The Defeat of the Home Rule Bill.

Otago Witness, Issue 181, 6 August 1886, Page 28

The Defeat of the Home Rule Bill.

Truth gives the following account of events in connection with the defeat of Mr Gladstone's bill in the House of Commons :—: —

This use of particular words by the Premier was the rock upon which negotiations had already split. Had he promised distinctly in his speech on the second reading himself to bring in a proviso in Committee for the retention of the Irish members upon Imperial matters, the bill would have been won. Had he later on at the Foreign Office meeting, when he gave way on this point, said that he would withdraw the 24th clause, it would have been won. Mr Gladstone, who it has been asserted again and again by the Opposition journals of the metropolis was prepared to do anything and to accept anything inorder*to secure a majority, has fallen owing to his conscientiousness. He would not say, on the second reading speech, that he would himself propose a proviso in regard to the retention of the Irish members, because he had not the purport of the proviso in his mind. He would not at the Foreign Office say that the 24th clause should be withdrawn, because he was not sure whether, as a matter of drafting, the clause would have to be withdrawn, or whether it would only have to be altered.

When Mr Parnell made his revelations on Monday night, all eyes were turned on Lord Randolph Churchill, and everyone seemed to be surprised that he did not get |up and give Mr Parnell permission to speak. He did not, for a very good reason. He had nothing to do with the interview to which Mr Parnell alluded. The member of the Cabinet who had met Mr Parnell was not in the House of Commons. Had Mr Parnell stated the name, it is probable that the bill would have been carried. This he was strongly urged to do in a personal explanation after the leader of the Opposition had sat down ; but, after consultation with a few friends, he decided that this would be a breach of good faith without the permission of the person concerned. Thus the very two men— Mr Gladstone and Mr Parnell — who have been denounced as utterly unscrupulous had each the fate of the bill in his hands, and preferred defeat to any tampering with the strictest veracity and the strictest honour.

Wo have received the Hunedin Horticultural Society s schedule and list of pri/.es ior the year 1886 7 The schedule is c msiderably increased in size this year, a fact which we presume is evidence of the prosperity of the Society. In addition to a very large amount offered as ordinary prizes, 19 special prizes in amounts varying trom 10s 6d to £3 0 are offered for competition at the December show, and 22 (from £5 5s downwards) at tho March show In connection with the prize offered for pansies in pots the committee publish the standard authorised by the West ot bcotland Pansy Society for the guidance of growers. A soring" show, 'to be held on some day in October 1877. is announced, so that tho society are prepared now to undertake the management of four exhibitions, and only require the qooperntion of exhibitors to make the Dunedin society one of tho greatest successes In the colony,