POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7463, 10 September 1892, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

TELEGRAPH.) (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, September 8. FOR .SERVICES RENDERED. It is understood that a vote for L3OOO, as a pension to Sir H. Atkinson's family, will appear on the supplementary estimates. GAMBLING. Mr Tanner is asking whether the Minister of Justice has recehed any intimation relative to an alleged gambling transaction in a Chnstchurch Hotel recently, in which a member of the legal profession is reported to have lost LI 2BO in a single night, and whether instructions will be given to the police to enquire into the matter with a view to instituting a prosecution. BILL* The Council to-day passed The Contractors' and Workmen's Lien Bill through Committee. LAND BILL. Further progress was made with the Land Bill, the Minister winning all along the line when divisions wero called for. As a final chance of giving the perpetual leaie tenants the right to acquire the freehold Mr Geo. Hutchison moved that all perpetual leaseholders should have the right to buy the freehold hen they had completed all their conditions on paying the cash value. This was negatrred by 31 to 17. A JAUNT. Sixty pernons, including members and their wires, are going to Picton and Nelson in the Hinemoa on Friday night. September 9. THE CONTRACTORS AND WORKMEN'S LIEN BILL passed its third reading in the Council this afternoon. In the course of the discussion on the measure the Hon. Mr Stevens alluded to this session being a very important one on account of the passing of the Labor Bills, and strongly resented the charge that the Council were unwilling to consider measures in the interests of workmen. A more disgraceful charge, and made more improperly than it, had ne\er been made, he asserted, against any Legislature in the world. A BREEZE. Never was adage " It is the unexpected that generally happens in politics" more fully exemplified than during this forenoon's sitting of tho House. From long after midnight till dawn of day progress was made through Committee with the Land Bill, the Minister of Lands successfully resisting all attempts at modification or amendment made by the Opposition members. When the one-nnin-onc-run clause was reached appeals to postpone the clause or to agree to progress being reported were made in \ain, and several attempts to effect a count out proved futile. At half-past six the leader of the Opposition appealed to the actingPremier to agree to an adjournment, but Mr Seddon replied that they had now reached a stage at which they should go on and put the Bill through. - Mr Lake thereupon began a stonewall to enable the other members to be sent for, and at 7.20 a.m. Mr Rolleston thanked God he had <i constitution which would admit of his sticking to his post, and not see the House browbeaten in a shameful manner. The Speaker left the chair for an hour after breakfast. Members, were evidently in an angry state. While Mr Seddon was complaining of the obstructive tactics of the Opposition, Mr Fergus, turning to Mr Harkiieau, ejaculated " Hear how he lies." The Acting Premier appealed to the Chair, and Mt Rees aaid, had the worda been intended to be overheard he would have insisted on an apology. Mr Seddon retaliated with heat, that if any man had used ouch words to him outside the Parliament Chamber, ht would hare taken such steps at would prevent his u»ing thorn again. Sir George Grey immediately moved that the Minister's words be taken down, and after some confusion progress was restored, and the words were reported to the Speaker, who called ou the Minister for an explanation. Mr Seddon explained that he meant he would hare had the offending member summoned for conduct calculated to provoke a breach of the peace, and reared | while his offence was considered. After a lengthy discussion, the motion by the Minister of Education that Mr Seddon's explanation be accepted by the House as fully satisfactory, was carried as against an amendment by Mr George Hutchison, to strike out the words "as fully satisfactory." After the deoision of the House was announced to Mr S»ddon, and he had claimed having shown grtafc forbearance

und«r provocation, Mr Fergus, iv a handsome manner, apologised for interjecting to 'i friend a remark which had been overheard on the Treasury benches, and h.id caused so much feeling. Tho House then (1 p.m ) adjourned till halt-past seven. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Ten days' leave of absence has been granted to the Punt muster-General and to Mr Duncin on nccounh of ill-health. EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENTS. The Minister of Lmds iv toads next session to introduce a Bill dealing exclusively with educational t ndowments. THE LAND BILL. O.i the House resuming this evening members showed a disposition to settle down to work, and excellent progress was made with the Lmd Bill, the remaining 60chusea of which were passed without «ny miteriiil amendments.