PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7656, 5 June 1886, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[by telegraph.—-own correspondent.] Wellington, Friday. AFTER THE CRISIS. Everybody here is talking about the collapse of the debate on the want-of-confidence question. It has certainly cleared the political atmosphere. Nobody can tell how it was done, but there is no end of suggeation as to the means. Of course, the easiest suggestion is that Ministers sent for the doubtful members in the House, and said, " Well, you shall have what you want for your constituencies, if you will support the Government." 1 have beard names mentioned, and particulars stated as to the terms of arrangement entered into between the Government and certain members. Just now you might pick up half'a-dozensuoh stories between Parliament Buildings and Lambton Quay. There is, however, another version of certain interviews between the Government and, I understand, members, which is more likely to be true. When it was found that Mr. "Montgomery proposed a reduction of £75,000 in the expenditure the Government allowed it to be known through their supporters that they entertain proposals for economy iu administration which would save the country very much more than Mr. Montgomery's amount could effect. . I learn from good authority that tho Government intimated their intention of saving largely upon the departmental expenditure during the coming year. I have heard statements as to the amount of the proposed saving, but I cannot vouch for their correctness. It is said that the retrenchment will take the

;orm of reduction of so much per cent, upon

tho amount voted. The amount of the percentage will vary according as the par-' ticular department to which retrenchment is to be applied is over or undermanned, The opponents of the Government consider this form of party as not strictly legitimate. One of your Auckland members denounces it in un-

measured terms. He speaks of it as " scandalous." There is another account of tlje result of the discussion, which is to theeffoct that the " native" vote beiug made safe, the with theOtago members, and thewhole force of Ministerial persuasion was turned in this direction. Whatever the influence was that exercised its sway over the House immediately after the afternoon adjournment, its potency was recognised the moment the evening sitting commenced. From the moment Mr. Bryce concluded his speech, the estimate of the number on each side of the division list was in favour of the Government. In the early part of the afternoon people believed that the Government could scarcely withstand the suddenness of the attack, and the apparent force with which it seemed to bo backed. A majority of 2, 3, and 4 was given to the Government as each hour of the evening sitting passed. At eleven o'clock the whips declared that no division could take placo that night. The house was settling down to tho necessity of a long and dreary

debate. )The bettor speeches had all gone off, when the whole business stopped. The division bell was clamouring through every part of the building, and members wore hastening to the Chamber. When the result of the division was announced, there was not a movement which indicated the least surprise. Some of the speeches were uncommonly good. I have already mentioned the success in rhetorical effect of Sir R. Stout, the Hon. Mr. Ballance, and the Hon. Mr. Bryco. There was one speech, however, from an Auckland member which was received with great applause. This was the speech of Mr. J. B. Whyte, of Waikato. Unfortunately ho was very imperfectly heard in the Press Gallery. The effect of it must

have been very great, when all the local Press laud it on terms of high eulogium. The Government organ, the Evening Post, says of the speech in its leader: "Mr. White delivered one of those hard-hitting, amusing, gentlemanly, and perfectly good-humoured speeches for which he possesses a unique reputation." The Press speaks of his speech as " a brilliant combination of epigrams,

which, while it put the Houso into the best of humour, carried many truths home more forcibly than the most violent declamation." To day is the calm after the storm. The Government have apparently resolved to lose no time in proceeding to the practical work of this session, and moved the House into Committee of Supply immediately

after the several members had put their questions. Tho Post Office Department was passed with scarcely an objection, and the House went into committee upon Sir R. Stoat's Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill when the members assombled after dinner. NATIVE DISTRESS. Among the petitions presented to the House this afternoon was one from Ngati Potiki and others of Whakatane, praying that some land might bo given them to live upon. The language of the petition is peculiar. They pray that the House will show them some consideration. They say, in conclusion —"We have no land; the land on which we are now living belongs to Tnhourangi. There is not a piece of land on the face of the earth that we can call our own." There is another petition from a native who asks for some help because he is afflicted with disease. The petition is signed Parihaka Ngatuka. THE NGAPUHIS. A petition was presented to-day from the chiefs of iheNgapuhi tribe, praying for a rehearing by the Native Lands Court of the case of the claimants to the Te Pukekuke block, which was given toTamiora Auropeta at the sitting of the Court, held at Mongonui on the 19th February, 1885. PUHIPUHI GUMFIELD. A petition was presented to-day from 3G natives of the Bay of Islands district, praying that this gumfield should be given to them for gumdigging purposes. NAVAL OFFICER'S CLAIMS. A petition was presented to-day, from Charles Mainwaring, setting forth that he came to the colony in 1563, being at that time an officer in Her Majesty's Indian Navy ; that in that capacity he was entitled to a grant of land which he never got, whereforo lie prays relief.

THE S AN FRANCISCO SERVICE,

In the discussion in committee upon the postal service the subject of this service cropped up again. All sorts of returns were asked for as to the comparative number of letters carried by this and the direct service, the number of passengers, and oven the amount, value, and nature of the cargo carried by the two lines of steamers. Mr. Hatch made one of the peculiar statements which distinguish him in debate, when he said the San Francisco steamers carried chiefly " coffins and monkeys." Sir J. Vogel, however, assured the hon. member that the San Francisco service carried the lion's share of letters ; that that route was the most attractive for passenger! ; that the American Congress had shown their practical interest in the service ; that the New South Wales Government had punctually paid their contribution, although, owing to circumstances, the ratification of the contract by the Sydney Parliament had not bean obtained. Almost as the Colonial Treasurer was speaking these words a copy of the evening paper was put into his hands showing that a cable had been received announcing the agreement of the Legislative Assembly in Sydney in tho terms of the contract.

ANCIENT HISTORY OF AUCKLAND,

Mr. Locke, member for Giaborne, in speaking upon the Native Equitable Owners. Bill mentioned a curious passage from the early history of Auckland. He said the site of Auckland (3000 acres) was purchased from the natives for 50 blankets, 50 sovs, 20 pairs of trousers, 20 shirts, six kogs of tobacco, and 20 hatchets. He inquired what would be the effect if a possible outside owner were to come in and claim a share of the actual value of the city at the present time. The lion, member was speaking of the injustice to bona fido purchasers under Native Lands Act, 1865, of letting in outside owners to assert a claim after a period of 21 years.

VISIT OF CARDINAL MORAN.

The Hon, Mr Buckley, Colonial Secretary, and the Hon. Mr. Tole, Minister of Justice, were examined this morning before a committee of the Legislative Council with reference to the public reception in Wellington granted to Cardinal Morau,