POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 315, 16 July 1898, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(BYTKLECiUAI'II - SPKCIALCOBKESPONDENT) Wellington, Last Sight. GOVERNMENT CAUCUS. A caucus of tin' Government party was held this morning, when, according to the otlicial account furnished to the Press, there were 41 present and accounted for. After a long discussion with members, the Premier stated that the committal of the Banking Bill would take place on Tuesday evening, as he desired to get that Bill, with a few other important measures, such as the Old Age Pensions Bill, passed by the House, so that they might occupy the attention of the LegislatiVe Council during the financial debate. The Financial Statement, lie announced, would not be brought down next week, lie was pleased to see there was such au unanimous expression of opinion amongst the party in regard to those measures, and that the work of the session was going on so satisfactorily. THE WELLINGTON ELECTION. Mr Taylor last night brought an unpleasant" reminder of the Wellington election before the Premier in the following terms: "I think I heard the Premier mention the name of Checketts. I was going to ask him if his memory is good enough to remember the names of the persons he was in company with two days before the Duthie election here. If he could remember the nan.es of the gentlemen he was with in certain bars in We'liugtou." The Chairman of Committees : '"Order, that is going away from the question." Mr Seddon retorted that the worst company he was in during the whole course of the Wellington election was the company of the lion, pentlemau (Mr Taylor). AN AMUSING SLIP. " I have known Colonel Stapp from his boyhood," said Mr Symes to-day, amidst incredulous cries of " Oh, oh," from the members. Mr Symes at once perceived his mistake and substituted " From my boyhood." When it is considered that the member for Egmont is probably about thirty years younger than Colonel Stapp, the merriment crsated by Mr Symes' remarks can readily be understood. SIR DILLON BELL'S HEATH. The Premier and the Minister for Lands to-day spoke in most feeling terms of the great services rendered to the colony by the late Sir Francis Dillon Bell. Capt. Russell, Mr Rolleston and Mr J W. Thompson also paid eloquent tributes to the memory of the departed Statesman. The Post to-night,in concluding a sketch of Sir Dillon's distinguished career, remarks : " It was thought by many colonists that after the return of Sir Francis from England some special mark of recognition of his great services to the colony would have been extended to him, but during the past six years party politics in New Zealand have been too keen to allow this recognition. All but extreme party men will agree that Sir Francis Dillon Bell should have died a member of the Legislative Council of his adopted country, which he served so long and so well. When the incidents of his life come to be written in detail, it will he found that no public man has done so much as he for the colony.