PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1699, 17 June 1884, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

BY TELEGRAPH,

[special to bay of plenty times.']

Wellington, last night. I hear , on. the hest authority that the Governor has promised to grant the Ministry a dissolution. Major Atkinson will' declare this in the House to-morrow, and ask for an adjournment to Wednesday, tf hen he will make a shbrt financial statement.

Government have at length deoided to r&coihmerid a dissolution, and members expect to be on their way home by the end of next week. This decision has not been arrived afc without difficulty, and has been- already twice upset by those members who think that no Parliament has assembled, and some work should be done. There has been some talk in the lobbies yesterday and to-day about topping supplies until the Ministry resign. The opinion among many of the Opposition being that they being in so large a majority (16 all told), entitles them to go to the country, and not the present holders of office. The stopping of supplies is a very unusual course, and fraught with much public inconvenience. Short supplies will probably be given, and the new House is expected to meet in August.

Your local bills, one of which — The School Site Bill— was introduced by Captain. Morris on Thursday, will therefore . be lost for this session, as no legislation of that nature will be permitted. . The petition for the To Puke separation was forwarded by your member through the Colonial Secretaiy on Friday. | One of your leading citizens, Mr Chadwick, arrived here yesterday on matters connected with your harbour. Captain M° rr is informs me . that he has not ' yet received this bill — the Harbour Board Bill. , * . No committees have been appointed, and consequently the crowd of petitions are not attended to, and daily increase. Captain Morris had an interview with Major Atkinson on Saturday, and again today, but is very reticent as to what transpired. Mr Duncan says, in reference to your leading article of. the 10th June, and Mr Stewart's letter of the 19th April, that the Agent- General has no responsibility at all in the matter of approving of the railway contractors, as the Government have agreed to the transfer of the contract to auy person approved of by the present directors, provided tho conditions with which you are acquainted with are complied with. Tho Agent -General's refusal is to accept a responsibility which is not required by Ministers, and it is unnecessary. It can hardly be taken as a sound reason for delaying the completion of the business in London. Mr Duncan has received every assistance in the matter, he assures your correspondent. He corresponds regularly with, parties at Home interested in the railway, and lias every confidence in its future.

Nearly all the members have novr arrived. There is a very soro feeling against tho rats, and it is understood Government will do their best io keep out of the House those members that voted against them, and great preparations are boing mado for Whitaker' a , seat, Waipa. The candidate has, I hear, been chosen. There is some doubt who to run for Captain Morris's seat, but I have no doubt some one who will command a following will bo found. Tho Canterbury Government candidates are agreed, and everything bid 9 fair to produce one of tho hottest contests ever seen in New Zealand.

The tunnel under the Mersey, to comnect Birkenhead and _ Liverpool, will be formally opened on June 14th,