LATE POLITICAL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5273, 17 July 1888, Page 3

LATE POLITICAL.

[PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER. J

Weixington, This day.

MR WITHY'S MOTIONS.

Efforts are being made from tho Government sido of tho Houso to secure the withdrawal of Mr Withy's resolutions, the reason jri veu being that if they were defeated such notion would be takon as an indication that the House did not desire further retrenchment. It is very uncertain what will be done, but the opinion is that the resolutions will be defeated. THE OPPOSITION MEETING. It now transpires that at tho Opposition caucus thia forenoon Messrs Lanco and Walker wore appointed a committee to decide finally whether a voto of no-confidence should bo tabled, and in what direction it should go. THE NATIVE BILLS. Tho first meeting of tho committee appointed to consider the native policy bills was held this morning. Mr Samuel was appointed permanent chairman of the committee. Suggestions having been invited as to the manner in which tho bills should be amended, Mr Hutchison brought forward a snries of amendments which he proj>oses to move in tho Native Land Bill and the Native Land Courts Bill. Their effect would be to make the former apply only to past transactions, to exciso the provisions for taxing native lands, and to repeal the Native Land Frauds Prevention Act, IS7I, substituting other provisions in its stead. Oα tho motion of Mr Ormond, it was decided that the two bills in question should be printed in the form in which it is proposed to amend them before the amendments aro considered. The question of. taxing native lands was discussed at some length, but no decision had been arrived at when tho meeting adjourned until tomorrow. OTAGO CENTRAL. As an outcome of yesterday's meeting of members favorable to tho construction of the Otago central railway Mr Pyko has written to tho Premier urging that the Government should give effect to tho will of the House by taking up the Otago Central Bill as a Governmeut measure, and push it through this session. THE LCNGWOOD GOLD NUGGET. Dr Hodgkinson has received a telegram from tho Mayor of Rivorton that a nugget has just been brought in from Longwood, weighing SOozs odtvts, and suggesting that it should bo secured for tho Melbourne exhibition. MINISTERIAL OPPOSITION TO MR WITHY'S MOTIONS. The Cabinet at its meeting to-day decided that the Premier should ask Mr Withy to withdraw his amendment. If ho declines Ministers will all vote againet it, as its effect would clearly be to reduce the wages paid to milway hands. THE FRENCH ESCAPEES. Tho acting Governor (Chief Justice Prendergast) has issued a fresh warrant directing that the French convicts, Gaspariui aud Cury, whall bo brought before him to-morrow morning for extradition. It appears the warrant on which tht,y were brought from Auckland directed they should come before Sir William Jervois, and a new one luw been substituted in order to overcome this technical difficulty. PORANGAHAU BLOCK. Mr Carroll this afternoon presented a petition from Paora ftopiha and others protesting against any further hearing of tho Porangahau block.