IN THE LOBBY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 970, 15 June 1883, Page 2

IN THE LOBBY.

[from our parliamentary correspondent.

Wellington, To-day.

The Government have discussed in Cabinet two motions emanating from the Opposition side yesterday afternoon, in regard to the repeal of the Property Tax and the imposing of a Land Tax, and have come to the conclusion that they cannot regard these motions in any other light than as no-conSdence motions. Already the Government whips have been to : work, and on counting the “ Noes ” it is found that the Government can command a clear majority in the event of hostilities. The Ministerialists claim a majority of at least ten. Until these motions have been disposed of the Government, of course, will decline to bring down their measures, but, if possible, they will endeavor to provoke an open light on the Address in Reply. The Government are anxious to have it out at once, as .here can be no doubt that until the Opposition hvve received a thorough licking and make up. their minds to settle down to work in earnest very little progress can be made. Naturally enough the Government are desirous 6f ascertaining how the;Opposition cat is about to jump, ana are “cocky'’ as to the notices tabled by Mr Mont.omery and Sir George Grey, which are, hailed with delight by the Government as likely to settle things at the outset, and conduce to a.brief sesaipn, / . ', . Th§ Middle Island Railway Extension Commissioners’ report is just out of the printers’ hands. It consists of 102 pages, including minutes of evidence, maps, eta. Thef 'lloa’ing is toe concluding paragraph; —“ In conclusion, while we cannot recommend the present prosecution of ‘ a Main Trunk line northwards of Canter* bury,’ we feel it our duty ,to stale that

no' line hitherto proposed or suggested seema to offer, at the present time, fewer disadvantages than the one by the Bast Coast, With every predisposition to favor a route which should traverse the interior of the country, and which should utilise and increase the value of public lands rather than of private lands, and - which should, if possible, offer facilities ■for connection with Nelson and the West Coast, we are reluctantly forced to the above conclusion by the evidence before.. , u§, {which testifies that by this route, though somewhat more costly than the central one, the construction is 30 miles shorter, ‘ and its summit’s level is 2,300 feet lower, and it passes through more agricultural land, and that it promises more satisfac-tori-results.” ‘ >: Mr M. W. Green is going to introduce; an knight Hours* 6UI, and he hopes it wilt jnek with a better fate than that of last sesiion. Mr Steward intends to introduce a JBjill to make the provision lor (he election of School Committees ; also a Bill to - provide for the payment of coroners'' juries, and otherwise amend the Coroners V Act.

The Middle Island Railway Extension t Commissioners’ report was presented to Parliament yesterday. It is a bulky affair , . consisting bf 102 pages of printed matter. J ' Sir George Grey’s Bill to further secure the righes and privileges of members of the House iainteudedtogrant certain members ‘ privileges already granted by statute, bat .- of which they have been deprived by the J,'usuccessful ruling of different speakers based on works of Todd, May and others. ! With regard to Sir George Grey’s Annexation Bill, I understand Sir George hail lately been in receipt of letters from the . inhabitants of various islands in the '. Pacific anxious to ascertain on what terms ' * such islands would be allowed to federate with New Zealand. The Bill, therefore,’ proposes to to empower Parliament to appoint a Commission to arrange the terms on which similar applications onght to bs treated. The expense of the Commission is to be born by the colony. The question ; of vetoing or adopting any proposed- aq-. - nexatiun would, of course, be left to ’■ the Imperial Parliament.