POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4129, 16 October 1884, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[by telegraph.]

(Fnoir oxtr Special Correspondent.) Wellington, This day

A parliamentary paper on the volunteer force of the colony has been printed and circulated. The strength was us follows on 31st December last:-Cavalry 370, naval artillery 500, artillery 634, garrison rifles 1621, country corps 1168, total -1:3:32, of ■whom oS'Ji were estimated as efficient.

In the House yesterday, in reply to Major Steward, the Premier said that he will place on the estimates a sum of £250 for volunteer prizes, but the Government do not see their way to separate the vote. Sir George Grey gave notice that he will introduce a bill to amend the Newspapers Keg-Lsfcration -A-ct, ISG3. Mr. Tole introduced the Destitute revsons Act 1877 Amendment Bill.

Mr. Moss gave notice that he will move that the Government be requested to convene in Wellington a meeting- of policy-holders under the existing Government Insurance Act in order that they may form a scheme for converting the Department into a Now Zealand National Life Insurance Association, the Government taking security to protect the present policy-holders. A good deal of amusement was created by the asking of Mr Pyke's question respecting the non-lighting of the .streets in Wellington after midnight, and by the erection of the telegraph posts on the pathways. It appeared from the confessions of several hon. members that they had come into contact with posts and fences, and lost their way at night, receiving injuries in their faces, bodies and hats thereby. The discussion was stopped by Mr Macandrew suggesting , that it was beneath the dignity of'the House. The afternoon and evening were occupied by a further discussion of the East and West Coast and Nelson Railway Bill, and the motion for its being committed. Messrs. Rollcston and Buchanan reiterated the old arguments in opposition to it; Mr Harper repeated the usual Vogelian statements in its favor, and Mr Joyce, who supported it, seemed slightly unwell, and wandered oft' into a defence of protection to native industry, which seemed to me irrelevant. Mr Fulton followed in an argumentative speech, dwelling on the nature of the tunnels, gradients, &c., required. In the evening Mr Hatch took up the running, ar"uiug that agricultural settlement was falling 0 off in Canterbury, and that in future farmers here would prefer to turn their attention to grazing, contending that there would be less demand for Wcstland coal for Canterbury settlers. Ho also attributed the prsent depression and want of employmcntinChristclmrch to the exhibition of a year and a half back, which caused a rush of goods and people, who now found they had nothing to do. Ho was opposed to the line bcing'mado by a syndicate. Mr White then addressed the House, treating the subject from a Christchurch point of view, and spoke of the value of I ho timber and coal on the West Coast. Mr Fergus replied in a vigorous and practical .speech, forming general estimates of the cost of the public works .scheduled since 1878, which he reckoned at over ten millions. He also objected to tho steepness of the gradients of the lino adopted, and the difficulty of a train panting up an incline of 1 in 50 for Jiftcen miles along , a greasy line. He dwelt on tho inadvisabiiity of locking up largo areas of land in the hands of a syndicate of foreign capitalists. Mr Seddon followed mid ridiculed Mr Fergus' fears, controverting his sentiments as to the value of the land affected by the line. Sir George Grey, who had repeatedly cheered Mr Fergus' speech then rose. Much comment has been made on Major Atkinson's present political attitude; it is known, however, that there has been some difference of opinion between himself and his colleagues. He is not at present acting with his former colleagues, and is supporting both the East and West Coast Railway Bills and the Government Insurance Bill. I hinted at this difference a day or two back, and last night the Evening Post stated that Major Atkinson is no longer the leader of the Opposition, and that Mr Brycc has probably taken his place. The following new bills have been circulated:—Mr Tole's Destitute Persons Act Amendment Bill, empowering any Resident Magistrate to issue a warrant for the apprehension of any husband, father, or mother, charged with any of the offences specified in the original Act of 1877, and Sir George Grey's Supreme Court Act 1882 Amendment Bill, limiting tho duration of'the tenure of office of all Judges in the colony to five years, and taking away all claim for the superannuation allowance. Major Atkinson's apparent isolation from his colleagues, and his proclivity towards the Government, is still the topic of conversation, It has been suggested that negotiations are going on between him and liisTformer chief, Sir Julius Vogol, with regard to his taking charge of a portfolio in the new Ministry, but I have not heard of •my direct evidence to that effect. At present Messrs Bryce, Rollcston, and "Wakcficld seem to be jointly running the OppositionNext Monday afternoon there will be a

cricket match in Wellington between the of the Press Gallery in Parliament and the operating department of the Telegraph Office. A team of members will play at Masterton on Saturday against the eleven of the local club. / There arc i>3 orders of the day on the Parliamentary Order Taper to-day. Sir George Grey last night made an urgent appeal to members not to g;o away home until they had discharged their duties to their country. He said they would not be earning their honorarium if they did .so.