POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4127, 14 October 1884, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[by telegraph.]

(From our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, This day.

There were tAvo caucuses held yesterday. One of them was of North Island members, attended by fourteen from Aucldand and three from Taranaki, and was for the purpose of considering Avhat course should be taken with regard to the North Island trunk railway line. It was decided not to oppose it, provided a loop hue was lormed to Taranaki or near it; but it was also resolved to ask the Government to postpone the voting that evening, and to adjourn the debate until next Friday. The other caucus was a more general gathering, and was attended by twentyfive members. It had reterence to the East and West Coast Middle Island Most of those present condemned tho bill, but Major Atkinson dissented from Ins former colleagues, and gave a general support to the bill. Nothing, therefore, was decided on. In the Houso of Representatives last evening Mr R. F. Richardson gave notice that he Avould ask tho Government if they Avould provide for the cases of the immigrants who had left their wives and families at Homo in England or elsewhere, and were unable now to get them out here on account of tho stoppage of nominated immigration. —Mr Holmes presented a petition from the Christchurch Freethought Association for the repeal of the blasphemy laws.—The Premier stated that the Government expected to be able to call for tenders for tho first part of the North Island railway line in a few weeks. Tho Government thought it an unfair plan to send up new bills to the Legislative Council just before the close of the session, but they proposed to "-o through with the North Island Railway, East and West Coast Railway, West Coast Harbors, and Government Insurance Bills, and then see which other bills could be got through. —Mr Wakefield resumed the debate on tho East and West Coast Raihvay Bill, and made a brilliant speech, Avhich, though much interrupted during its delivery, was also much applauded at its close. Ho began by protesting against the statement that was made by°thc'Premier, and said that it Avas utterly unfair to propose a number of important local public bills in order to do some logrolling on a large scale, and then, after that,'to submit their Public Works Statement. Ho approved of the design of constructing the East and West Coast line, but was utterly opposed to doing it by means of a syndicate endowed with enormous blocks of land, amounting probably to some millions of acres locked up from public settlement. He was followed by Mr Sutter, who supported the second reading, but stated his intention of moving amendments in committee.

Sir George Grey has withdrawn his Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Bill, but the Hon. Mr Waterhouso has taken it up, and will introduce it in tho Legislative Council.