POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3760, 3 August 1883, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[BY TELEOIUrU.J

[FKO3I OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] AVellington, Thursday

Yesterday we had a scene of a most unseemly character between Mr Dargaville and tho Colonial Treasurer. The scene only fell short of its coming to a fight by the smallest possible distance. The former, who is now shaping as a financer- or, rather, would-be financer, for he blunders frightfully in his figures—went to the table with a motion, when some words occurred between the Colonial Treasurer and himself which were not audible in the gallery, and then Mr Dargaville characterised the Ma joins a bully. Of course this led to further altercation and to the Speaker's interference; but, though both were heated, neither would make any complaint to the Speaker about the other, and after a wordy warfare of a few minutes the unruly disturbance came to an end. Of course we all know it takes two to make a quarrel, but most frequently the one who gives the challenge is not the aggressor, as he has been so goaded on by the other that there is no alternative but to take up the cudgels, or be stigmatised as a coward. Things wore rather mixed in the House yesterday, due probably to its being private member's day, The Bible in State Schools, or some such motion of Mr Green's, being with Mr Shaw's Gambling Bill the principal debating points of tho day. Mr Green ultimately withdrew his motion, which was for some elaborate returns which would probably have found their way ultimately to the waste paper basket. Mr Shaw, in introducing his bill, which was to allow private sweeps without any interference from the police, and at the' same time to prohibit newspapers advertising sweeps, was ultimately rejected, though some members wished the totalisator swept out of existence.

That much - talked - of - much-written qucs - tion tho vacant portfolio—l scarcely understand how a portfolio can be vacant which has yet to be created—-I am given to understand has been definitely settled. The Minister of Railways will be Mr Oliver. The matter is at the hitter's disposal—he can accept or reject it. Ite the refusal of it, I am not in a position to say which will he done, because Mr Oliver has a little yearning for showing his figure at the Colonial'lnstitute and elsewhere in London, thinking a trip Homo would do him good. This day. AVhat Mr DeLautour last night described as the debate of the session arose over tho proposal of the Treasurer to appoint a select committee to enquire into which of the roads that had been gazetted should be approved as main roads under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. The applications' which have been put in have been very numerous, oiie county applying for no less than £80,000 under the Act, which one member said if they got their requst they would bo unable locally to contribute the amount necessary as their share. The committee is to consist of ten described by one member as three of the straight Opposition, six of the Government side, and one whom Mr Shcehan was at great pains to describe as a "hatter," one who played his own hand, and who, in the matter of roads, had played it well. Perhaps the hit of the night was made when Mr Thomson, in replying to Mr Bectham, said the latter gentleman could not well object to the Act, seeing that last session three main roads had greatly improved the properties of his and those belonging to him, one road crossing- a river with a bridge, and the road ending at the other side of tho bridge. Mr DeLautour read the speech of the present Speaker when he said Provincialism being abolished would do away with all log-rolling in regard to matters which should be left to Road Boards, and then sarcastically asked, "Is this the fulfilment of that glorious hope t'" Last night's Post had im article urging the non-necessity of appointing a Railway Minister, stating that a traffic manager as vastly superior, and not so much under political influence. In another portion of the paper Mr Oliver is said to be the coming Minister.