POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1105, 6 July 1883, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Through our E. 'changes. Those who anticipate I a quiet “ private members’ day,” devoid of all sensationalism, were agreeably or disagreeably disappointed, as the case may be, for Sir George Grey suddenly flung into the House a veritable bombshell, in the shape of a notice of motion praying the Governor to cause to bo places! on the estimates a sufficient sum to connect Christchurch and tho West Coast of the South Island by railway. Poor Mr Montgomery’s face was indeed a study when he saw his “claim jumped” thus cooly, and his best card so ruthlessly trumped by his astute rival. Sir George Grey, by this artful move, has placed the opposition ’ frightful entanglement, for it the Govt, J ‘ ment decide to tieat the motion as a Min.', 1 it* terial question and call on their supporters to rally round them, and members, recoguis ng that the carrying of the motion does not mean that Canterbury will have the coverted railway, but that a Grey Ministry will come in, continue the defect, and then the matter is shelved for the session, aud Mr Montgomery’s party’s trump card is useless. The Ministerialists chucked delightedly over this charming ebullition of “ sheer cussedueas” on the part of the amiable Knight of Kawau, and, however the result goes, Ministers are bound to score heavily off a fooling that suits them so we 1. Although Government have not yet determined how to treat Sir George Grey’s Canterbury-West Coast railway motion, it is proba de Ministers will not make it a party question, but regard it as a mere piece of buffoonery, an-* let the H mse do as it likes ; while if it is carried they will onlysay there is no money to be dealt with the proposal. In the lower house, this afternoon, Mr Shaw presented a petit!.« from Chinese, praying the House to take steps to permit the Chinese population of the Colony m lie inc eased by immigration free from poll tax until the total nuniner ut Cumene in tile Colony reaches 7(101). Mr I’yke has been elected chairman of the Dummy Crinnnttee, The eo.um ttee will meet on Thursday, when Mr .U Ivorrow will he examined. It was thought that an eflc.twr.uld bo made to place Mr Pull on in the chair, but the majority were in favour of Mr Pyku’a nomination. Mr I'yke interviewed the Minister of Public Works with reference .to the Otigo Central line. The-Minister stated th it it is intended to call for tenders for ih-c Rim thoruesection, which is estimated to r >sc £3!), GUI). This will take the line L o rue fo it of tnc Strathtaieri. The unexpended b dance of the loan is to be employed m completing the gap between the Wingatui section and the present works, and in continuing the -ine beyond Ri uthorue -o far as the money will go. The works are estimated to last two years, and they are to be ptoceeded with at once.