POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 5226, 4 December 1879, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[From Our Own Correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, Decwber 4,

Sir G. Grey's Representation Bill last night took up the whole evening. Mr Pyke, in the interest of the Government, moved the adjournment of the debate, tut finding he was out of order, Mr Murray, ol Bruce, a determined opponent of any redistribution upon the base of population, rmhed to the reecue. When the motion was carried the queßton was asked, " Till when?" "This day fortnight," said Mr Murray, at the instigation of the Premier. Representations were made to the latt ?r that if the customary week'd adjournment were allowed, which indicated the shelving of the Bill, the House would accept this, and nothing more would be heard of the measure, and the hour for private Bills oould be utilised to clear the Order Paper by taking all unopposed Bills in committee. This was refused. At a quarter to twelve the Colonial Treasurer began to talk against time, and later Mr Wakefield, bedecked in evening clothes and an enormous white tie, having been out all night, took up the running, leaving the Minister for Works ten minutes in wh ch to graduate, as Mr Hislop said, in the act of talking against time. Mr Oliver sat down at 12.30, when no other business could bo taken. Several members finding it impossible to introduce their private Bills, spoke to the main question of redistribution ;_ and later on tho Opposition left the Louse to secure a count oit. Government, th'nking the Bill would be lost, fell into the tiap, and kept fiupportern of tho Government out, and the House counted was out. The result is that the Bill comes on for Wednesday next in exactly the same posi ion which the Premier refused to allow in the evening. Toe real objects of Government wt?ro to prevent the next motion coming on, vi>,., "A grant of Lll,ooo to Charleston," upon which they had previously been beaten, and also to prevent the Taranaki Iron Smelting Bill coming on. The result of the whole affair is that a complete day was lost, and much ill-feeling aroused uselessly.