Wellington Gossip.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10362, 23 July 1896, Page 3

Wellington Gossip.

[FBOM OUE OWN COEEK3FONDENT,] (BY TELEGRAPH.) Wellington, Wednesday. iTHE BUDGET DEBATE, There fias probably never been a more extraordinary collapse of a Budget debate than occurred this afternoon. I remarked last night that the debate was ot a lifeless oharaoter, and I&Ib was still more apparent to-day. When the discussion was resumed by Mr Bnddo, the member for KalapoJ, there was eeareely a qaornm of members present, and at one time the Treasury benobes were empty, with the exception of the Minister for Justice, who reclined In his seat apparently asleep. The Opposition were also consplouoas by their absence, only three or tour being present during the early parti of the afternoon. After Mr Baddo resumed his aeat there was a slight Interval. The Premier suddenly roee to hla feet with ithe preface " Sir " amidst a regular shout of laughter from both sides of the House, sod fate sneeoh as Treasurer, of conrse, closed the debate. I have previously stated thai the financial debate was likely this year to be overshadowed by the proaaedlngs of the Banking Committee, and <tbia has proved to be absolatoly correct, fit is, at the same time, only fair to state ghat the main cause of the thin 'Souse fhis afternoon was owing to the Wellington raeoa feeing held, a good many mem» bars hiving proceeded to the Butt tola morntaß tor the purpose of attending (them. I .understand that at least a •dozen more member* Intended speaking (before the debate cloied { tiiete was indeed a great demand for tleksfi? for tonight, and one member Is said te fcaye secured a large nnmber of places to ew able his friends to listen to hla deliverance on the financial condition of the colony. The Ministerial party Ja pot at all pleased at the oollapae of the debate. It will not tend to shorten the sesaion, as members •wfco have prepared speeches for the fin&cclal debate are bound to get them ojx ■In «»sa form or other, and this will of bourse (prolong the general dlseMston on tttoe finand&l polloy. THIS COLLAPSE. Ministerial supporters are Industriously trailing it about that ,tha reason why the financial debate collapsed #o suddenly tbU afternoon was beoanse Dr. Mewwan tefused to apeak in a thin Homy). This Jallaoy was, however, exploded tonight b? Mr Masaey, the Opposition whip, who stited that It had been arranged with the «oVarnment Whip that Mr Willis was to follow Mr Bnddo, and that Dr. Newman was to WPly to Mr Willis. Mr Mansey Xted toct Mr Willis had left the Chamber 3 art before Mr Baddo concluded toe remarks, and that being the case it ■was Mr Willis, a .Government supporter, who had broken the arrangement entered into, and not Dr. Newmso., Thlsled to on explanation from Mr Wi% who said ttbot he was In the library preparing his ißOtes when he heard that the debate had «ollßpa3d. He thought, however, that he Sad done good service to theeountryby Shie absence, end he felt sure that the faot t£ his nob hayfag spoken himself, and prolonged thedaba^a would be appreciated by his constituents. THE HOROWHENOA CASE. Major Steward to-day brought ci> the evidence taken by the Reporting Decates Committee in regard to the Interpolatipn ci extracts Id the report of the »orowheaaa CommUsion. MrCarncross usid &c wished to Hansardise the fact that Mr J C. Martin, chairman of the pommission, io. bis evidence before the commlttMP stated that he had unbounded Mth la Z i ability and Integrity of Mr Leslie, Bhoithaßd reporter to the com. mission. Tfw Premier agreed with Mr Martin's opinion as to Mr Leslie, but said that a very serbws mistake had been made !« which Mr tall* was responsible. A motion by the Premier feat the , evld■eace%e printed was objeoted to by Mr Dathlq.on the score of expense, but Jvaß oarrled on the voices. [JOTTINGS. The Premier caused ironioal laughter to-night by aaylng that It was no use wasting time over the Budget, as there was nothing in the Finafcelal Statement that reqnlred dlecnsslon. ■ mYhobb sent the House Into convulsions of laughter to-night by srweiy bating that the Opposition benches this .aeeelon had been filled by absenteea. The Minister e£ Justice considers cir- , «ttmstan«es do not warrant any recom*cli« made to the police officers JoßßCOted m^ celebrated Dean child mutia oase.