JOTTINGS FROM WELLINGTON

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4363, 8 March 1893, Page 2

JOTTINGS FROM WELLINGTON

(By-Our Own Correspondent). . WeLlinoios, Tuesday. Ministers are still stumping thfl country, roaming far and wide like wandering Jews, instead of staying in Wellington and attending to Departmental business, whioh is, in quence, getting; very much behind, The peregrinating proclivities'of the Government are really marvellous; they are never easy for a moment during an enforced stay in town; no sooner have they arrived at the seat of Government than they are irresistably impelled to move on somewhere else. Naturally enough, all these jouruejings to and fro are excessively irritating to those who have publio business to perform which requires the personal attention of Ministers, Still, of course, the holy cause must ever be freshened up by the exhortations of its prophets, and publio business must go bang |ftj meantime; hence, Ministers to wander.

Every trivial exouse is eagerly seized upon for a jaunt. For instance, Mr Seddon must pay a flying visit to Nelson to personally see how many chimneys in the Government Building over there were damaged by the earthquake, and to gife instructions for their restoration. Then other ministers are suddenly seized with the inspiration that it is their heaven born mission to go and pick out a Bite for a schooMiouseor post office somewhere. The Minister for Lands filled with holy zeal for his grand idea of " bursting up" the big estates is now having a very good time amongjha, ''social pests" in Marlboroush.'PiP of the aforesaid " social pests "woura be truly delighted if Mr McKenzio would take it into his head to "burst up" tbeir estates, for if he doesn't do so the rabbits will perform the opera* tion most-effectually in a very few years,judging from the numbers that now infest nearly all of the large runs in Marlborough andNorthCanterbury.

Mr Suddon is very shortly going to pay that long'threatened visit of his to Melbourne, on urgent private nff&irß, so " the man in the street" says. The same individual also, remarks parenthetically that possibly tlio worthy fiiohard had an eyoto futuro possibilities when ho waa so attentive to the Governor of Victoria during his recent visit to Wellington. To be "well in" atToorak would ba very pleasant while visiting" marvellous Melbourne." Oh ye gods, so i much for Demooracy I Now m hear also that Mr Ward requires a ohange, consequently he is to attend the Postal Conference in Brisbane during the month. Pi-risb the thought that owing to the recent calamity there is a groat scarcity of grain and flour in Brisbane, hence the necessity for attending the Postal Conlerence and so killing two birds with one stone. Anyhow the Ministerial travelling bill will he interesting and instruotivo roading should any enterprising meSuer take it into his head to call for a return next session. The return.if furnished, will certainly break the record.

With a great flourish oftrumpetson the part of the New Zealand Times, who kindly devoted ut column to recording an interview with him, that "eminent scientist and able official," and let us also add: astute man of business-Sir Walter Buller—has left to take up his duties as a Governor of the Imperial Institute in London, Sir Walter liab been very busv lately washing up sundry little Native land transactions and other matters preparatory to»longlhenod absence from tho Colony, in all of whicb, lucky man, he has come off with flying colours, Others are not so fortunate in their dealings with the wily Natives as tho records of the Court will show. Now that the Pall Mall Gazette and the New Zealand Times have made out Sir Walter's family to bo "among the oldest and most influential in the West of England " (a fact, by the way, that would have muoh surprised Sir Walter's old father, the Wesleyan parson, who was a most unpretentious and worthy old soul), thore is every probability that the eminent scientist may return covered with more titular honours. Who knows; a baronetcy or a peerage may be in prospect for this devotcdadhorent to the cause of Imperial unity, Under the immediate eye of H.R.H. at the board table of the: institute anything is probable.

The cold wintry weather prevailed lately seems to have aroused the various football clubs to a stats of activity and, nearly all Lave now held their annual meoting and made arrangements for the forthcoming football season, It was only the other day that a football matoh was played on the Newtown ground. Fanoy fook ball in early autumn, but this is a sign how unseasonable the weather has been this year. The hearts of footballers are glad that the City Council has decided to do something towards placing Newtown Park in decent order, that is, so far as the state of the ground is concerned. What are next wanted very badly are dress* sing rooms and some sort of a shelter for the public. It is wonderful to note how Wellington has gone to the top of the tree in matters during the last aoquatics we can morPHm hold our own with the rest of the Colony, whilst in orickct we ara.ahead, owing to our victory over the Otago team, whioh beat Auckland and Christchuroh; foot. ball has always been our gamo par excellence, and our runnersand jumpers can alwajß give a good account of themselves. In tbo ancient game of bowls our representatives are doughty warriors, while in shooting circles we possess the champion rifje shot of the Colony,

All this is dopp, too, in tho face of many disadvantages, for our recrea« tion grounds are few and far between, and it will bo a matter of no little difficulty and ingenuity to provide the oity with any more (l lungs," whero the youth of Wellington may disport Itself. For all practical purposes the city possesses but two open spaces upon' which games of any description can be decently pl&j, the Basin Reserve and the Ne JBfl Park. The former is far tnntHß

and is only suitable for cricket, ffilSQ tho latter is too far away and is lordly suitable even (or [be fqotha|l rpatghea Which are played'there,' True th>p are the suburbs of Petone, theHutt and Karori in which rooreation grounds" oould be made, but to the great bulk of the people they would ; be almost useless on acoount of the distances to be travelled. The only available spaces inclose proximity to the city are the Botanical Gardens and tho Wellington and Manawatu Com., pany's ground at Thorndon, Action should be taken at once to secure the latter, for as Wellington iB likely to become a groat oity before many years havo passed it is of the bi^liost

importance that play-grounds for the rising generation should be provided. Hemmed in as wo are by naturo wilh sleep hills, tbe question of obtaining open spaocs for recreative purposes becomes moro and more difficult every year as building progresses.

It is now announced that moreßichmonds are likoly to be in the field for seats in the persons of Messrs D. P, Fisher and T. Dwan, senr. Mr D. P. Fisher tbe woll known trades and labour Council champion, is a brother of the"peoplo's George," and is regarded by the labor party hero as the man who should have been selected for the Council in the place of Mr John Rigg. Mr Dwiin has wooed tho suffrages of tho electors "many a time and oft" before, but alas in vain. I hear that owing to business ongagements it is quite on the cards that Mr J. Duthio will not seek re-election, but it is nut believed his party will allow him to retire without n great struggle, Confirming my week I have every authority restating that Mr George Fisher will not contest tho Hutt seat. With reference to Iho Chiistchnrch Mats'it is believed that the Government will easily win all three. They ure however utterly bewildered by the number of their followers who are anxious to be ono of the chosen three. The party is very much divided, and rumour hath it that they would very much like to throw overboard the Hon. W. P. Reeves, but ho is too ■ , firmly seated in the saddle to bo easily upset. Th' main difficulty, however, lies with Mr "Sydenham" Taylor whom his colleagues aro anxious to shunt and whose personal following is Btnall and certainly not select, Mr Taylor is, however, determined to to the bitter end despite the ' F " mr stand that will he made against him by the Prohibitionists under the Rev. Mr Isitt's banner. There aro renewed rumours about Sir Robert Stout's determination to reenter politics and his keen desire to be en evidence is proof that there is a good deal in it. In the event of Mr Balance's non-re-tirement,Mini3ters would not welcome Sir Robert's return to Parliament, as they lidvo no desire to re-adjust portfolios to make room for him. sir Eoberl would not be a faithful follower and Ministers aro much perplexed at the knotty question, how they are to keep quiet this new poliical white elephant, It may be taken for granted if he does stand that Sir Robert Stout is sale for a Dunedin seat probably excluding Mr W.Hutchison.

News has bsen received here by Mr Scobie Mackenzie's friends that he has definitely decided to oppose the Min» ister for Lands. This Titanic contest will be ono of the most tremendous political battles on record in this Colony, for " John " has the prestige of a Minisfef and all tho wheedling powers of a Government at his back; and is, moreover, when roused, a most powerful speaker. " Scobie " is, however, such a redoubtable warrior that tho issuo will be uncertain to tho last moment, and all Now Zealand will . re-echo iftth the thunders of the contest. It may interest your readers to learn somothing of a reliablo nature about the Premior's health, It is quite true that, during the last fortnight, Mr Ballauco has made a slight rally under the masaago and hypnotic treatment to which ho is being subjected, and it is earnestly to be hoped that tho improvement will continue. The Premier will return to Wellington beforo tho end of the month, in spite of the protestations of friends and relatives, in order to arrange cer» tain financial matters which require attention at tho close of the financial year, the 81st instant, Mr Ballance, however,is in a very critical state, and it is moro than ever certain now that be will bo unable to take bis placo in Parliament next session. The Premier is attended by a magnetic healer and expert in tho massage treatment, who haa achieved some very wonder-1 fulcures in Wellington. This attendant is with him day and night and Mr Ballance is massaged frequently during the day and sent off into a hypnotic sleep at night. Considerable relief to the patient has resulted from this treatment, but the process is necessarily slow, and ono that requires complete freedom from all mental worry in order to bo effectual,

ft Nothing very much is stirring in HL town politically or socially, The week's B9 events comprise the Loan Exhibition MMt.Lt the new gallery of tbeN, Z, jffißfekiiy °f Fiee Arts, the great WWSWlitssociation'a annual social of which rfore anon, the reception at Government House on Wednesday evening to Lord and Lady Hopetoun, and Miss Fisher's and Mrsßahnson's concerts, two very high class expositions of music with the best available talent both vocally and instrumentally. Each concert waß attended by large fashionable and appreciative audiences. The Art Exhibition has proved such a success that it is to be continued this week. Many of the pictures oro really good, while on the other hand there are some that would nioro fittingly grace the walls of a drawing-room than those of an art exhibition. The idea of a loan exhibition was happy and should result in a substantial addition to the funds of the Academy, fcievcral pictures by tbnlate John Gully, lent by Hugh GuWHhfo»i»e in the artist's best BtylFawTare delightful expositions of New Zealand scenery. Tnero.are not many other examples of Now Zealand art, but a great many copies of European pictures of repute and one or two replicas of celebrated works, A distinct novelty was a olever otching on burnt kauri of a portrait of His Excellency tho Governor, tbo natural colours of the wood being worked in very artistically. Altogether the Exhibition is one that would well repay country visitors a trip to town.

The Liberal Association's annual social Was somewhat of a "frost," despite tboloDg and" attTttclive" programme of speeches, Bongs and dances arranged by tbe committee. Messrs Beeves and Seddon cut their remarks as short as they decently could, as they were in a hurry to be off to the "■• •• s Government House, to atteud a func- ' v different charaoter. YfJLLlAgatlier rough upon Demos, "~~ their littlo weaknesses, and one does not get a chance to hobnob with Duchesses, Countesses and Earls every day. It is all very grand fo; deßpißO title and ticheß, purple and fine linen and other accessories of rank in tbe abstract, but frail humanity, and more especially a New Zealand Liberal, has in the cockles of his heart a kindly feeling towards them in the concrete. The rest ' of the Ministry were conspicuous by their absence from the gathering. and after the illuptrious visitors had departed the social developed into an old fashioned " free and easy" whore every m \ybp paid to or lior nimble

shilling, irrespective of cast or colour, wore heartily welcome. As a political demonstration, it was not a success; but us an outing for frisky servant girls, attractive" etitohora" and factory hands, it was ut sourco of huge delight, 1 noticed several well-known Waivarapa faces amongst the giddy throng.