WELLINGTON JOTTINGS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4162, 12 July 1892, Page 2

WELLINGTON JOTTINGS.

(By Our Om Oorrespondmt).

Wellington, Monday. The Wellington Racing Club's Steeplechase Meeting at the Hutt on Saturday was a most pronounced Buccess, in spite of the heavy downpour of rain that took place on Friday night. The rain had the effect of making the running very heavy, and in consequence the time in most of the events was poor, Thiß was, however, amply compensated for by the large fields, excellent racing, and interesting finishes. The most exciting finish was in the Wellington Steeplechase Handicap, when Ingo« rangi just wrested the race from Caloola by a short length, The favorite, Whalebone, had the race well in hand, but nearing the last jump on the far side of the course he Bwerved and ran off, and wheu finally put over his jump hehad lost too muoh ground to place him in the running. Nearly all the dividends were good, and Raven in the Trial Steeplechase Handicap paid investors the handsome return of £Bl. His Excellency the Governor, Lady Glasgow and suite were present, and appeared to take a keen interest in the various events. The Vice-Regal party were received by MrJohnDutbie, M.H.R., Vice-President of the Racing Club, in the absence of Mr H, D. Bell, PresU dent, who was unable to attend owing to the recent lamented death of Lady Bell.. The grand stand was very prettily decorated with evergreens, ferns, and flags, and in front of the Governor's box was draped a large flag bearing the Lion rampant ofSootland. The lawn and paddockhave been considerably improved lately by the addition of flower beds and pot plants. Unfortunately the paddock was a perfect " slough of despond," owing to the wet weather, but many of the ladies braved the mud and water to view the horses. Jenkins' band added much to the en* joymentof the day by playing appropriato selections on the lawn, Theattendance, especially in thestand and paddook, was large and fashionable; in fict, I have nev«r, even in the height of summer, seen the ladies appear in such numbers. MrT. G. Macarthy ably officiated as judge for Mr E, Peatce, also absent ■through family bereavement, I noticed many well-known Wairarapa faces amongst the crowd on the lawn and grand siand. The weather, though dull, was fine and mild during ihe day, and this of course added much to the comfort of the meeting,

Next Saturday the Hunt Club's Annual Meeting comes off, and aB the entries are large, given fine weather, good fields, and close finishes, another pleasant day ia in store. Many visitors are staying in town for the gailies of next Week and thu races, sol expeot to see an even more brilliant assemblage than on last Saturday,

L«dy Glasgow's first dance on Thursday night fulfilled to the utmost the pleasurable anticipations that had beenformed regarding it, and everyone was loud in their praises of the charming and cordial hospitality extended to all alike, The ballroom was never inconveniently crowded, and the delightful floor Rave an impetus to the dancing seldom seen in the Empire City. Dancing commenced at nine o'clock and concluded punctually at midnight, consequently everyone went home fresh and unwearied to wake up next morning with the recollection of having passed a most enjoyable evening, Cards are now out for another' small and early' on the2iat, and for an 'afternoon' on the 14th, so it will be seen that the new occupants of Government House are bent on carrying out to the best of their ability the sooial functions which devolve upon their high position, , '

Parliament, up to the present, has not performed anything very sensational in the way of legislation, there, fore the debate on the Electoral Bill:

which will most probably come down od Tuesday next, ehouldbo of an interesting character, particularly as. the much-vexed Female Franchise question will be thoroughly threshed out. Ministers are not anxious that the extension of the franolise to women, their protestations to the contrary notwithstanding, should form part ot the provisions of the Bill, so no doubt the voluble Mr Fish will unwittingly do them a friendly turn bystonewalliug the measure.

: Nearly all the Select Committees I have now been set up, and the various chairmen duly elected, so it is anticipated that a start will be made on Tuesday with the real business of the session. A large amount of work has accumulated, bo it is time that the Committees set.to, as the session is slowly but surely wearing on,

Will Sir George Grey go lo Austria as the New Zealand represen. tative at the Coloured Labour Conference? The Government baa been feverishly anxious to safely dispose of the veteran, and it has an uneasy feeling that after all the wily Knight of Kawau may not be so easily got rid of, more especially -as Sir George has considerably improved in health lately.

' The olection of the Hon, Mr Miller as Speaker of the Legislative Council came rather as a surprise, for it was not thought he would be in the running with the Hon. Mr Walker. The choice is, however, a very, good one, for Mr Miller is a man of polished manner and dignified bearing, with a very considerable kuowledge of Parliamentary procedure, He is.also personally popular in the Upper House.

The election of Mr Bruce to the Rangitikei seat is another proof positive of the ofc-repea'ed statement that the towns are for the Government and the country Btrongly opposed to it, Thia fact being so emphasised by the result of the last election, it is now thought here that nothing but desperation will induce the Government to nsk for a dissolution—a dissolution of Parliament would undoubtedly mean also a dissolution of the Ministry,

Apropos of the fact that a public meeting is to be held to-night to protest against MrLawry'B Bill for Compensation to Publicans, I recently had the pleasure of a long conversation with Mr H, Wilfrid Lawson, only 6on of Sir Wilfrid Lawson, Bart., M.P., the champion of the temperance cause in the Housoof Commons. Mr Lawson is billed to speak at to-night's meeting,.but as his views do not correspond with those of the promoters in the matter of withholding all compensation, it is quite on tbe cards that lie will not appear, Mr Lawson is not in favour of taking away licenses without compensation. He would givo tbe publican five years' grace, or, failing that, he says it is only right that compensation should be paid for loss of license, This extremely liberal view of the oase, if expressed at io< night's meeting, would cause somewhat of a shock to tbe worthy promoters.

Mr Lawson has.come to the Colony mainly on account of bis health, and be proposes to engage in farming should he acquire land to his fancy in the North Island. It is quite likely that Mr Lawson. may settle down in the vicinity of Masterton, as he comes up in the course of a day or so to look at some properties in your district. Mr Lawson remarked in the course of conversation that he was highly pleased with the Colony and with Wellington in particular. He was very much struck with the apparent prosperity of the city, and thought (as everyone must do) that there is a great future before it. With reference to the cabled information that Sir Wilfrid Lawson had been defeated for Cockermoutb, Mr Lawson snid that hie father was also standing for Penrith, so there is still a chance of his election. Mr Lawson is also vory favourably impressed with our politicians, and thinks that as a body our colonial House of Commons is in finitely superior in intelligence and statesmanship to the English House. Perhaps the old saying about a prophet having no honour in bis own country is true after all. . Kosmo's.