POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3768, 13 August 1883, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. J

[feoii our own correspondent. J Wellington, This day,

The quidnuncs arc at it again. They have now fixed the date of the prorogation absolutely for tho 31st August, and I expect in a clay or two they will have got tho epeeoh pat. My opinion is, as it was a ■week ago, they may be right in their guesses, as they may be wrong ; at any rate I am open to take tho odds that they can neither fix the date or say at the present moment what bills will huvo to bo sacrificed. There can bo v.o doubt there will be more than the usual slaughter. Tho Insurance Companies Bill will be dropped, as it is seen that, if the Australian colonies made reprisals, it ■would not at all suit the New Zealand offices. Perhaps it is not generally known that one of those colonies requires an insurance company carrying on business in that colony to have assets in that oolony— theexactamountl am not awaro of, though lam perfectly certain that my recollection of the matter is correct. There is going to bo a big row over tho "Wanganui bridge this week. It is thought likely that Sir George Grey's motion re a land tax is expected to come on when tho House goes into Committee of Supply. It is expected that committee of Supply will occupy at least three days. The House willmeetto-day, and committee of Supply is tho first business, and it is expected that next week the early sittings for this session will commence, and then •wonders are going to be done. We have seen theso.wonders done before, but not at tho anticipated rate. Of the measures I am inclined to think will never see the light of day any more —at any rate this session— and which no one will regret, will be the Bchemo of compulsory insurance of Major Atkinson's. It is just on tho cards that the resolution in reference to the Legislative Council being an elective Chamber will also be dropped. This question is a very difficult one for the Ministry, as many of their supporters had views antagonistic to those with which the Ministry aro generally credited. _ As _ I have before pointed out, great difficulties are in the way as to how the Chamber shall be elected, as regards constituencies, and ■what the franchise shall be.