All Quiet. Wellington, Friday.

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

All Quiet. Wellington, Friday.

There w no political news stirring as yet, and scaicely a rumour worth wiring. Members are already prophesying a most uneventful session with veiy little real opposition to Ministers. On the other hand, it is no secret that at least three members of the Government are strongly in favour of a dissolution on the _ present basiaof representation, giving as thejrreason thsit the Government is considerably stronger in the country than in the Hous<?. The idea of a dissolution however, is ridiculed by the older member* of the House, who express their opinion that th« present Parlimient will certainly run its due c<mr.-e notwithstanding the desire of the Government to appeal to the country.

The Speech. The general opinion regarding the Governor's Speech is, that there is really very little in it to which exception can reasonably be taken by any section of the House, and it has been specially drawn up with the object of disarming opposition. It is also considered that in framing the speech the more moderate counsel* of the Premier have prevailed, as tliero is a total absence of the Vogelian sensationalism, which was looked forward to almost as a matter of c«nt so. It is further commented on that no reference whatever is made to mci eased taxation, although it is quite taken for grtuitoj that the Government will endeavour ti- carry some pioposals of this nature. The Ministerial organ is of course warm in its praise of the Speech. It says that it is an vdmirably conceived and skillfully worded document, and that there ih nothing in it to alarm people or excite opposition, while the tone of hopeful confidence in the colony and its prospects which runs through it will undoubtedly prove beneficial at home and abroad. The Times comra 'nta <>n the extreme vagueness of the Speech. It saya : " Its principle* are admirable, but they are so very broad that they might embrace almost anything that anybody chooses to include within their scope."

Mr Bryce's Reception. Mr Bryce's reception in the Town Hall this evening was of a very hearty character, and was largely attended by the leading citizens of Wellington and several members of Parliament. The Mayor, in welcoming Mr Bryce. spoke in the most eulogistic terms of_ hia pluck in prosecuting Mr Rui-den in a Grange county, where ho was comparatively unknown, and warmly shook Mr Bryce s hand in congratulating him on his victory, not only ou behalf of the Wellington ppople, but of the people of New Zealand. Mi Bryce, who wan received with prolonged clieeiing, replied at so-no length and spike with evident emotion. Mr Bryce leaves for his home at Wauganut to-morrow m irnintc. On his return to Wellington, lie if t>> be enturUinnd at a banquet by th« ciii/.ens. Mr Bruce, tnembar for R ingitiki, .ilso pr iceeds to Wanifdnui in order to ba pivsent at tl % e banquet to be given to Mr Br\ue in that place. Those of your reader* who have followed the political history of the colony of late years may remember the famous apeecli made by Mr Bryca when Native Minister, in 1883, i a reply to certain clnrgeti made by Sir G. Grey «<?aiust his (Mr Bryce'.s) native administration. That s^ech wab generally regarded at that time as one of the finest efforts that has ever been been heard in New Zealand Parliament. It ha« recently been immortalised by Sir John Gor*t, counsel for the defence in the Rusden libel case, who, during the progress of the trial, read to the English jury the whole of Mr Bryco's memorable speech on that occasion It evidently, however, created the opposite effect ou the jury to that intended by the opposing counsel, judging by the complete vindication of his character which Mr Bryce obtained over his accuser.