POLITICAL NEWS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4131, 18 October 1884, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH.] (Fitoar our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, This day. Scarcely a more striking contrast could be presented than the position of political parties now and their position a year ago. At that time the late Ministry was so strong that Major Atkinson could afford imperiously to lament the weakness of the Opposition, and ask like Goliath of old, that some one might bo sent out to fight him; now he himself and his own party have collapsed as completely as Louis Napoleon after Sedan. During the present week the Major has not had a word to say until this afternoon, when ho was so desirous to be informed of tho day when the Consolidated Stock Bill is corning on that I prosumo that he is at last going to speak on that subject. The popular rumor respecting his reticence is that he is likely to take. a portfolio under Sir Julius Vogel. This is still generally believed. Meantime Messrs. Bryco and Rolleston who aro generally considered to have a good record of past administrative services to show are carrying- on the Opposition with occasional assistance from Sir George Grey, Mr Wakefield, Mr Fergus, Mr Hursthoose, and other outside buttresses of the old party, but sometimes the Government have everything too much their own way, and their own followers ask more than the Ministry care to grant.

The night before last Mr Barron complained that he was obliged to take the place of the Opposition, and last night Mr Seddon claimed the right as the Opposition leader to be heard. Sir George Grey enjoys the confusion, and is in the cheerfullest of tempers ; lie brings forward one sensational reform after another with bewildering rapidity. This afternoon ho gave notice to add a clause to the Amending Land Bill when it comes on for discussion, abolishing Waste Lands Boards and transferring their powers to the waste lands commissioners. His relations with tho Government are, however, becoming strained, and to-night he made a fierce onslaught on the Premier for making some of the clauses of the East and West Coast railway lino by a side wind apply to the Kawakawa lino without any explicit notice that he had done so, he even went so far as to challenge Mr. Hamlin's decision on a point of order raised by the Premier and tried to appeal to the speaker on the point almost all the afternoon and the whole of tho evening.

Yesterday has been occupied with the consideration of the East and West Coast Railway Bill in committee. It is generally thought, that if passed in the Lower House it will bo thrown out in the

Upper. An Imprest Supply Bill for £200,000 was passed through all its stages yesterday afternoon.

In reply to Major Atkinson's brief question the Premier said he had already mentioned when the Public Works Statement would be delivered, this was correct in a general way, but not as to the precise night. In the afternoon Mr Bryce gave notice to ask why the postal communication contract between Mastcrton and Woodville and with Palmerston North was not let to the lowest tenderer, also whether vaccination will bo extended to tho outlying districts as well as to the cities.

Henceforth tho House of Representatives will meet for business on Monday afternoons and evenings during the remainder of the session, the change is not necessary, but it gives a great appearance of hard work, and to do the members of the Ministry justice, they themselves really work with most laudable industry every day and night as well.

The Land Act, 1577, Amendment Bill is reported from the Waste Lands Committee has been circulated. The clause prohibiting the sale of pastoral lands has been struck out by the committee, and some new clauses have been introduced, the present clause confirms past forfeitures by any board; clause 15 provides that onefourth of the moneys received from perpetual leases shall be handed over to the County Council or Road Board of the district ; clause 23 gives power to the Board to lease or sell the Westport Colliery Reserve, and clause 23 provides for 10,000 acres to be set aside between Catlin's river and Waikawa for a special settlement for Highland crofters.