PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 217, 13 September 1890, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(BY TELEGRAPH.— PARLIAMENTARY KE«

PORTER.)

Wellington, this day, AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION.

The whole of the sitting of the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon was occupied by the adjourned debate on the proposals fco appoint a delegate to represent this colony at the forthcoming Australian Federal Conference. Mr Scobie McKenzie's amendment, which provided for the appointmenb of one delegate to convey the sympathy of New Zealand with the Australian Colonies, and to inform the Premiers of the various colonies that this colony was nob prepared to join the proposed union, was defeated by 53 to 19, thus bearing out the supposition that; in voting against the original proposals, many members had acted upon a misunderstanding that these resolutions involved the appointment of not less than seven dogates. Mr McKenzie's amendment having met the same fate as the original proposals, several other proposals were made, bub found little favour, the resolution of which Mr Perceval had previously given notice being eventually carried on the voice*. This resolution provided for the appointment of two delegates from the House and one from the Legislative Council, ib being understood that while Stew Zealand sympathises with the aspirations of the sister colony for a Federal Union, the delegates should not be authorised to bind this colony to take any part in such a federation. The queetion of selecting two delegates was then taken into consideration. A proposal mado by the Hon. Captain Russell to make the appointments by ballot was lost by 33 to 28, as was also another proposal to leave the selection of delegates to the Government. Sir George Grey, who had previously refused to act, having consented to be one of the delegates if choeen by the voice of Parliament, a resolution was moved by Mr Seddon that Sir George and the Colonial Secretary be appointed to represent the House of Representatives, and this was agreed to on the voices. The petition of John Smybhe, of Whenuatika, Mercury Bay, presented by Mr Cadman, praying for the balance of £10 due on scrip deposited on payment for land, has been before the Petitions Committee, who recommend that the petitioner bo allowed to select land to the amount of £10. THE END IN VIEW. It is now probable that the whole of the business remaining to be transacted by the House of Representatives will be disposed of this week. Although morning sittings have been added to the daily duties of members, the probability is that the House will sit on Monday for the transaction of business, and prorogue on Tuesday, by which time most of the members appear to be determined to be homeward bound. A WELLINGTON MOVE. A movement is on foot amongsb Southern members to have Wellington made the terminal port for the San Francisco Service. An amendment) to that effect is expected to bo moved to the ocean mail resolution. The contention is that this would reduce the time by four hours to Wellington, and much more to the ports further South.