POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5428, 12 July 1879, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

[BT TjSLEORArH.]

(FROM ODB OWN COHKE3PONI)EHT,)

WelunotoK, July lltb. Tljs o;.euicg ceremonies were very briif to-day. The Council did not Boom to look kindly ;vt Sir William FitzV-rbeit ss ha stood c-t the table while tho Ci<:rk read hia conamUßion, after which ho took l.i-i seat.'

Colonel WMtmore than Jiond'd bim n m-i«-Baga from the Governor, ivf.Donneirjg the appointment of new msmieis during the rece,»iJ, which was read.

A second tvemge, on aoroo other nutter, was then banded him, and Mr WaU:r'jot;so gut up and profosed to he taken nbaok by the conrsa pursued, a*,. till' Parliament was opo.i«»i by ihe Gortrtoc or CoßHfiisaon, tha Council wai not legally sitting. Ho rained-this us a constitutional question, and referred to the legal opinkn to given some years fg", When, through tho abasii'jn of tbo Governor on the Weat Coast the Houses met in pursuance of proclamation, but without anyona to open them. Colonel WhHmore at onca apolcgised, saying the error was his. He had Berotol meisages from the Governor, and should no doubt hays presented firet tho ons appointing the GatomU■ion. Ho would now do so. The Commission iru then rend, and the Cocamiariouera neut for. ■ In the Hous-i of Rcpre»entativea, the speeches TOtdn regarding tho bpojkarcbip wore brief. Tho tipeakrr elect will be presented to the Governor to-morro if. Thcra h gi>icg to bs a great fight for tha Chairman«hir> of Committees , between Hr Bonny, m Ministerial oaodidat«, and Mr Syymonr as Opposition. It neenvs doubtful which ■vrs.j th« inajwty of Qtsgo members are going. Bninour L«a it that several who havejbitherto teen Governmentaopporttra arowaveriDg. • No direct ovtrturfs have yst made to any of them abpnt joining tho Ministry. Mr '.S.Vf.Thomßtn't oppointawnt would appawntly be moiit popalar smengat them.

The Governor's speech on Tuesday will not be more than ordinarily long. It will contain a very clear definition of the Government policy. The principal measures will be an Electoral Bill, Redistribution of Repraacntation Bill, Maori Repreuentati-n Bill, Land Tax Amendment Bill, Income Tax Bill. The Electoral Bill will recognise duly residential ratepayins; quslificition, tho latter also applying to Natives iv voting for European memberp.

The- Representation Bill will propose an arbitrary diatribution of seats at the close of the preeent session, but after the clo«e of next Parliament the representation to be aslf-adjust-ir,R at periods. Ths Auditor-General, Speaker of the Houjo, and Colonial Secretary being a Standing Committee to make the readjustment according to population. " , ~ The Representation Bill will probably propose to give two additional Maori memeTh'e Land Tax Amendment Bill will propose a progressive tax on the present batas. The Income Tax Billjwill propose an income tax of 2£ per cent, on all incomes over Ll5O per annum.

There will alao be a Loan Bill, but it is not quite certain what the amount will be. This will probably not be Jabsolutely settled till members' feelings on the subjact have been sounded.