WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1341, 11 August 1877, Page 6

WELLINGTON.

July 26th.'

Although Parliament has now been a week hY session there is really nothing stirring. Mem.bers look askance at each, ether, .and seem generally dissatisfied with the condition of affairs, but as yet no attempt even has been made at* consultation, to see if the causes of complaint afford any common standing .ground. Messrs Morria and Wason, the two Gownment whips, are busy from morning to night buttonholing members to find out what each wanted;' but the demands ate apparently so various and. irreconcileable that it is not easy to see how the Government can shape a course to satisfy many. Mr J. O. Brown, who last year was the ' •Opposition whip, is not here, nor are Messrs Rees, Sheehan, or Stout, all very abtive ; Oppositionists, and until they come nothing like organisation seems likely to be attempted. Many of the Government supporters of last session,' such as Mr Ballance and Mr Bryce, are under • .stood to be very much dissatisfied, and anxious for a reconstruction, if' not an entire change, of' Ministry. On the other hand, Mr Reid's' presence in the Ministry secures it the votes of several Otago members,' who last year were on the other side. Mr Gisborne already shows a ' 'disposition to take up an attitude of decided 1 opposition, and his great knowledge of official' matters will render him' extremely dangerous. ; ,Sir George Grey is, I think, disposed to be more moderate hi tone this session than last, " and on two occasions, when he has spoken, he~ i has shown a decided .disposition to check himselfwhen rushinginto the extravagance of 'language about the rights of mankind and the happiness ,of unborn generations, which used to' detract^ I so much from the weight of most of his speeches' j during the last two sessions, by rendering them > slightly ridiculous. Ke made a, very excellent ■ speech last night on the question ot the composition of Committees and the 'n?snagem.er)fof the wasteland* in Auckland, the subject being raised by a motion to add Mr TeachemakerV ' name to the Waste Lands Committee. There seems throughout the House to be a feeling of ; " dissatisfaction at the manner in which the 1 , various Committees have been made up this ! session. The Government always on the first I day give notice of the appointment of th'eas

Committees, and no amendment substituting one name for another can be received without notice. Thus, practically, the selection in the first instance rests with the Government, and they do not seem to have exercised the power very discreetly this session, as was pretty well «hown by the omission of Mr Sheehan's name from tho list of members of the Native Petitions Committee. Mr Sheshan was one of the moat active and useful members of this Committee last year, his knowledge of the Maori language and Maori customs being very great. With marvellous want of tact Ministers, when attention was called to the subject, avowed that they had purposely omitted Mr Sheehan's name because he was known to be •ngaged professionally on behalf of certain Natives who might be petitioners. It was at one« pointed out this reason was really an imputation on Mr Sbeehan'a character, as it implied that he wanted to make use of his position as a member to forward other interests. The Government, instead of yielding gracefully, actually refused to accept the voices when tho question was put in the first instance, and demanded a division, but when the bell had been rung they did not press for it, and so avoided a defeat by an overwhelming majority.