POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6092, 19 August 1881, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

[By Telegraph.]

(from oor own correspondent.)

: . Wellington, August 18thEverything is dull as cli ch-water to-night; no gossip, and nothing c-f interest stirring. The sole feature of the day has been Mr Mucandrow'd notice of niilion in favour if quasi Separation or dual IVovinciatism. Thisnai created much comtn it, and promises to form the subject of another lengthy debate mxt week.

In view of the fact that Iho General Estimates ata just touched, tho Public Workß Estimates not even Jippioached, the Kapresencation Bill only on the threshold of Committee, r,he Blilw&y Bill not even read a second time, the Property Tax Amcndmtnt Bill and Customs Tariff Bill not yet inlroduced, while there are 91 bills and 22 notices of motiou on !,!i« order pupcr it does not look as if the prorogation would . take plaoe early next month, as hoped and expected. There maßt either be a tremendous " massacre of innocents," or else the House will have to sit at least two months longer. The latter ia eminently improbable in view of the approaching eltc'.ions.

Apropos of thia subject, Mr Pyk<s gave notice to tiny teat on the 25rh inst. ho would more — ' That this Hou>e having Bat for 10 weeks, and taking into consideration the circumstance that the business of the sesßion has only now commenced, ij of opinion that it is desirable Parliament should be prorogued for a sufficient interval to allow of his Excellency the Gover-. nor paying his projected visit to the Western Pacific, and aleo to give members of both Souses an opportunity of recruiting their »a9ted enorgies,. bo that they may be enabled to enter upon the diacuefiion of public business in a healthful condition of mind and body." Thi^, of course, is one of Mr Pyke's ponderous j.kes, but con. tains some borne truths and pointed hit?. Tnere ia Untie doubt that the greater poitiou of the busings will not be eveu looktd at this session. Private nwmbera are making the moat of this, one of their few remaining days, but the practical reauU is microscopical. Mr Pykfl ia to aak the Government tomorrow afternoon —"What arrangement have leen made, or it ia intended to propose shall ba made, for the payment of the salaries of the'r Excellencies the Governor a- d the Acting-governor during tha probably prolonged abeeL-cs of the Governor while engaged in the performance ofhis funcions aB High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, and whethtr the salaries and expenses of both Governors, or what proportion thereof, will ba charged against revenue and defrayed by iho Treasury of tha Colony."