WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5439, 21 July 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

[By Telegraph.]

(fkoji our owsr correspondent.) Satiu'day. The debate last night fell very flat, notwithstanding the virulence of Sir William Fox, and Sir George Grey's evident intensity of personal feeling. . Mr Joyce interrupted Sir William F<hßT several times on absurd points of oi'dji and was put down by the Speaker." Skhriuiski also once interrupted Sir George Grey to protest against some interjection of Sir William's, but was also put down. The Speaker had during the sitting to once or twice rule certain expressions made by the speakers unparliamentary. Mr Rolleston was fearfully solemn and funereal. Decidedly the best speech of the night was the one made by Mr Moss. The Opposition seemed to wish to force on tho debate, and so it came about that Mr Seymour Geor-go had to move the adjournment. Sir William Fox wanted the debate to bo continued on Monday, but after a consultation with his whips he did not persist in his demand. At one time it looked as if there was going to be a party division on this point. Sir George Grey spoke with wonderful confidence of an appeal to the country, and a strong opinion prevails that he has " sounded " the Governor on the subject. That the division will be against Ministers is absolutely beyond doubt, but the majority may not be more than seven or eight. The dissatisfaction with Sir William Fox which exists amongst a large section — > of the Opposition was greatly intensified by his speech last night. Some of the new members gazed with astonishment at the extraordinary gesticulation and absolute buffoonery, and listened with surprise to his shrieks of invective. He made immense fun out of the GreyBallance quarrel. The debate will probably Inst all next . week. The Govern ment party are determined not to be hurried to a division, and although the Opposition say they do not intend to talk much, no doubt a large nuuibor of them will "find it necessary to explain their reasons for the votes they will give.' Mr Wakefield evidently pined for a great speech.

There have been no caucuses to-day, nor is there anything particular stirring.

The Eopresentation Bill is printed. It provides that after- the dissolution of tho present Parliament the House shall consist of — members, and each Houso is to last throe years from the date of the return of first writ, unless previously dissolved. A Board is appointed) to consist of the Speaker and Chairman of Compiittoos,.thc Controller and AuditorGeneral, and the Eegistrar - General. This is to bo called tho Eopresentation Board, and three are to be a quorum,

Within three months after the end of the present Parliament, and within three months after . the taking of £very subsequent census, the Board is to ditide' tho colony into tho same number of electoral districts by. the number of members to bo elected, so that,, as far as practicable, only olio itierhber shall bo elected for each district. In tho exercise df its functions tho board is to be guided by the following rules :— (1.) Electoral districts shall bo of two classes — country districts and town districts.; (.2) _3Very borough having a population of over (WOO souls shall either form one town district, or be divided into two or more town districts ; where the population of a borough is less than fJ'3OO souls it may bo included in a county district,' oi* with one or more contiguous boroughs ; . (-3)' the remainder of the population of tho colony shall bo divided into country districts,' (4) the total number of members to be elected for country districts shall bear to the aggregate population of such district a propol'tioji exceeding by as nearly as possible 25 per cent.- tne ; proportion borne fey tLte total number of members to bo elected for idwii districts' to tne aggregate population of -6Ke" town districts ; (5) the board shall divide the aggregate population of the country districts by the to'.al number of members to be elected for such districts, and the results so' obtained shall be called " the normal ftiiihbers for country .districts;" (G) it Shall similarly divide the aggregate population of fh'e' town districts by the total number of member's to be elected for' such districts, and the result so obtained shall be called the " normal number for town districts j" (7) the division of the colony into electoral districts shall be effected in such manner that each country district stall contain a population as noarly as possible equal to the normal number for country districts', _nd that each town district shall contain a population as nearly as possible equal to the normal number for town districts ; (8) the board may carry 6t?t ths division Of the colony into districts in siicli mauneras it thinks fit, having regard to the provisions' of this Act, and the divisions or districts mide by it shall be final ; the census last taken before the board makes such division shall be sufficient evidence as to the population of the colony or a district, but the board mriy fake' SWch other- evidence as it thinks reliable. The board is to report to the Governor, and he is to' gazette its decisions, and provision is made for' the formation of new electoral rolls. The Maori representation is not affected by the bill. If necessary, the Governor reServe's power to summon a new Parliament withotit reference to the provisions of this bill, in which case the operation of it is postponed until the expiry of the new Parliament.

The Plurality of Votes Bill is a short measure,- simply providing that hereafter no person shall have or exercise more than one vote at any election for any local governing body which receives or is paid any subsidy out of the general revenue of the colony, or receives any other money or revenues undor or by virtue of any Act or Ordinance "which but for such Act or Ordinance would have formed part of the general revenne of the colony.