POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3749, 21 July 1883, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[by telegraph.]

[WlOJt OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, This day

In the Legislative Council yesterday Sir G. Whitmore moved his motion in reference to those districts of the colony which have been neglected, and said it was scandalous the way theliawke's Bay and Poverty Bay districts had been treated, while much money had been expended in Tarauaki. The Premier, in reply, said that nothing could be done for at least three years, as the Government were precluded from borrowing except for the specific works proposed when tho loan was put upon tho market. The debate was adjourned, and will be resumed on Tuesday. Sir G. Whitmore will have a better chance when the returns in reference to each county arc published. An unexpected no-confidence debate was brought on yestorday in the House, the motion coming from a Government supporter, Mr Swanson, to reduce the estimates by £50,000. Tho debate was hot and furious, resulting in a majority against the motion of nine. The majority wasa peculiar one, including the Maori members and "conscientious" Green, while Mr Wright, by voting against Ministers, must have chucked away the Railway portfolio. A scene was then enacted which beggars description. The Opposition were willing to pass tho estimates en ylobo, as it was quite evident the Government would not allow of them being materially altered. This did not suit tho Ministry, and the fun began when the detailed items were proposed, tho farce being - kept up till 2.30 this morning, the Chairman of Committees being relieved for a few hours by Colonel Trimble. But little progress was made, a stonewall being erected, and a handful of Opposition members kept the ball going , . Mr Turnbull was the hero of tho occasion ; he spoke for several hours on every conceivable subject under tho sun, and perhaps *\ic climax of all absurdities was readied when, to prove tbat Dr. Grabham earned his salary, he read to the House the report of this year of every one of the 38 hospitals of the colony —going straight on in his course, unless when the deafening applause gave him a breathing space, or a demand for water to cool his thirsty tongue. As a happy interlude we had the confessions of a turncoat by Mr Green, he narrating the various causes and incidents which led to his becoming a Government supporter for " conscience " sake. At one time the Htoncwallers only numbered four, but a quorum was kept going by the Government. Stale jokes at an early hour of the morning are perhaps permissible, the Colonial Treasurer declaring it to be a barren (Ban-on) discussion, while, on its being proposed to pass an estimate for fish ova, it was considered that there had been enough of Fish as far as the Ministry was concerned in tho early part of the morning. The House then adjourned till Monday evening.