SPECIAL TELEGRAMS. PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 2640, 8 October 1877, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS. PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

[from our special correspondent.] WASTE LAND BILL. Saturday, October 6. — The Honso sat nntil 3 o'clock this morning 1 , on tho Waste Lauds Bill, and got through the j deferred payment clauses without any i material change. Several divisions were taken to modify in favof of largo purchases, bat the majority went with the advocates of small holdings and liberal land regulations. The proposal to nominate members of Waste Lands Boards was strongly opposed. A proposal to elect members was rejected' also. A proposal that Road Boards should nominate members for tho Governor to select from, and thirdly that 1 members of the House for each Proviu. cial District should recommend the members for the Government to select. This received less support than tho others. THB POLITICAL POSITION is unchanged, except that it is announced in the evening paper that Mr. W. Johnston has gone over to the Opposition. I have reason, however, to doubt tho correctness of this statement. Whilßt parties aro no evenly balanced it is nlwnys a matter of doubt how the question will go until an actual division' is takeu. Human nature, especially political human, is not above the influence of dazzling promises. It is rumored that promise of office has seduced Mr. Curtis from his allegiance in snoh an unexpected manner. Almost before tho echos of his last speech iv defence of the Ministry have Siod away iv tho diatauco, bo has pledged hiinsolf to thoir oppo-

nents. After such a case of heartless desertion, any announcement of defection will not give surprise.