POLITICAL NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday Night.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2018, 13 June 1885, Page 2

POLITICAL NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday Night.

The Evening Post, whioh is edited hy Mi Wakcheld, M.H.R., has a strong aiticln to-night on tho Governor's Speech. Reforring to tho Native Lands Hill inontioued in tho speech, it says : "A Native Lind Hill is bi ought m ev'eiy Kessinn, or ne.uly so, did is always dropped i>r else it upsets tho Miiiistiy. As Mr Ballance happens not to ha\o the remotest acquaintance with tlic qncHtiim of native land*, we c.tnnol suppose. th.it this bill will be any ••xct'ptioii. H>- li.»*» innn' f.idi of his own ihoiit lands, u>iy mischievous fads too, but tin- i- not a question to bo settled by fads ; it must bo settled in accordance with tho needs and wishes of the mh.ibit.int-* of the Xoitli Island. Mi Ballaucc In ought in a Native Lands Bill last session, and piaised it himself for nbont an honi, and then vwthdicw befoie it had even been dis cussed in the House. A word from Mr Ouuond behind the scenes was sufficient to pioducethnt result." The articlo concludes thus: "The Speech is little better than verbiage from beginning to end ; verbiage unrolu'\ed by a single straightforwai d or tangible docl.uatum of policy ; a .sorry comtnent.iiy truly on the braggart announce went we li.ive beon tieated with during the last few days of the exceptional boldness and ontspokpniiCHS which wan to charac teiise the Governor's Speech." It appears fiom the reports of the inspectorn of schools jmt laid on the table that the average daily attendance at the schools of the colony is 7<>,< S22. The number of schools in operation is P.BO, tho number of teachers is 2147 (exclusive of new in* teachers), and the number of residences thr> property of the boards is 710. Thfi proceedings in Parliament this afternoon proved to bo of the mont formal ch.u actor, although it was fully expected tli.it the Address in-Kcply would have been moved by Mr Peaison, and necondrd by Mi Hislop. As a proof th.it tin* intention was only departed from at the last moment, I may state th.it tho seconder of the address (Mi Mislop) appeared in the Houso in the oi thoi'ox cv oningdress, w Inch it isthe mv ari ible custom foi the mover and seconder of the Addiess ni Heplv to assume. This fict any late was suthcient t<> «how that the (Joveminent had not infoiined Mi Hislop of theii intention of postponing Mi Fe.iison's motion till Tuesday next. Tho real reason for the change of fiont by Ministeis was no doubt because they found that the House would not submit to a surprise of this Kirn! at such an early ->tigo of tho session, when not only Major Atkinsoii, but several other leading members of the Opposition were absent fiom their places. During the short debate that ensued on the Premier's motion postponing the m.ittei, a little fcood-natuied controversy occtnrod between that gentleman and Mr Biyte, the lattei contending that it would b>manifestly unfair to adopt such an uhumml com so a* to nioic the Addiess-in-Reply on the second day of the session, when so many members weie away. The Premier leplied th.it it was not an unusual couise, and offered to convince- Mi Biyce, by refeu ing to Hans.ud, (hit he was not taking an extieme view of the case. Mi M.ic.indiew and Mi NV.ikehcM then Ind :i Hing at the Piemier for not goim,' on with the business. Mr Macandiew puticnlaily deploiing the waste <>f tun.' tint ouistautly occmred in conducting the busines-, of the House. The Plenum's motion was finally put, and the House adjourned till Tuesday. Tt apiicus to be geneiallv admitted that the session will bo .i long and o\( iting one. Ministers aie likely t) have a jiretty warm tune, owim» to the Native L«id Bill, which is almost ceitam to be killed if brought down in the shape it at piosent asMiines, and owing to then decided leanings towaids protection, which aie sure to be hotly resented by the piesent House. The bill which the Premier intends to introduce to enabln Sir George Whituioie to retain tho position of .i member of the Legislative Council and commandant of the colonial forces is not yet distributed, but I gather that it will simply be, a sort of Indemnity Act to provide for the nalaiy of tNOO a-year being paid to the new cotnman dant, while at the same time ho will be allowed to retain his ]M>slttnn a.s .i nienibei of tho Upper Hou«o and to draw the Usual honorarium. Tho bdl will be made pio>pective, so that Sir George Whituioie will bo able to draw his salary and hold his appointment. 1 undci stand thattheic is no intention on the put of the Opposition, at. leprcsentod by Ma)oi Vtkmson and Mr Bryce, to challenge the Addiess ni-Heply, but theie aie lunioui- of Su George Gi'uy having one of his pleasant little siu piisrs in store, cither on tliu motion oi at an eaily ]>eiiod of the session. A meeting of the Pn -s Gallery was held tins afteinoon, at wlndi Mi T. Motiisou, of the Hawke's Htv Ilu dd, w.is iiiwminously elected Ch mm m of the Gallriy foi tho ))iespnt session, ami Mr <lio Hum])hues, m.in.igei "f the Pi ess Association, \ice chanit an.