POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

North Otago Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6058, 21 May 1886, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

(by telegraph.) (from our own correspondent.) Wellington, May 20. Members appear to have come to Wellington thoroughly primed to talk on all conceivable questions. The Addresa-in-Lieply and the New Hebrides questions were doubtless legitimate subjects of discussion, bufc tha latter, considering the English Government had app\rently disposed of the matter, brought forth a great deal more talk than was necessary and Induced the belief that members talked for talking's sake merely. This afternoon the order paper might have been disposed of easily in a couple of hours, and yet the whola Bitting was occupied in debating for a return showIng the number of allotments and the total acreage of laud in each land district surveyed and ready for occupation ou the homestead syßtem. Ssme twenty members had a fling for or against the various settlement schemes in operation, and went over the old ground that had been thoroughly covered la3t year. There was nothing new in the apaches made, It was purely waste time. If members persist in beating the air with their eloquence in this nay there is no telling when the real work will be begun or ended. Notice of a lot of bills was given, some of them regular old stagers, such as MrSaddon's "'Awkers" and Pedlars, and the Auctioneers' Bills, etc. MrHannaford, who sometime ago askad the permission of the Colonial Secretary to dispose of the hearts and hands of modest maidena by the unique process of art union, and whose request was treated with polite contempt, has now, through Sir George Grey, petitioned Parliament to alter the Gaming and Lotteries Act so as to enable him to conduct matrimonial lotteries. Mr Guinness wishes to know •if the Government intend to take steps this Sisslon to place the railwas under boards. I may Bay the Minister for Public Works is anxious to have this done, but I do not think he will attempt to bring down a bill to give effect to it this session as there is not much chance of the House even looking at such a measure. I am told that there 1b a Btrong combination of Northern members in favor of insisting upon a redistribution of seats bill this session, but, of course, nothing can be done until the returns are pre aented to Parliament. The discussion of the East and "West, Coast Railway ia the House to-night is considered by the Government to be most injurious to the interests of the company. Some strong language was used respecting giving so much land to the company, to the detriment of settlement but a motion that the Government should prepare plans showing the blocks of land proposed to be given to the company was nflgatived by 34 to 24. (per press association.) The following were tho telegrams read by the Premier In the House this evening : Premier New Zealand to Premier Victoria — "Have you received any cablegrams from your Agent-General contradictory to, or denying, Reuter's telegram that England has refused to consent to the cesßion*of the New Hebrides 1" " May 19, 1886. Hon. R. Stout, WellingtonNew • Hebrides — No telegram received modifying or denying Reuter ; on the contrary, telegraphic advices from our A_ffent-General are distinctly confirmatory. J. O. Thomas (in the absence of the Premier." The following is the telegram from tho Agent-General ; "London, May 19 — Had long convocation with (he Secretary of State for the Colonies of a very satisfactory character. He stated that her Majesty's Government adhered to the pledge to the colonies, and so Informed the French ambassador. From the first the French proposals were too important to decline (Jecido ?) without direct reference to the colonies. The French ambassador is now privately informed that there is no prospect of aesenting. The official reply to him will await the receipt of official despatches fcom tho colonies, (signed) Graham Barry, Agent-General," J. E. Thomas, for Premier, Melbourne.