The Dunstan Times. CLYDE, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1886. SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1219, 10 July 1885, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

CLYDE, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1886. SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Beneath the rule of men entirely Jusi The pen is mightier than the sword.

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH,] (Prom a Correspondent). Dunedin, July 9, 7.30 p.m. Stephen Hutchison was brought up again at the Police Court yesterday and tosday, and the proceedings again adjourned till Monday. The fourth round of the Waterloo Coursing Cup was run to-day. Ringwood, Waitangi, Salamander, and Beresford are the only ones now left in. The Rimutake arrived at Auckland yesterday. The barmaids of Wellington hold a meeting to-morrow to protest against the proposed repressive measures. Politics came to a crisis last night in Wellington. Tho Freetraders voted in a block against the amended tariff, as each item came on separately. After supper adjournment the Government in thoroughly disorganised state, progress was reported at about half-past eleven, and the House adjourned. The Herald’s own gives the following accounts of the situation ;—A meeting of tho Government supporters was held this morning, and recom« mended the Government to withdraw

the tariff The Government informed the deputation from them that they were willing to adopt the recommendation except in the case of wearing apparel The reply is to be considered at a meeting of members to be held shortly before the House meets. Speculation, is rife as to what will be the oustcome of last night’s pro ceedings, and the general opinion seems to be that the Ministry can scarcely do otherwise than resign,* ■

The Government are also blamed for not setting their foot down and insisting that their Customs tariff should be passed as a whole, and treating their rejection as a vote of want of confidence. Indeed, considering the. strange temper shown by the House, the policy bills will meet with the same fate as the tariff. There is some talk of an increase in the property tax to provide necessary revenue, but it is impossible to say what truth there is in this.

The debate of last night presented the most curious sight ever seen in a New Zealand Parliament. The Freetrade section having determined to throw aside all party considerationsj and give a block vote against any increase of Customs duties, the talking was left in the hands of the less political lights, such as Barron, Scobie, M'Kenzie, Turnbull, and White. The Atkinson party maintained a strict silfence, but went into the lobby with the Freetraders, although most of them are pronounced Protectionists.

After the supper adjournment Mr Seddon moved to leport progress, and he was certainly correct in saying that the temper of the House was most extraordinary. Some members were voting no doubt on principle, but it was equally certain that others were voting against their convictions,simply out of opposition to the Government. Mr Stout demurred to reporting progress, and asked the member for Kumara to withdraw his motion. He gave Mr Mackenzie, who appears to have constituted himself leader of the Freetraders, a well merited rebuke for his ignorance of the principles of party politics, and pointed out to him that he, and those who followed in his wake were being made tools of by an Opposition that had not the manliness to propose a direct vote of want of confidence.

It is currently reported the Government will resign to-night, and the report is generally believed. Owing to the heavy and almost incessant rains during the past five days serious floods are reported in the Northern districts of Canterbury. The railway lines in several places have been damaged, though not to a serious extent, and one approach to the Ashley bridge has been washed away.

The annual meeting of the Whites Heel Gold Mining Company was held at the legal manager’s (Mr J. A, Park) office this afternoon, The report set forth inter alia that the drive was 480 feet long. In the month of January last atrial crushing of 12 tons was made with the result that 21 ounces of gold were obtained. There was now nearly 500 tons in the paddock, and the directors recommended the construction of a battery. The report and balance sheet was unanimously adopted.