POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WELLINGTON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 7117, 15 July 1886, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WELLINGTON.

THE PARLIAMENTARY SCANDAL. Tiidusday, July 15.— The chief incident of the afternoon's sitting was the personal explanations of Messrs. Peacock and Steward with reference to the part they took in tho sale of tho Rotorua and Wiiimate Railway debentures to the Company. Mr. Peacock spoke in a sort of injuredindignant style, totally repudiating the affair as referred to in the report. He also read a telegram from the chairman of the Company, which btatcd that the member for Newton was avois3 to having anything to do with Mr. Steward until the Company had first endeavored to sell the debentures itself, and failed in doing so. MR. STEWARD'S EXPLANATION. Mr. Steward did not succeed so well in clearing himself of the charge; but the House were prepared to take a lenient view of the affair, and told him " to sin no more." Ho stated that when he undertook the sale of tho railway debentures he had not the slightest idea — oh, no, not the remotest thought — that the Government would over think of purchasing sueh — he did not say fi bad stock," it is tiue. but it ij evident his words implied it. lie also was furnished with a telegram which stated that Mr. Steward was not asked to sell tho debentures till after the District Railways Purchasing Act hid been pissed. HOUSE SILENT ON THE SUBJECT. The members were evidently " pouri " on the subject. No one felt In could rise without condemning Mr. Ste wmd'w action; ani so they thought, it seems, th.\t they nad better censure him by their silence. The Premier at last rose, and in a .*<> r 't of way tried to smooth the affair over — saying he considered that Mr. Steward had acted in a straightforward manner, and no blame was attached to him or Mr. Peacock. Still, what had been done would not bo the correct thing for any other member to do, s.> he moved a resolution to the effect that whilst there was no corrupt motive on the part of Mr. Steward in what he had done, the same thing had better not be tried on by any of the other members, or they would have to suffer for it. The House silently agreed to this, and, as usual, " the matter dropped." PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. The Premier announced last night that the discussion on the Public Works Statement would come on when the Loan Bill was brought on, which probably would be on Tuesday or Wednesday next.