POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WELLIN GTON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9191, 19 September 1891, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP IN WELLIN GTON.

TARANAKI AGAIN TO BE BOBBED. Saturday, September 19. —When the House wont into Committee on tho North Island Main Trunk Eailway, an attempt was made by Mr Hutchison to get a now clause in the bill to enable the Government to spend money raised by the loan on tho purchase of land in Taranaki as well as Auckland, but the clause was thrown out by a majority of 18, thus showing that tho Government and House aro as antagonistic to Taranaki ns ever they wore. MR E. M. SMITH IN THE HOUSE. The Hawks' 8 Bay Herald's Wellington correspondent telegraphs as follows: —Tho member for New Plymouth, whatever other qualities he may possess, is not by any means disposed to hide his light under a bushel, and he gave the House a conviucing proof of this when tho question of manufacturing colonial cement at such a price as to compete with tho imported article was under consideration. Mr Smith then told tho House that he had manufactured cement at Taranaki, an i ho could do so in any quantity at £1 per ton. Ho caused much amusement when he said that if tho Minister for Public Works was not able to give the matter full consideration, and if the Government were not fitted with brains of sufficient expansive tendency to grapple with these larger questions, let them put out the Minister of Public Works, and put him (Mr Smith) in tho position for a time. He only wished he had the opportunity the Minister had, and he would hand his name down to posterity. (Roars of laughter.) The member for New Plymouth went on to say that if the Government gave him a chance he would undertake to go to Auckland and in three short months he would manufacture iron and steel. He would promise to havo 20 tons of bar iron in all shapes and size* in the lobby next session.