POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5649, 19 June 1886, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

[F*OU THK "STA-t's" »PICI_L eooß.xaroND-NT.'] WELLINGTON, Junb 19. NO eONFID-HCB. A. rumour was put about tbat there ia „ be a No Confidence motion on the queetion of the New Hebrides. There are people -who insist that they " know for a fact." There alao people who feel very atrongly on the subject of these i-landa, as atrongly — and, shall I say, as unreasonable — as they do in Victoria. But tha complete accord thei e was laat night between the Government and the loader «f the Opposition, forbids me be believe in the possibility of auch a motion at present. At all events both sides are agreed that tbe question between the British and French Governments is too delicate for discussion in the House of Representative. How oan there be "No Confidence " without diacußsion ! THB NITT HBBB-D-B. The statement of the Treasurer during the debate last night haa drawn general attention to the real gravity of the situation. When he said that the question really involved the issues of peace and war between two great nations, the House appeared to suddenly realise the significance of the news published from day to day. Everyone now sees tkat when the Colonies are protesting, and the London I. papers are calling to the Government to support the Colonies at all hazards, and same of them actually are going so far as to recommend the withdrawal of the English Ambassador from Paris, tbe situation is beginning to be a little gunpowdery. The speech of the Treasurer in which this statement occurred, is much admired this morning, as a grand, statesmanlike deliverance, nigh toned, and dignified, ia every way worthy of the occasion. It had an immediate effect, for the course it proposed was at once adopted, the loader of the Opposition seconding. Truly the status of our statesmen does not depend on the smile of the assemblies they have to address. Mr Wakefield's speech also, I . may add, comes in for a good deal of adoration this morning. MIDLAND *AI_WAT. The postponement of the debate from the i evening sitting was a disappointment. ! , It came about in this way : When . . it was postponed at half -past 5 till after the ■ order of the day No. 11 (the New Hebrides 1 . adjourned debate), no one noticed that the s place had been assigned on a previous ' occasion to tho adjourned debate on Sir G. , Grey's Land for Settlements Bill. When No. 11 was disposed of, on tho motion of ; the Treasurer, the House was reminded of ! this former arrangement, and at once on the voices agreed to postpone the Eailway.

Being a Government measure, it will have a good place on the Order Paper. The maps comprising the third schedule were yesterday circulated. They afforded Mr G. F. Richardson the material for part of his excellent practical and moderate speech. Sarcastic people are saying of Captain Sutter'a speech that now the railway has got the sanction of that ancient mariner, all will go well ; it cannot fail to be mado at once, and to pay handsomely for ever after. Mr Rolleston's solemn speech, and more Bolemn face, comes in for not a little comment. Everyone, of course, thinks" he was quite right to " pitch into " his newspaper critics. That only means that he is considered to have played the game. Sir Julius Vogel had his Bay on Tuesday at a newspaper unfriendly to the. Government. On Friday, Mr Rolleston gave this Oliver a Roland by attacking a newspaper unfriendly to thiß j side of the House. Mr Rolleston's friends 1 may believe with bim that the newspaper in question has always attacked his per- • sonal honour, but I think most people understand by this time that the founda- • tion for tho statements of the newspaper > was the belief in the clearness of Mr ' Rolleston's intellect — clear as the phrase ' otten applied, " muddy." I remember to j have have Been many times in your columns the opinions on this sub- J ject. May be on ono point there is 1 a general agreement. Ab far as I can ascertain, Mr Rolleston has done his critic the Bignal service of showing how very effective and powerful a Bupport his newspaper has given to the Railway. Whether the House felt thankful, during Mr Rolleston's solemn adjuration not to be afraid of the Lyttetlon Times, that it had already made up its mind to do the right thing, it is beyond my power to power to say. I believe, however, that it has made up its mind out of good sense and sound reason to do the right thing. THB -DUCATION ACT. Sir Robert Stout's statement made a very favourable impression last night. Reading necessarily deprives a man of oratorical advantages, but a good style, with grasp/thoughful treatment and choioe language, always make their mark. When Major Atkinson raid that the very admirable statement ought to be printed and circulated for public information, he only put into graceful words what the House had signified before him by loud clapping of hands. Mr TurnbulTs courage in taking advantage of that occasion to stand to his guns on the question of aid to denominational people putting up their own schools and renting them, has received its annual tribute of admiration. There are no signs that it will have any further effect. THE -.-PRESENTATION BILL now being drawn up will contain a provision, I understand, for tbp amalgamation of City electorates. THE TARAWERA CONVULSIONS. A question on the order paper on a subject connected with this great event, reminds one of the old motto that "fin* words butter no parsnips." The heroic conduct of Mr Dansey, the telegraphic officer, in sticking to his post, and of the others who distinguished themselves in like manner, has been commented upon in every variety of laudatory keyß by a grateful public. Mr Dansey has been compared to the Eoman soldier at Pompeii, and a question on the Order Paper asks the Government if a grateful oountry is ready to aocord Mr Dansey and his comrades something more than the praise an admiring world has for centuries given to that old Roman legionary P A place on the Supplementary Estimates, and a good one, is what everybody wishes Mr Dansey and all ooneerned.