WELLINGTON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVII, Issue 159, 21 July 1882, Page 2

WELLINGTON

[From our own Correspondent. J fßr Telegraph]. "••• Thursday tight. An analysis of the voting and pairs in last night's division leads to some curious combination. It now turns out that every single vote was either recorded or paired, thus as 84 voted and 10 paired the actual numbers recorded were : — Ministerial 49 ; Opposition 45, but the former included Messrs Pilliet and J. Buchanan, who assert that they voted, not as on a Ministerial question, but as being strongly opposed to Sir Gr. Grey's Bill, and the Opposition votes included Messrs Weston, Fish, and M. W. Green. It will at once be seen then that these facts indicate some curious party complications. If Ministers have only 49 votes, including Messrs. Pilliefc and J. Buchanan, and the Opposition 4o without them, a single transfer of those two votes would produce a " tie," now that Messrs Fish and M. W. Green have so openly given in their adhesion to the Opposition. The latter party, moreover, profess to have good hopes of securing at last two others from the Ministerialists of last, night, indeed some of the very enthusiastic Oppositionists go much further,, and loudly toast that they are now sure of a, majority of ten against the Government, but we know from ■ experience how utterly unreliable are all such estimates. As Ministers still count on a favorable majority of six, it is clear that there must be some very wide discrepancy in the respective calculations. It would be indiscreet at the present stage to hint at certain early possibilities, bub ife is quite certain that both sides are now straining their utmost efforts- (and that in a quiet determined way which contrast? remarkably iwith the previous empty bluster) preparing for an approaching; struggle, for the mastery. Most of the older and more wary veterans condemn last night's precipitate trial of strength as indiscreet and unwise, but, judicious or injudicious, the thing is done now, and has opened out; quite a new vista of probabilities, and the no confidence motion which has hitherto been mere empty talk may now at any time assume a very practical shape. I .hear that the Opposition leaders will endeavor to-morrow to concert steps for bringing on this long talked of motion, but even now I shall not be at all surprised if it falls through. I have the strongest reason to believe that they are counting on the votes of men who will certainly not go with them on the subject at issue if it really comes to a division, and unless any new and unexpected complications or rearrangements should take place I feel tolerably safe in predicting that if the Opposition venture to join issue directly with Ministers on a vote of want of confidence, the Government will beat them by a small but safe majority. The Ministerial, leaders justify, their action of last night on the ground that it had become absolutely necessary to consolidate the party, which was rapidly growing demoralised through the weakness of the Opposition, and that it was essential to call on the allegiance of Government supporters at once in order to administer a blow to the Opposition and check the insidious encroachments of the latter which had been developing more and more each day. It is claimed that the desired effect, has been secured and that the results -are entirely satisfactory. Time will, show whether this view is correct. It is curious, that both sides profess to be delighted with the result of last night's; division. No papers of any general interest were tabled to-day. The total number hitherto presented this session now amounts to 130. No fewer than 310 petitions have already been presented since the session commenced, and the daily, flow seems to continue with unabated copiousness. A return of all sums paid by the Government in connection with the sittings of the Assessment Courts under the Rating Acts, during the last financial year has been presented to Parliament. The. total amount is £765. ' At the present time there are as many . as 85 Bills before the House of Representatives in various stages of progress. I rieed hardly say, that the chances of their passiog ou to the statute book are, in the majority of instances, exceedingly remotei but it seems to amuse hon members to bring them in regardless of their ultimate fate. It is probable that Mr Walter Johnson will make his promised statement relative to the establishment of direct steam communication between Great Britain and New Zealand on Monday or Tuesday next. The letter from Sir Dillon Bell already referred to in the House is now in the hands of the prin ters, and will be made public on the day that the statement is made. lam informed that the letter is very lengthy and gives very full information on the subject derived from the best Home authorities. Briefly, I understand its purport is ; this : vthat if a very fast and ; • luxurious : rri wl . ' service is' desired, the bost will be enormous, an 4 a "'t'ery large subsidy will 'bate to f be paid 1 by the "colony, britthat a moderately rapid and comfbrtable passenger and cargo service,, of say 50 days each Way (i>l, reducing the present time for ; sailing vessels, by one half), can be secured for a comparatively trifling coat to the State, Mr Coster is now in Wellington on behalf 'of the New Zealand Shipping Company, and it is understood that he is prepared to make certain definite proposals. The Cemeteries (consolidatory) Bill consolidates all the existing legislation of the Assembly respecting cemeteries and burial grounds contained in eight Acts, and also proposes to repeal all the existing Provincial legislation of a general character upon those subjects. The general scope of the Bill is to provide means for the control of all cemeteries and burial grourjds by trustees or managers, as at present, including the power to close such cemeteries or burial grounds,, which now exists, but in undertaking- the' consolidation of these measures the Commissioners were led to consider the necessity of providing means by which the care and control of cemeteries could be vested in local bodies,. and with this object have prepared certain clauses to which attention is specially directed. The local bodies to whom the powers are to be given are the County and Borough Councils. The New Stamp Bill (which it is proposed shall come into force on the lsfc October next) contains a new provision intended to get over the difficulty which, often occurs when persons presenting instruments offer to supplement the facts by extraneous evidence, a practice which, if allowed, would

render the first part of the clause nugatory and lead to embarrassment. The right to a higher duty, if the facts should justify such duty being charged, is saved under the new Bill. A provision is added imposing a penalty for registering or recording any transfer of shares without its being duly stamped. An addition is suggested as to the duty to be paid upon an exchange. This appears to have been t an omission in the Stamp Act of 1881 and covers cases which may frequently arise. An addition is make to the exemption of instruments executed by or on behalf of the Queen. Since the abolition of the Provinces the Crown frequently conveys land which, the Superintendent of a province was formerly authorised to convey.