PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1075, 17 August 1869, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(FBOM A COEBESPONDBNT.)

Wellington, August 11, 1 869 . The English mail arrived last night, and brought the welcome news that the General at Melbourne had at once agreed to retain the 18th Regiment in New Zealand, pending reference to England. This, coming, as it did, whilst the opposition were raring against the Government for what they called its folly in expecting the General to interfere, had its, full weight in the House. It began to dawn upon the minds even of Mr. Stafford's stauncbest supporters, that he and his. colleagues had been misleading the country. All .sides recognised that if the opposition were so mistaken as to the result of a reference to Melbourne, they might be equally so as to the appeal to the Home Country. The news by the mail from home fully bears out this view. I enclose you a protest that was addressed by Sir George Grey and other colonists at home, to Earl Granville. lam able to assure you, on.reliable authority, that. Earl Granville stated, at . an interview, he had with Sir G. Grey and the other New Zealand colonists, that the, New Zealand Goyerninent (Stafford's), had been tripking the Home.authorit\e.B from the beginning ; that no indication had ever been given that the colony was desirous of really inviting the assistance of Great Britain, or had ever intended anything else than to continue an irritating and insulting style of communication ; that no reply 1 bad ever been vouchsafed to the enqniry the' Home Government made as to the terms' the colony would offer for troops— in short, the whole tenor of the information by this mail, leads to the conclusion that we have to thank the late Government for the present unsatisfactory relations between the colony and Great Britain. This news, coining, as it did last night, whilst the House was still debating the resolutions in favor of an appeal to England for troops, fell with stunning effect. The result was, that the opposition leaders who had, before the arrival of the mail, announced and moved amendments upon the resolutions proposed by Mr. Ormond and accepted by the Government, suddenly found themselves dederted by their party, and, when the question was put, did not dare to raise their voices against it, or even call for a division. I enclose you the different sets of resolutions, with the amendments which were proposed by Messrs. Stafford and Hall, but which they did not dare to persist with.

The result of last night's proceedings may be summed up in words that were freely circulated by all sides in tbe lobby, and which were — " The oppositionists have caved in ;" " the opposition is knocked into a cocked hat." These words fully expressed the position of Mr. Stafford and his few remaining friends. To-day, a number of what were his supporters declare they have abandoned him — he is spoken of on all sides as he deserves ; his position is gone, and he is as harmless as the humblest member of the House to effect good or evil. Never has there been such a thorough and complete breakup of a party; they are absolutely gone, and this is the beginning of the end of the present session. The work will now proceed, and the termination of the session is confidently fixed at about a fortnight from now. Amougst the secedera of Mr. Stafford, lost night, the most conspicuous was Mr. Fitzherbert, who, in a very able speech, declared he could not approve of the course his late colleagues were taking.

The position of the Canterbury cave is ludicrous in the extreme. Poor weak Mr. llolleston is trying hard to make out that he always desired to support the present Government. Mr. Stevens' visions of a possible Treasuryship have vanished in the air, and, hating Mr. Stafford almost more than they do Mr. Fox, they almost find themselves driven into Mr. Stafford's arms, because Mr. Fox and his friends decline to receive them. Such ia the end of the attempted formation of a third party in the House, but which, having no men capable of taking a lead in its ranks, of course has ended as it was sure to do. All parties agree that the sooner the Ministry, whose position is now assured, can devote themselves to the work of the country, the better. There is a tremendous mass of business upon the order paper, a great portion of i which will now be rattled through without j that care and attention which it should receive. Amongftt the subjects proposed for legis- ' lation, there is a Bill brought in by Mr. Richmond, who is understood to be associated in the matter with Mr. Holies ton. I enclose a copy of the Bill ; from it you will see that it is prepared to protect the . Maori for any liability he may incur, for any sum above five pounds. It is scarcely necessary to say that such legislation would be more offensive to the native himself, than to any one else. There is no chance, of course, of this measure being allowed. It is a silly attempt of the weakest of Maori doctors, and is so looked upon. Time does not allow me to add more. ..... A:;: August 1 12. Last night saw the conclusion of the debate on the troops resolutions. Mr. Wilson's amendment was carried without a division ; this was not looked for. Demoralized as Mr. Stafford's followers are, it was ' thought they would have had sufficient pluck to have tested opinion upon this question. It is as well to state that although the word Ghoorka's is found in the resolution, yet that it is generally accepted that no Ghoorkas are coming to New Zealand. But, though Ghoorkas may not come, there is no reason why the Commissioners should not consider the Irish Constabulary, or picked men from that body, a good force for New Zealand ; and if they do, the resolution allows for them carrying out such an opinion.' The Independent of yesterday had a report that Colonel Whitmore had been offered the secretaryship to the Defence | Office ; this was not correct. Col. Whitmore was, however, offered the position of Colonial Storekeeper, at £600 a year. The late Government is reported to have led Colonel Whitmore to expect all sorts of things, and the present Government is said to have pitied his position so much as to have offered to provide for him in the way I have . described. Colonel Whitmore is further reported to have declined the storekeepership, in the expectation that Mr. Stafford was about to return to office, when he hoped for something better. Now that that hope is at an end, it is said the gallant Colonel regrets he did not accept the, provision that waa offered him, .