Parliamentary Gossip.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 841, 22 July 1879, Page 2

Parliamentary Gossip.

WELLINGTON. ' This Day. During the No Confidence debate on Friday night, the Speaker several times ruled certain expressions as unparliamentary. Mr. Joyce interrupted Sir William Fox on an absurd point of order ; but was put down by the Speaker. Mr. Shrimski also was put down for objecting to an interjection by Sir W. Fox while Sir George Grey was speaking. There saemed.a disposition on the part of the Opposition to push on the debate. Sir William Fox wanted it continued yesterday, but after consultation with the Whips did not persist in the demand, though at one time it looked as if there was going to be a party division on that point. Sir George Grey spoke as if quite confident of appeal to the country, and a strong opinion prevails that he has sounded the Governor on the subject. That the division will be against Ministers is absolutely certain, but the majority may not be more than seven or eight. The division on Mr. Macandrew|a motion about the steam service _is scarcely criterion even putting aside Sheehan's voting with a majority against his colleagues, which was of course, only a bit of finesse. In the first place there were a good many members absent, and then the steam service question was not of the same moment as one of a want of confidence. Sir William Fox made great fun out of Grey and Ballance's quarrel, and drew roars of laughter when he said that Grey wanted to have Ballance turned ont by the scruff of the neck from the room into which he had been invited like a fly by a spider. The debate will probably last all this week, as the Government are~ determined not to be hurried to a division. One or two attempts have been to hold a caucus of Government supporters but failed from lack of attendnce.