LATEST PARLIAMENT.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1886, 8 September 1885, Page 2

LATEST PARLIAMENT.

♦ — ~ [by telegbaph.] (pbom otfr special coebespoitcjent.) Wellington, last night. In the House" this afternoon, the Premier moved that in the opinion of this House, it is inadvisable for thia Colony to join the federal Council of Australasia under the existing Federal Council Act, and spoke at • some length in support of the motion. - Messrs Atkinson arid Rolleston combat ted the arguments used and ' strongly urged New Zealand to join the Council and endeavour to establish a dominion in a like manner to Canada. Mr Macandrew and Mr Ballance supported the motion. The debate will be resumed to-night. The Public Works estimates are expected to be considered to-morrow when the much vexed question of a vote of £150,000 for the West Coaafc Railway will be determined. Active negotiations are still going on- be* tween those favourable to the vote and the Government, but the latter have resolutely refused to make it a Miuistrial question in spite of menaces offered by the members in» terested in the railway. It. is confidently asserted that should the Ministers submit to this demand they would be beaten by a substantial majority. Monster out-door demonstrations in favour of the railways have been held at Chris tchurch and Nelson when passionate speeches were made denouncing the opponents of the line and strongly urging upon the representatives of Canterbury, Nelson and Westland to spare no efforts to force- • the vote of £150,000 through: Parliament, failing which they are to block every other vote proponed, whether for the North Island Trunk Railway ; or the Otago Central Line.