PARLIAMENTARY.

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 2045, 30 August 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(From our Special Corresson:*^/)

This da>

Afternoon Sitting. Yesterday afternoon's sitting con. menced in dealing with the Debtors ana Creditors' Amendment Bill in committee. Little or no interest, appeared to be taken in its progress ; indeed, it was difficult to keep a House in attendance after Sir .Tubus Vogel, in answer to Sir Oeorge Grey, stated that at half-past seven tbe statement as to the Agent-General would be made. The Financial Arrangement Bill was discharged at Sir Julius Vogel's request with the understanding that an amended Bill would be brought down. # The Rating Bill passed its third reading, as also the Building Societies' Act without remark, and the Local Elections Kill as amended by the Legislative Conned, was agreed to with one trifling am™dmfni b MR MACANDREW'S NOTICE. Mr Macandrew gave notice of resolutions affirming desirability of having new election of Seperintendent and Council in Otago. and leaving it to them when elected to select the form of local Government best suited to their wants. Such a resolution could hardly he carried, as it is too local. Pome who voted for Separation would certainly decline to place Otago in any position different from all other parts of the colony. It may oe feared the resolutions will lead to some wasted time in discussion. Cabinet Hafemg. Cabinet making is all the ra?e here at present, and every member has a Government to suggest, eafih -warranted to command a majority of the house. Major Atkinson has tried to get new blood to join his intended Government, but it is understood that as yet be has had no success. It is relieved he will therefore merely go on with the old men, and ! probably will not survive the first week's vote of Disapproval. It is intended to move that tho bouse does not approve of Sir Julius Vogel being seDt home as Agent General. Mr Rolleston, it is said will be the member solicited to de this. No doubt, if carried, it would be regarded as a vote of want of confidence in the new Government, but that would not deter many formerly Government supporters from voting for **• , . . _, Mr Rolleston also would be a good man as ever if sent for ; he could probably get to- : gether as good a Government as anyone in the House. I The Premier's Explanation Sir Julius Vogel's explanation of the question of the Agent-Generalship is almost universally considered a failure. He mixed up the state of his health, his business arrangements, and the vacancy in the office of AgentGeneral, so that no one could tell to which of the three causes he wished to attribute his resignation of office. At one time he appeared affected, and probably was so, but the impression marie on the House was very far from favourable, and the applause, when he concluded, was thin and feeble. He stated that he had resigned, and that Major Atkinson had been sent for. Major Atkinson then, in a few words, asked until Thursday, at half-past seven o'clock, to consult his friends, and form Government. Mr Rolleston, in speaking of the adjournment, expressed deep regret at what Sir Julius Vogel had said, and protested in strong terms against the precedent being established of breaking up a government because an inferior office under the Government had become vacant, which a premier wished to fill. Mr Andrew also entered a similar protest, and read a passage from the life of Pitt, shewing how he scorned even the approach to such a course as now pursued by Sir Julius Vogel. As soon as the new Government begins work in the House, some motion hostile to Sir Julius Vogel's being made the AgentGeneral will be proposed, and will very possibly be carried. The new Cabinet, it is believed, will not differ from the old, except in the change of Premier. It will be very weak, and few consider its chaaces of living out the session good. Nothing but mismanagement in opposition, could, it is believed, save it.