WELLINGTON GOSSIP.,

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6606, 21 July 1883, Page 3

WELLINGTON GOSSIP.,

[FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] [BY TELEGRAPH. 1 Wellington, Friday. A sudden surprise of a somewhat startling character occurred in the House this afternoon, when Mr Swanson, one of the warmest supporters of the Government, moved that Ministers should take back their Estimates, with a view to their reduction by £50,000. The Government, of course, treated the motion as equivalent to a vote of no-confidence, although Mr Swanson altogether disclaimed a hostile intention. Major Atkinson distinctly told the House that he could not possibly make any further reductions than had already been made in preparing the Estimates, and added that if further reductions were to be made the House would have to put other men on the Treasury benches to do so. The Opposition were very confident that if the motion came to a division at once it would either be carried, or at least the voting would be so close as to make it rather unpleasant to the Government. The general impression appeared to be that Ministers would put up their men to speak so as to delay the division till next week, but this proved to bo incorrect, as the Government Whips were observed to be gathering their forces, and when the division was called every member was in his place, excepting, of course, tbe pairs. The majority against the motion would have been 15 instead of 9, had not thren Government supporters -Messrs Wright, J. Green, and Swanson — voted for the motion. A lengthy triangular duel then ensued between Sir George Grey, Major Atkinson, and Mr Rolleston, which was interrupted by the half-past 10 o'clock adjournment. I understand that the promoters of the Native Land Company's bill int-md giving their beßt support to Sir George Grey's Native Land Act Amendment Bill, and that tbe bill itself was the outcome of an arrangement between them. It is underderstood that the bill has been framed so as to catch the votes of some of tbe Government supporters, who were expected to vote for the Native Land Company's , bill. • The latest lobby rumor is that Mr Pilliet, whose health is known to be in a very precarious state, intends resigning for Stanmore in favor of the Hon. E. Richardson, who has been in Wellington , for some time past. A curious point has cropped up with • reference to the committee now sitting for the purpose of enquiring into the ! alleged evasion in Otago of the Land Act. t It appears that the committee found their labors will be practically use- > less unless the witnesses are indemnified 1 against any possible law proceedings that might arise in consequence of evidence 1 given before the committee. It was in 1 consequence of this that Mr Rolleston to-day introduced the Parliamentary L Witnesses Indemnity Bill, which he said I was essential in order that the work of 3 the committee might have any practical i effect whatever. He said he would ask that the bill be passed through all its r stages on Tuesday.