A FISH IN HOT WATER.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 4459, 28 August 1889, Page 2

A FISH IN HOT WATER.

(BY TELEGRAPH.)

(from oor own correspondent, ) Wehinqton, August 27. Although the Ejtimates havo been under consideration slnoo 10 o'olook, no progress has been made. The class taken was Customs, and an amendment was immediately moved to reduoe the vote by L2OO, aa a protest against the appointment of Mr ShannoD. There was a pretty lengthy discussion on this item, and then Mr Fish and the Premier got to loggerbeads over the salary paid to tho Collector of Customs at Dunedin, who, it appears, receives less than Collectors at other large ports. Then Mr FJsh oommenood, out of ravenge, to obstruot, and is dividing tho House on every itam, to the intense disgust of everyone. Tho whole proceedings are too contemptible to deserve mention, and the aotloa of the member for Danedin South Is only that of an enraged buffoon. August 28. After the telegraph offioo closed this morning, Mr Fish continued his obstrno- ( tlve tactics, and out of bravado, moved to reduce an item " six landing waiters, Dunedin," by L 325. He afterwards do- ' sired to withdraw the amendment, bat a division was called for in order to force Mr Fish to vote for bis amendment to reduce the salaries of o(floors in his own dlßtriot, or to vote against his own amendment. Mr Fish deoided that it would bo better for him to stultify himaelf than to offend anyone in his own dlstriot, and, taking shelter behind some explanation made by the Premier, ho voted against the amendment he had himself moved, Only two voted for the amendment. Mr Fish then moved to reduce the salary of the collector at Oamaru, but as the Honso again deoided against him by an overwhelming majority, he apparently determined to deßist from further obstruction, exhausted by his own folly. At half past 2, an amendment by Mr M'Keozie to reduoe tho vote by L2OO, as a protest against the appointment of Mr Shannon, was put and lost by 23 to 12. A lengthy discussion arose on the marine vote, strong exoeption being taken to the salary paid to Captain Fairohlld (LSOO a year). It was stated during the discussion that no commander in the service of the Union Company reoelved moro than L 350 a year, and Mr Kerr moved to redace the vote by Ll5O a year. There was considerable disoußsion on this amendment, and ultimately the Premier agreed to accept a reduction by LSO, and Mr Kerr withdrew his amendment. The votes for the Government Insurance Department and Public Trust Oifioe were then passed wlthont discussion, and the Honse rose at'a quarter past threo.