LATEST POLITICAL NEWS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume VI, Issue 679, 15 August 1884, Page 2

LATEST POLITICAL NEWS.

[Bv Telegraph ] From a Special Correspondent.. Wellington, August 14. The whole proceedings to-day were little better than a farce, not lasting more than five minutes at the most, and the greater portion of the time was taken up in reading the Governor’s name and titles. There is in consequence of this, further and protracted delays, and much dissatisfaction obtained among the 120 men who were waiting to hear the Governor’s speech ; and this dissatisfaction is increased when men are reminded that the cause of it is Mi* Stout, necessarily absent in Dunedin. But when the House meets on Tuesday next, the latter can be done without until Friday following, as Tuesday’s proceedings will be formal. Wednesday will be taken up with the appointment of Committees ; if allowed, Thursday is Private Members’ day; and Friday will come before men get shaken into shape. All this will happen, provided the course of business runs smooth, and there is no amendment to the Ad-dress-in Reply proposed. But this other alternative may happen also, the Governor may only say in his speech that he has had another Ministry formed in place of the one resigned, and that their policy will be unfolded from time to time as circumstances may admit, and after they have examined the Public Accounts, and got clear information about the state of the country. I don’t say this will be done, but that it is quite probable such a thing will happen. Neither is it clear that there will be an amendment to the Address in Reply, for although the Grey people are very anxious to try conclusions, I an not at all sure the Atkinson people will do so, unless they are compelled by strong pressure, and this supposition gathers strength from the fact that the Public Works Department, when administered by Mr Walter Johnston, is open to the most searching criticism, and Yogcl is not the man to gloss over so fatal a field for them for assault as the Johnston administration of Public Works, the scandals of which Mitchelson could not manage to bury. Government propose to utilise the Sinking Funds, I am told, to aid the colony in its embarresment, but the nature of the intention has not yet leaked out in precise shape. There is a desposition to call Taiaroa and Wahanui to the Council and Government propose, like its predecessor, to resume pre-emption of Native Lands Bill, and modifying Bryce’s proposals to evade the charge of theft, but these and all minor matters are to be overshadowed by the great prosperity we are to experience from making sugar from beet and sorghum, a thing that is to put New Zealand on its legs again, “ when the three hooped pot of beer shall have five hoops.” There has been a slight change in vote counting to-dav , the Atkinson and Grey whips sayiug their joint force is at present 52 votes. As usual there is nothing in the Evening papers to comment on or to quote. The mingling of the oil and water in the Cabinet will be seen about when the bones of the speech is set up or attempted.