SESSIONAL GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2974, 27 August 1878, Page 2

SESSIONAL GOSSIP.

(FBOM OUB OWN COBBEBPONDENT.)

Wellington, August 23. I Atf you have' been kept pretty well posted on current erents by wire, there fs^ not much left/^to dilate upon in a letter. This is said to be a rery dull session— perhaps owing to the fact of the large majority the' Government can claim deterring the Opposition from rallying their strength. There has not yet been a question debated on which the Government could not ensure a victory, and the trial of strength is not yet. The Government will, I am told, ask for authority i to continue ' the Auckland and Mercer railway—the terminus of which has been fixed at Te Awamutu—through to Taranaki by way of the King Country and the West Coast, and will be prepared to make this item of their, policy a > Ministerial question. North Island members are generally favorable to the proposal, and it will greatly benefit the Thames if you get your branch to Hamilton. ' l

It ia considered that the Thames Harbor Board were rather premature in taking over the foreshore, as an endowment, as they might possibly hav.e got a grant of land and a money grant. Several members (your own amongst them, .of course) are favorable to the latter now, and it is, just on the cards that a sum of money may l)e got out .of some unexpended rote for kindred purposes. It is worth ( an effort, at any rate. j Mr Sowe got great kudos for his speech against the Gold Duty Abolition Bill and* the motion by which it was thrown out. The Ministry Wouldn't face the responsibility of abolishing the duty, because .they didn't see their way to giving a quid pro quo to local ' bodies, 1 so the question ia shelved for one session at least.' Mr Rowe is working in harmony with Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan, and I believe the Thames,will reap some.sub-, stantial benefits, from this sesson; the County.Chairman keeping .his portion of the district's requirements, ever before the Ministers*, .without .wearying them'with importunities. .. • , The Upper House member business is in statuyw.v, So many names have been suggested that Ministers are fairly, in a quandary'; and there is, this '.objection against one, and that against another, that if there should be no selection made, at all this session I would not be surprised. I am not at liberty to mention the objections that hare been urged against Rome aspirants for the Housejof "Lords," nor relate in detail the consummate impudence displayed by one in suggesting himself as the most fitting.by " birthand education " for the coveted elevation; but this I; may say, and, Ido so,on very good authority, that' if Mr J. E. Macdonald could spare thsLtime, and was not; about to'leave lyonr; district, I believe he would have jbetn;selected for the distinction.' " j The inconvenience resulting fronj, the use of the names " Shortlaud," ",GrahamstowniV, "Kar«H" >Ta#aWi &c, in their application to different portions of the Borough of^fiaiaes, has been brcfught under the notice of the Government^ who are disposed to assist the inhabitants in removing, the difficulty if desired to 1 ' do' so' in J'a 1 ' public % mabner. The matter has been discussed,! and, i" Thames" is regarded as too' conflicting: .for a general name, How would " Hauraki," the native name, do P You might, sound' public feeling on the mattery and' urge the change, as it is really more' important than some may think on first consideration. The congratulatory' telegram from "Grahamstown" has 1 been characterised as one from "an obscure town, in the North," whereas, it was (from the fifth or sixth largest borough in the Colony, and really set the example tj> the big cities. ■