POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3141, 22 July 1881, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[BY TEIEGEAPII.]

(from our own correspondent)

Wellington, July 22,

Ail interest still continues in the no-confi-dence debate. Both Sir George Grey and Mr Hall spoke at length and with more than usual warmth. Messrs Weston and Saunders declared that, while tkey would not support Mr Ormond, neither would they vote for the Government proposals. Mr Bunny, who had been counted on by the Opposition, and who, it is rumored, telegraphed from Wairarapa pledging himself in the most unmistakable manner, turned round, to the intense delight of Ministers. The division will not be taken till Tuesday, in order to allow of the arrival of absent members. Ifc seems almost; certain that in no case will the majority on either side exceed two or three : there may be a tie, but there is not the slightest doubt that, even if Ministers have a majority, they must withdraw their measures. Should they be defeated they will fores upon Mr Ormond the responsibility of forming a Ministry. Mr Ormond is even more than usually reticent, bufc those who ought to know best say that his plans are complete. The House was densely crowded last night, and the greatest excitement prevailed. Mr Weston made a bitter attack on Sir George Grey for having reflected on political Judges. Sir George Grey was scathing in his reply, and insinuated unmistakably that Mr Weston's support of the Government had been purchased by the promise of another judgeship. The Banks and Bankers Act Amendment Bill, on going through committee for the third time in the Council, was further amended, and will not now come into force until January Ist next. Mr Whitaker explained that it was to enable defaced notes now in circulation to be withdrawn. Several of the " Lords " considered it hard that persons being in possession of defaced notes on the 2nd January, 1882, should have them confiscated, bufc Mr Waterhouse suggested that they might be put in the collection plate at church. From returns tabled the value of prisoner's work is calculated at 4s per diem for skilled, and 3s per diem for unskilled labor, except in the case of the printers at Lyttelton, where the Government Printer's valuation is adopted. A return has been prepared to the order of the Legislative Council of the names of all officers who entered the Civil Service of the colony since the Bth of October, 1866, who at the date of their admission to such service were more than twenty years of age, the date of such admission, ages, and the salaries afc such date of admission, and the present salary of every such officer so appointed since the Bfch of October, 1866, as follows; Colonial Secretary Department, 66; Audit, 16 ; Treasury, 26 ; Native Land Purchase, 44; Public Trust, 2 ; Education, 5; Government Insurance, 14; Crown Lands, 53; Immigration, 15; Mines, 4; Survey, 109 ; Justice, 80 ; A.C. Officers, 7_; Defence, 3 ; Registrar-General, 12 ; Architect, 4 ; Stamps, 34; Customs, 49 ; Marine, 16 ; Geological, 3 ; Lunacy, 17 ; and Property Tax, 21.