Political Notes.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5082, 16 August 1884, Page 3

Political Notes.

+ BUSY RUMOUR. AN OPPOSITION DIVIDED AGAINST TSELF. [from our special correspondent.] WELLINGTON, August 15. The Atkinson party's meeting this morning was, after all, one at which more talking was done than anything else. Led away by the continual pricking off of names on the card containing a list of members' names, the party had come to the conclusion that they were possessed of a substantial majority. The great' card trick, I may say by way of parenthesis, is one of those most delusive occupations which fills up the many idle hours at junctures like the present, and the mirage of the desert is not more fleeting than are the majorities which "pricking off" secures to either political army without the fatigues and inconveniences of conscription. The substantial majority, however, does not appear to have been solid enough to warrant the attack which it was proposed to make directly the Address in "Reply was moved. At all events the meeting separated, and until some further consideration has taken place, it is unlikely that this attempt to take the position of the new Government by storm will be finally decided on. However, the party are buoyant in spirit and confident in their strength. The fact is that they have so long been on the winning side that their chiefs may be excused if they find it hard to realise that they are in any other position. After having had no occasion for some seven years to use the particular set of faculties which explains to the mind that sufferance is the badge of their tribe, it is no wonder that they have lost their keenness. Want of use spoils mental as well as bodily force. However, time and gentle exercise will, no doubt, restore the dormant powers of mind, and the Atkinsonian organism will feel later on that it is a bare possibility that it should take second place in the scale of political creatures. Mr Stout's arrival by the tug Lyttelton is anxiously looked for, as members, even, are tired of doing nothing but manufacture majorities and minorities and spread rumours. If the old story is true, the new Premier's ears must have tingled again during the last two days. He has been pretty well abused for his absence at such a critical time, and sarcastic remarks about special trains, and hiring steamers, have been heard in great plenty, but then some people have so little to talk about. They have even gone to the length of elevating Mr Sheehan to the Upper House, and giving him the vacant portfolio. This story has been told and re-told to-day with much detail and circumstance. Of course, there is no truth in it any more than there was about that relating to Native Lands Court Judge Fenton. Mr Fenton comes to Wellington simply on his own private business. A third story going the rounds at a great pace to-day was that Captain Morris was to be the favoured mortal who is to hold the Auckland portfolio. The person most concerned having denied any knowledge of the matter in the lobbies, it is, perhaps, fair to suppose there is not much foundation in this either, but denial with many Parliamentary people is simply a ground for their stronger belief in the thing denied ; so that no doubt the story will be dished up again to-morrow. Messrs Federli and Murphy left here this evening on their way to Hokianga. During the time they have been in Wellington they have had interviews with Mr M'Kerrow, Sir George Grey, the Hous Rolleston and Mitchelson, Messrs Dargaville and Hobbs, M.H.ll's, and many other people who take an interest in the development of sub-tropical fruit culture in tho north of this Island. They start armed with all sorts of introductions, and will undoubtedly have every opportunity of carrying out their mission well. Later. A member present at the Atkinsonian caucus to-day tells me that it came to no final determination, simply because it was only intended to be preliminary. The feeling of the meeting, he said, was unanimous, that the members should support an attack on tho Address in Reply, no matter who may move it. The information sent you to the effect that the caucus declined to come to auy arrangement at all, was also obtained from a member who was I present. This difference of opinion is I probably typical of the feeling of the party on the question.