POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3167, 11 October 1892, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(IJY TELEGRAPH— SPECIAL COHUKSI'ON'DE.VT). Wellington, Last Night. OPPOSITION CAUCUS. A meeting of the Opposition was held this morning at the Parliamentary Buildings, presided over by Mr Itolleston, leader of the party. The meeting, which wai a thoroughly representative one, passed a hearty vote of thanks to the whips (Mr E. J. Wright and Mr Harkuess). A resolution was also passed in acknowledgement of tho very satisfactory manner in which Mr Rollestnn had led the paity during a most trying session. After considerable discussion as to the attitude to be taken up by the Opposition during the recess, those present agreed that every possible means should be adopt.'d t > represent to the people the true position of the colony, and it was a'su desired that members of the party should communicate with each other from time to time as to the current political events of tho day. LADY ATKINSONS GRANT. I have already informed you that the vote of £3000 as a compassionate allowance to the widow of the late Sir Harry Atkinson would be strongly opposed by tho Labour members, and this has proved to be perfectly correct. When the vote was reached this afternoon Mr Tanner, Libour member for Heathcote, moved that it be struck out. In doing so he said that he was merely acting on principle, and that he diii not question in the slightest degree the eminent services rendered to the colony by the late Premier. It was very gratifyiny to notice that amongst those who warmly supported the vote were long standing politic-ill opponents to Sir Harry Atkinson, such as Sir George Grey, Mr Seddon, and Mr Richard Reeves, but to the surprise of everybody one of the members who most bitterly opposed it was Mr Frank Lawry, member for Parnell, who supported Sir Harry through the whole ot the last Par liament. Mr Lawry divided the House on the vote, but he only got three other members to follow him into the lobby, namely, Mr Jackson Palmer, Mr T. Thompson (Auckland) and Mr Tanner, whilst thirty-eight voted for the giant to Lady Atkinson and family, WO ME N'S PR ANCHISE. Sir George Grey, who still revels in creating a little nutter at the end of the session, caused quite a little diversion m the House to-day by giving notice to move on going into Committee of Supply that a final eliort should be made to obtain tho franchise for women. Tlie opponents of the franchise, which, as it now turns out, include the Ministers themselves, were in some trepidation, especially as three of the most prominent opponents of the principle (Mr Swann, Mr Rhodes and M.'Fish) had left Wellington for their homes. Telegrams were at once sent to Dancvirko to induce Mr Swann to return to Wellington in anticipation of a close division, Mr Hamlin's amendment, hoivevui, f..-r giving ;l bonus to the House me-sengers having 1 eo i ]0.-t by a large maj'ritv, Sir George Grev was, of c ur-e, prevented from nhviii: another amendment, am] the House gar into Committee of Supply without u.uc l trouble.

RIDING CONTEST. VIENNA TO BERLIN. (HV KLKCTBIC TEI.KfiIt.WU. — COPYRIGHT.) Bkpun, October 7. fVii. - XT Nvak IlKMlirito, :lh Austrian, completed Iho rile from Vienna to Berlin in 71 hours •'!! minutes, and scrims first prize and ;i silver bust of tin: Emperor of Germany, presented by the latter. Baron Roilzernstein, a Gorman,, iini-lio 1 tin; journey in 73 hours (i minutes, notwithstanding that he was lost, in a fog for n time. He takes second prize and a silverstatuotto presented by tin.' Emperor of Austria. Lieutenant Nikloss. an Austrian, who took 7-'iA hours, was third. The next fourteen to finish were all Austriuns. October S. Altogether sixty-four horses died from exhaustion i.-i the race between Vienna and Berlin. .Star Hunter, an English thoroughbred, was one of those who died. Jfeitxernsteiii's, an Irish thorougbred, recovered. October !). B;ii-on Reil/.cnterus hoi so which was supposed to have recovered afterwards died from the efforts of its journey.