JOTTINGS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4132, 7 June 1892, Page 2

JOTTINGS.

;B? OCR WELLINGTON CoEEEaDNx DENT.)

Wellington, Saturday. It is freely rumoured here that the Government will bring down a Protection Polioy duriug the aesaion, and that the changes incidental thereto will be of a startling character. Duty is to be taken off tea and possibly sugar, but woollen goods and luxuries are to be heavily taxed. Upon the question of Protection the Govern* ment will declare themselves with no uncertain sound, and some ourious and surprising developments may be looked'for.

: The Government have deliberately contravened the Public Revenues Act, 1891, olaus'e 69, by not having published in the Uazette the Bevenue Returns for the last quarter, aud for a'uoh an unjustifiable and illegal proceeding they will be immediately called upon to account when the House meets. Of course the motive is plain: The Colonial Treasurer wishes to make a grand coup with his £165,000 surplus, and by its potent influence gild the pill which Parliament will be asked to swallow in the shape of their Protection and other financial proposals, to say nothing of the Electoral Act and the Land Bill which was so ruthlessly slaughtered by the 1 Lords' last session,

It is persistently stated that an immediate dissolution will be asked for when the House meets, but competent authorities declare there can be no foundation for the report, and yet the statement meets me at every turn,' and everyone who says he is in the " know" avers it is perfectly true. Everything, of course, depends upon the Upper House appointments, but surely the Government will not have the indecency to force Lord Glasgow's decision before the House meets I

Sir F. A. Buckley, it is stated, goes Home at the close of the present session to contest a seat in Ireland Tor tbe House of Commons in the Home Rule interest. What truth there may be in the report I don't kiiow, but I give it (or what, it is worth. One thing, however, is true, and that is that Sir Patrick is going to the Old Country without doubt. Whether the fact of Sir Patrick having accepted a title, at the hands of the accursed Saxon, will mar his chances of success as a candidate for Parliamentary honours in Ireland remains to be seen, I havo heard some ultra-extreme Howe-rulers say that the man who would accept rewards or distinctions at the hands of the Saxon is no true friend of " Ould Ireland."

On dit that the dissatisfaction amongst the members of tbe Ministry at the leadership of Mr fiallance is becoming every day more and more emphasised, and that sooner or later this bubble of discontent must burst and tho result will be a readjustment of portfolios with a change of personnel as regards one of the members of ohe.Cabinet at least;

The Government have hit upon the novel idea (so far as Colonial finance has' hitherto been of 1 buying, up large areas of Native Lands by the process vulgarly known as " Kiteflying." Thai ia to say, tbe land is being paid for by deficiency bdls, or debentures, maturing at fixed dates. By this mentis the debt of the Colony is being increased, the deluded Maori parts with his birthright, nnd the pakeba gets the land,—" Advance New Zealand " I

The weather is not at present very promising for the Governor's arrival on Monday. Onr usuhl howling Saturday "Southerly buster" isiu fullswing, and unless the weather lifts by tonight it will ba a bad look-out for Monday. To make tlao acqnaintHnce of Wellington on a " Southerly busier "day would not fend to convey a favourable impression of the Empire City. First impressions are always lasting, too. Great preparations are being made for the reception, and given fine weather everything ought to be a success, Most of the shops on Lambton Quay will decorate I their premises, and Sags will be , stretched aovoasall the streets through which the Governor will pass, at Bbort intervals. Several triumphnl arolies are, by the liberality of the townspeople, to be erected, One especially fine one will span the road from Dr Gillon's corner to the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, in Willis-street. With two men-of-war in harbour, the permanent, artillery, volunteers, friendly sooieties, trade unions, bands, and various other bodies, there should be an imposing display,

The Montague-Turner Opera Company are drawing large audiences nightly, and each performance tends more and more to establish their reputationas first rate artistes. "Martha," which wjs performed on Wednesday and Thursday, was admirably produced, and served to introduce a debutante in the person of Miss Maud Litta, to the Wellington public, Miss Litta, although a little nervous, sing with pleasing taste and expression the music allotted to the part of Martha, and her voice, though somewhat undeveloped at present, gives l promise of much future excellence. Mr'Turner'ssinging of the'beautiful' aria" M'Appari," and Miss Litta's " Last Rose of Summer, ! ' were amongst the most successful numbers. " liuorezia' Borgja " was staged,< Jast night (Friday) with Miss Montague intl)e title role. A. finer representation of the pt of Lqcrezia Borgia, both as regards singing and''acting, has not been seen or heard in this Colony, and the performance was a revelation to us as.sbowing what great efforts Miss Montague is really capable of. Mr Farley and Miss Lambert were in good voice, but Mt Turner was evidently suffering from the prevailing epidemic of colds, and did not shine to his usual advantage, The most successful items were !" How Handsome He is" (Miss Montague), "'Twas in a Lowly Fishers Hut" (Mr Turner), " Vengeance and Swift Destruction" (Mr Farley), and "The Secret- of Happiness," better known as "Jl Begroto," by Miss Lambert, Mo'htagjie'was waj-jnly recejvea by tlie( ahdience- upon 'jier entry; nfl' dojibt 'ln'syi)jpat|y'' wjtfi I her late indisposition ana disapprobation of its caijse. The " Bohemjan Girl" is announced for to-night apd Monday," II Troyatore" for Tuesday, and as no doubt ; many• poijntry people will be in to <n towitnesj Ih arrival of the Governor, they cannot better- wind up the day than by proceeding to the Oper>. House to hpir this most ddigb.ful cf Eugliali opens. Konios,