IN THE LOBBY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 992, 11 July 1883, Page 3

IN THE LOBBY.

[from our parliamentary correspondent.]

Wellington, To-day,

An extraordinary notice of motion has been tabled by Mr J. B. Whyte relative to the slander upon Mr Bryce in Rusden’s History of New Zealand.” It is as follows:—“That this House will, on a future day, resolve itself into Committee of the whole to consider an address to the Governor to cause a sufficient sum to be placed up n the Estimates for the purpose of prosecuting Mr Rusden, the author of the book called “ History of New Zealand,” for publishing what, in the opinion of (this House, is a gross libel on the character of the present Native Minister.”

On Thursday next Mr Fish will ask the Government (1) Whether it is true a large deputation of members representing Canterbury and Westland recently waited upon them; (2) whether, incompliance with the demands of the deputation, the Government promised ijifcr alia (a) during the recess two of the proposed lines of railway to connect Canterbury with West Coast should be surveyed at a probable cost of i 20,000 to the State, (6) that fifteen miles of land on each side of both routes should he reserved from sale, (c) that a sum of about L 150,000 allocated by Loan Act of 1882 for the extension of the Middle I land trunk line, should remain intact, to be dealt with next session, or after completion of the above surveys ; (3) whether Government are or are not of opinion that the‘reports of the various Commissioners appointed by'themselves, mid now in their possession, afford sufficient information to enable them to state

definitely and at once to the House which of the rival routes (if any) for the extension of the Middle Island trunk line should be adopted by the House ; (4) whether Government will inform the House of the nature of the demands made upon them by the aforesaid members, together with the reply (if any) given by the Government.