(by telegraph.) (from own own Correspondent.)

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume x, Issue 1958, 18 June 1888, Page 2

(by telegraph.) (from own own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, June 18.

The debate on the Customs Duties Bill concluded on Thursday, as I already informed you. A curious position of affairs was disclosed during the debate. Some of the protectionists were ready to swallow anything in the shape of increased taxation, because it affords a pretext for piling on protective duties. Others were pledged to further retrenchment, and against further taxation, but were pledged to a revision of the tariff in the direction of protection. These feared to lose protection, and therefore pocketed protection. On tbe other hand, members with free-trade proclivities, but fearing a defeat of the Ministry, deny the tariff being protectionist, maintaining it ib designed principally for revenue. Lastly the minority who voted against the bill, who maintain that the Treasurer made deficit appear as large as possible to afford an excuse for imposing heavy duties, that the tariff is wasteful in the extreme, greatly increasing tbe cost of the necessaries of life withont the Treasury reaping the benefit. These last point to the jubilant tone of the protectionists as a plain proof of the real nature of the tariff, and warn the country that this is admit* tedly accepted by protectionists merely as an instalment, and is nothing compared to the demands to be presently made. The odds were therefore three to one ; but the minority had no cause to be disheartened. Twenty-nine walked into thelobby against, two paired, and they claim they would have received at least two more votes from members unavoidably absent, making a compact party of at least thirty-three. The bill was in committee on Friday night. Several amendments to reduce duties all failed except in the case of acetic acid; and someof those who voted lor the second reading, hoping to cut down the duties in committee, are looking rather uncomfortable.

Sir H. Atkinson is very poorly, and has been in bed all Saturday and Sunday, with some throat trouble. He has been looking very jaded for a week past.

At the dinner to Mr Bryce, iv Bellamy's, on Saturday night, thirty were present. Sir F. Whitaker was in the chair; Mr. Mitohelson in the vice. Sir F. Whitaker proposed Mr. Bryce's health in a neat little speech, referring to his courage and patriotism in going Home to clear the character of himself and colony in a court of law — a task which few would have cared to undertake. Hon. Mr. Bryce suitably replied, Baying the one privation he felt was being removed from the converse and society of public men whom he had known and esteemed so many years. Sir J. Hal proposed Sir F. Whitaker's health, referring to the important place filled for so many years in the history by the latter. Sir F. Whitaker replying and expressed the great gratification he felt at so many young men being returned to fill places which he and others must soon vacate.

The weather is very cold and wintry here.