POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Evening Star, Issue 6032, 12 July 1882, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[By Oub Special Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 11. The House was treated to a rare joke to-day. Among the petitions presented was one from a Frenchman residing near Auckland, who claimed compensation in respect of certain lands. Captain Morris, who presented the petition, explained that it was written in the French language, and asked whether he would be in order in moving that it be handed over to the hon, member for Tuapeka for translation, he being so thoroughly acquainted with the language. This was intended as a gentle ' hit at Mr J. 0. Brown, who it is said recently imported into the pages of 'Hansard' voluminous selections from some French writer on the subject of agriculture, not a word of which, however, was uttered by the hon. member while speaking on the question. It may readily be imagined, therefore, that the "goak" was received with an outburst of laughter. Mr Brown, however, was equal to the occasion. As a question of privilege he asked the Speaker if any hon. member had a right to present a petition of the contents of which he was not aware. The laugh was accordirgly turned against the jovial captain, who rose to assert that he hada "kind of transient knowledge " (whatever that may mean) ot the contents of the petition. The Speaker remarked that in that case he could present the document. Thereupon Mr Brown moved that it be read, which was carried on the voices, still in a jocular spirit; but on a division being called for the motion was not pressed. The Public Works Statement was delivered to night in the presence of a full house. Of course it did not give universal satisfaction, and after it was concluded the oft-elected leader of the Opposition moved the adjournment of the House to enable hon. members to study it more closely. The Treasurer said that the Government would not object to such a course ; and Mr Sheehan remarked amidst some merriment that, speaking for himself, he would be glad of a couple of days' rest in order that he might have an opportunity of regaining his breath, which he said had been entirely taken away. Tho House then rose.

July 12,

No serious attention need be paid to the report floating about last night to the effect that there exists a traitor in the Ministerial camp, and that the price of his treachery is the promise of a portfolio in the succeeding Ministry, no matter who they may be. The report seems to have been put into circulation to serve a purpose, by creating a feeling of distrust among members of the Government and their followers. No name is yet connected with the rumor. la asking the Government yesterday why no officer representing the Volunteers of Otago and Southland was appointed to the Volunteer Ke-organisation Board, Mr Bracken remarked that there existed a strong feeling of indignation among Southern Volunteers in connection with the matter. He dr«w attention to the faot that Wellington was represented on the Board by one member, Christchurch by one, Auckland by one, and Nelson by two, whilst the moat important Volunteer district in the Colony was unrepresented. He might state that he had heard that a subordinate officer (Major Jack) had been asked to attend, but would not put iu an

appearance, the Volunteers being of opinion that the commanding officer (Lieutenantcolonel Stavely) ought to have been consalted ; and he protested against the slight ( placed upon him. In reply, the Defence Minister aaid that it was not considered necessary by the Government in regard to' the formamaticn of the Board to be guided by provincial boundaries or districts, and he mentioned that the part of the Colony from which he came, viz., tho West Coast of this island, was also unt represented on the Board. Mr Fulton yesterday asked the Treasurer why the subsidy due on the 30th March laßt to the Grey Road Board, Taieri County, had not been paid. Major Atkinton said, in reply, that Mr Fulton was under a total misapprehension in regard to the matter, whereupon Mr Fulton read a letter received from the Board, in accordance with which he had asked the question. To-morrow the Hon. Mr Holmes will ask the Premier whether any information has reached the Government relative to the circumstance? under which a fine of L3O was levied upon a Chinese family reoently arrived in Dam din, and if they intend, to refund that amount. After a short debate yesterday afternoon the House agreed to Government business taking precedence on Wednesdays for the rest of the session after July 39, the latter date being the last private members' day. Sir George Grey wanted the House to sit on Monday and Friday mornings for private members' business, but the motion was negatived on the voices. Mr Barron to-day presented a petition from Qiversham in regard to the Dunedin water supply scheme as referred to in my tel'gram the other day. Mr Macandrew presented a petition from J. Hume, of the Dunedin Lunatio Asylum, praying for compensation in consequence of his services having been dispensed with. The Local Bills Committee recommend that the Portobello Road Board Enabling Bill be allowed to proceed. They also report that the Dunedin Wattr Supply Bill is not a local Bill, and it was referred to the Joint Committee on Private Bills. Mr Seaton has received a complaint from South Dunedin that the Otago Harbor Board have not kept faith in connection with the transfer of the land which Parliament has already ordered from the Board to the Borough. He is very indignant, and has brought the master under the notice of tho Ministers, -who, it is undetstood, ttrongly sympathise with him. He says that he will take every means to secure that the deposit of the Board's Crown grant must be made with the Department before the Bill now before the House can proceed further.