doubt ah agreement will be come to by Monday night, to the effect that Abolition will become law unless within thirty days after the meeting of the new parliament addresses against it should be presented by both ; Houses;

The following are the proposals of the Opposition:—" The Governor not to consent to the passing of the bill except on the following terms: Admitting thafc the principle of abolition has been affirmed by the House of Representatives, the bill is to be proceeded with in a fair spirit of discussion, as as to v render it as perfect a measureas possible;; provided that a clause shall be inserted providing that the Act shall only come into operation on a resolution to that effect being passed by both Houses of the Legislature in the next session of the new Parliament. It is also agreed that such arrangements shall be made as shall satisfy the Colonial Government that no undue" advantage will be taken of the position^ in the meantime by the Provin-cial-Ltfgislatures." The following are the counter proposals of the Government:—" 1. That the Abolition Bill be passed this session with a provision that it should only take effect on a day to be named by proclamation of the Governor, but that no such proclamation shaU issue should a resolution of either House of the Legislature -to the contrary be introduced within one month after the. meeting of the next Parliament, and passed before the close of the session. 2. That the provincial administration shall continue until the Act is so proclaimed ; that the appropriation for departmental purposes shall be continued by the Assembly at the present rates; that public works already authorised by Provincial Councils shall be undertaken, but that no Provincial Council shall meet again unless the Act lapse." * The Post to-night publishes in the Opposition interest an account of the Government Caucus, in which there is a hundred weight of fiction and not half a grain of fact. The' Times this morning published a leader advising the exact course which has been followed.

(fbom another coebespokdent.)