POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3169, 25 August 1881, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[by telegeaph.]

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT). Wellington, August 25. The House, when it rose this morning, had sat, with the exception of a three hours adjournment, for thirty-six hours, out of which Mr Seddon spoke, with brief intervals, about eight hours, and Mr Reeves three hours without intermission. There is a rumor that advantage will be taken of the disaffected spirit of the Nelson members to bring on another want of confidence motion. Messrs Richardson, Beetham, and Bunny, the committee appointed to make enquiry as to the cause of the late railway accident at Kaitoke, have taken evidence, and will probably bring up a report to-day. At an early hour this morning the Nelson and Westland oppositionists had to give way, and clause three of the Representation Bill having been passed, the remaining clauses from four to seven inclusive were passed without discussion. Mr Moss, on behalf of Mr Shechan, moved the following new clause: —" Every man of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, having a leasehold estate in his possession situate within any electoral district constituted under this Act, of tho clear annual value of £10 held upon lease which at the time of registration shall have not less than three years to run, or having a leasehold so situate or of such value as aforesaid of which he has been in possession for three years oi* upwards at the time of such registration, shall bo entitled to bo registered, under tho Registration of Electors Act, 1879, and to vote at the election of members of the House of Representatives, and this clause shall be read as part of the Qualification of Electors Act, 1877." Mr Lundon moved that the words " three years" be omitted, and " six months " inserted in their place, but the amendment was lost by 38 to 15. Mr Jones' amendment was, " provided that no person shall exercise more than one vote on account of any one property," to be inserted after the words " House of Representatives." Mr Lundon moved an amendment that the period of possession for a leaseholder's vote ahould be one year instead of three years, and the amendment was carried. On the question, '' That the clause be added to the bill," some discussion arose, varying opinions being expressed as to its merits or demerits, but on a division the clause as amended was added to tho bill by 33 to 11. - Progress was then reported, and the bill is to bo further considered in committee to-morrow.