[ BY TELEGRAPH.-OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.] The Opening of Parliament.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2161, 15 May 1886, Page 2

[ BY TELEGRAPH.-OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.] The Opening of Parliament.

Wkm.ixg ton, Thursday. Thk opening ceremony to-d.iv, took place under the most unfavi umble circumatance*, the weather being exceedingly wet a "d boisterous. Notwithstanding the«e disadvantages there was a pretty large gathering of spectators in the Parliament yard, nnd the usual assemblaee of ladies in the Legislative Council Chamber a» well as in the crowded galleries. His Excellency was received with a vice-ietral salute on leaving Government House, and a guard of honour was drawn up in front of the Council Chamber. Tho Governor, who wore hi" Windsor unifoim, w.ih attended by Capt. Medley A.D.C., Major Jervois, LieutColonul Bult>, and tho Foreign Consul*!, as well as the ofticeis of the Japanese man-o' war, now in the harbour. He entered the chamber amidst the strains of the National Anthem, played by the Garrison Hand. Owing t > the rain everything wore a gloomy aspect, and the Chamber itself was so dark that His Excellency appeared to have some difficulty in reading his speech, the sentences coming out in a rather disjointed fashion. Amongst the ladies present were Miss Jervc-'o, Lady Vogel, Mrs Stout, Mrs Tole, and Mrs Ballance, all of whom were seated on his Excellency's left. There were about thirty members of the Lower House present, including all the Ministers except Sir J. Vogel. Major Atkinson was also amongst the numlier. The business done in the House afterwards was purely formal. Dr N«wman caused some laughter by gravely giving notice to move that all the work and material required for the Wellington railway should be done at tho Petone (Wellington) workshops. The Premier, after the notice of motion given and petitions presented, said that as so few members were in town, he would ask for an .adjournment till Tuesday, which was readily agreed to.

The Seconder of the' Address. The defeat of the Government candidate for Sydonhatn (Mr Scott) will not tend to (strengthen tho position of the Ministry, especially as the former member, Mr W. White was a strong Govornment supporter. Mr Scott's election was considered almost a certainty and, as hinted yesterday, it was fully decided that he was to second the Address-in-Reply. Mr Taylors support is not reckoned on by the Government now that the East and West Coast Railway is removed from the region of party politic*. Mr Grace, member for Taurivnga, is spoken of as the seconder of the Address-in-Reply.

Arrival of Mr Bryce. My Bryce arrived from England this afternoon in the Tainui. An official reception was arranged tor this afternoon but owing to the late arrival of the steamer, due to the thick weather, it was postponed till to-morrow morning. Major Atkinson and a few other members were on the wharf in tubs awaiting Mr Bryce's arrival, as well a* a nniubn* <»f private friend*. There would no doulit have been an immense assemblage but for the unpleimnt weather and the incessant rain that fell. It mu>t be gratifying to Mr Bryce that men of all shades of opinion iv the House arc pleased at his victoiy in the great Riwden libel case, and probably their gratification will find some practicable expression in the Houso in duo ouise.