POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3784, 31 August 1883, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. J

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. J Wellington, This day,

The report of the Royal Commission nppointed to inquire into the causes which led to the outbreak of typhoid fever on board the immigrant ship Oxford was laid on the table of the llou.se last night, and a more important document has .seldom seen the light. "Wo are told many things we knew before ; we are told many things wo did not want to know, which were not of much interest to know ; but the causes which led to that outbrtak, which wo did want to know, we arc not told. The condition of the depot at Plymouth is described in very strong language—in fact a more unsuitable and unsatisfactory place for such a purpose could not be imagined. The bedding is one mass of vermin, the other arrangements there being equally unsatisfactory. The fihip, when taken back to port on the first voyage, was never properly fumigated, none of the cargo being shifted, and the hatches wore not even opened. The poor of Cardiff got a, treat, the bedding being distributed among them after fumigation. Had the voyage been a protracted one, one of two things would have happened. The coal was so insufficient that, either the condenser would have had to stop, or the cook would have gone short of coal for cooking purposes. Great praise is awarded the surgeon for his efforts. The captain and crew also receive a meed of praise. The stores were short of candles, glass, and children's stores. It is considered that the fever was developed on board by a passenger who must have contracted the disease on shore.

There was what a lively Irishman would term '' a bit of a shinrly '' in. the Council over Government business having precedence, but the Premier's resolution was ultimately carried. However, ho was plainly told that tho Council did not intend to follow tho course they took last year, when they voted tho clauses of one bill block en block one hundred at a time. They mean to show the country that, even if they do not get full pay, they earn their salaries. And then they threw out the Abolition of Gold Duty Bill, which did not meet with the approval of the Premier nor of the leader of the Opposition, as tho bill could not bo amended. Both were willing to reduce the duty, but to abolish it absolutely never.

Good progress was yesterday made in the Assembly, eight or nine bills being well advanced.

It is intended to bring on Supply to-night, but this, I fear, will not be done.

Another Otago free fight is anticipated on the Harbor Bill, which everyone wants to sco committed again, so it is just possible that we may have a lively night.

Whether tho House will sit to-morrow or not is yet problematical. I do not think the business has progressed so well as the Ministry would have liked.