PARLIAMENTARY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 139, 8 December 1887, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

From our Special Correspondent. [BY TBLEaRAPM.] Wellington, Dec 7. THE CIU 'B. Nothing but the unexpected defeat of tho Government upon Dow.-’e Stews' t’s amendment has been talked of a ’ day, and tho fins l uu' 'omo of tho position is mbjrotf 1 to iranj prophecies, rnd covers Opposition assert that thoy s r e detcrn ' led to do a” in their power to Z. *ll !ho Bill, or nr any rate to render its operation powerless, being of opinion that it pass'ug turn'd place in the bonds of Major At nimi power and con’rol over some 25 me libers of the House, would bo most re~u'eheusible, for fee-• of being wiped out of political existence, should at any no Government ba defeated, would be used, they contond, as a a! -lding threat by which their suppoi i of Government wo,'d be demanded, and they object to being p'-iced in such a position. Mi, 'steria’ : Bt«, oil ‘ho control/, assert that the Pron-'er i» actuated by tho purest and s’ iWest motives of economy in bringing forward tho measure. It is su'd, however, that soveral of thoso who voted for Downio BtewaiPs amendment and had to eat leek at the Government caucus meet - lg, are disgusted with tlio position they have pWoed themselves in, although of course they say publicly that they had no idea it was a party question.

VOGEL AND BPBAI 1. Thoso who ‘ naglnod that the “naming" incident was to bo avowed to pa:s into oblivion were vastly mistaken, for a ro-opening of tie whole question seems bow only too probable. Before tho orders of tho day wero proceeded with this afternoon Sir Julius a’hidod to bis series of resolutions w, Ith rcforonco to his “liming,” and asked the Prem : or if he work! givo facilities for bringing them on. He roforred to the Be" ai tide, and to a very suggestive cartoon ippoar'ig in "10 Auckland Ohserv •, both of which jou. mis are, ho stated, partly owned by the M ; lister of Public Works. 110 considered Vat seeing that the proprietors of the papers had not boon called to *'ie bar of the House tho resolution passed by the House alioubl bo expunged from the records of tho House. J'i reply to Sir Ji’-'us’ request that ho wo' d move in tho way suggested tho Preir'er rote-nod a d'stlnct nogativo. Sir Julius then tb -oatened to bring tho whole question of breach of privilege before tho Flouso, and lay upon ilm Government all rcsponsibfl'ty for wlmt might bo serious consequences. Ties intimation lias caused considerable I'emment, and it is feared that however disagreeable tho actual incident was in itself the discussion which woi'kl ai'se were brunch of privilege re-sod \ 'th regard to the Beil article will bo ten times more so. PROLONGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

Now that the Opposition have scored qne, their tails (to use a common expression), aro no longer down, and they exhibit a more cheerfu'and detour'ned attitude than has for some time be3n tho fuse, Personal auunosity, wb : oh during tlio last day or two has unfortunately nmuifestsd itsolf betweon the Prom-or and tlio Leuder of tho Opposition, has becomo very aecontrated to-day, and the latter seeing to have made up his rr : nd to cancel the polioy of laissez /uii't which bo purontsy adopted last week. The fact *is ’hat the House as a whole is in a very had temper, and there is no ‘saying how lav t.li6 feelihg of irritation on both sides may tend to delay hus-'ness, which is daily accumulating, until it bids faro to becomo impossible to be doalt with. There is a widespread feoling that mombors w : " not enjoy their Christmas turkey and plum duff at home, but that tho cession w’T be prolonged into Januai/.

f ANII SETTLEMENT OF UI LATE M.NIBI IY. An interesting return was laid on the tablo of the blouse yesterday, showing the number of persons sottleil upon the lands of tho Colony during the different systems, from tho 30th March last ud to the 30th September last: On cash lands, 211 ; deferred payments, 184 ; perpetuel lease, 189; small areas, 1 ; agriculture, leases, Rs; village settlements, cash, 43 ; v' lage Settlements, deferred payment,, 10j ; villi'o'e homesteads, special settlements, 107 ; special settlement association, 70, hoino•toiul, 17 ; small grazing runs, 19.— rr, otal, L'-H. Tho return was moved for b- Mr Smith, with tho object of domonati ting the success of the lute Government in their endeavors to place people upon the I dof the Colony.

LEGISLATIVE

Rudeness, aggravated by tho state of personal hostility winch has been awakened during the discussion of the Representation BiH, is seemingly mal 'ng members forget that thoy are, or are expected, t” be gentlemen on uoth sides of the R'u.-e. Noisy interruptions are C ily of greater freijneiny. Sir J- ins Vogel "bites the Premier, who returns the coml'liiiii'iit; Sir George Grey chimes in, nnd "thiTs fed it. incumbent upon themselves '"make the I’ seussion more embittered, b'-uny wbcii Sir Julius Vogel intimated

intention of speaking at some leug i i 'U tin- Ibqii'eseiitaf ion BP I all the roeinrs, with the exception of Ma jor Atkin-

c'il-iily strolled out oi ihe House with

"iiiilfccted contempt on their faces, whilst I‘remier stn’tehed himself fr". length bis chair and 1 icg.m * > rein 1 h h«)uk. inci'i' ix little to oh,(fwi> b n f.veeu '-'.(.her “de but those who have known former

Parliaments a.. i. stat u 1 that this one bears the palm f... niter o sr-garu of that courtesy of conil 1 whwo should characr.erise the r-h-f :,.,sem!.P .{ M,c C-lony. „* r J Some nieniooin seem to consider Government poscess the purse of Fortunatus Mr Taylor to-day gave notice to move in Committeo of Supply that the sum of LSOOO be placed on the supplementary estimates for the purpose of assisting the Synenham Borough Council to purchase a reserve for recreation. representation in/*.. , Evidently Government had their own way at their m ,ting of supporters to-day, Uj judge from the result 01 the d-4mte- ; -i committee on the Representation Bill, as their defeat of last night was changed to

a series of triumphs throughout the sitting. Division after division was carried by Government with a large majority, anil tho only amendments agreed to m the B : " wore those made by themselves. On the mutiou of tho Premier, it was agreed to fix tho number of members at 74 by 49 votes to 29, and other majorities were of even a more substantial character. Even-

tually tho Bill got through uud was reported.