PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2691, 2 October 1871, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

THU LATE DIVISION. Remarking on the defeat of the Opposition in the House of llcpresenta’.ives on Friday last, the Wellington huh'pendent of Saturday’ says :—The spe oh of the Superintendent of Canterbury is worthy, however, of special noti e, as lie intimated In? intention of voting with Mr Creighton, because he looked upon his motion as a direct want of confidence in the present Government. Mr Rolleston’s spee hj was illogical and *elf-contradictory in the last degree. It differed so widely, too, from the remarks made by him in opposing Mr Macandrew’s resolutions, that when the hon. gentleman sat down the House seemed fairly jmzzlcd what to make of it. Only a few days ago he had said “ that last session, when lie hoard the financial proposals of the Colonial Treasurer, he felt very strongly that the steps he.proposed would prove disastrous to the Colony ; but the safeguards, of which they had intimation in the Treasurer’s recent statements, would tend to prevent the great scheme ending, as he had anticipated it would end, in ruin to the colony. As he understood the < olonial Treasurer’s statement, it die! away with all hope in the minds of those who looked upon.the scheme as a general scramble, in which they might gain largely at the expense and ruin of the colony. That statement withdrew all fear of that gambling tendency which was so much apprehended by those who were of his opinion in the last Parliament.” Yet last night ho actually declared that he had relapsed into the same fear and apprehension. Indeed, the lion, gentleman is always “apprehending” some king. His speeches aio Jeremiads, delivered in a very pathetic tone, He seems so overwhelmed with a load if responsibility that he eaunob make any prc« cress. It is very evident that the Canterbury members do not share his fears. The very pithy and telling speeches of the Hon, John ri all, Mr Reeves, and Mr Brown were about the best of the evening. The latter very ably pointed out the blunders of Mr Gillies, who lias shown his mastery of finance by a table full of the most glaring inaccuracies. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. A Wellington correspondent of the Nelson Colonist says: —About half-past seven Mr Vogel rose ; but his delivery, except at the close of his speech, was more halting, and less free than is usual with him. The attention of the House was very marked. Sue unfortunate wights in the strangers’ gallery, too much crushed for room, had a slight misunderstanding, and some words were heard, but were immediately stopped by the “hush ! hush ! ” which came from various parts. Gradually, as Mr Vogel went on, tiro Mouse seemed to go more and more with him ; and repeated.y warmly applauded him. 1 may observe heie that never before was there a House more disposed, I may say more determined to reduce the cost, and limit the powers of provinces than the present House of Representatives. The retrenchment in that direction, and the limitation of official seems to be a fixed idea with many ; and the cheers which greeted the Colonial Treasurer’s announcement, which spoke of reducing the members of Provincial Councils, lessening their powers, and otherwise simplifying them, was clear evidence of the extent and growth of the feeling. As be-proceeded, showing how the revenue, though estimated lower than former years, would be met by lessened xpenditiu’c, by savings on defence, and otheT branches, he cam d the House with him, and at the close was warmly cheered. And how did the Opposition take this 'i Very badly indeed, if conclusions are to be drawn from the looks and tone of the hon. Mr Stafford, hot a smile crossed his face, which by the way was a study. * On :e only when Mr Vogel semi-jucularly termed the Budget, the Retrenchment Budge’., a sardonic smile and equally sardonic “Ha, ha,” escaped thft' 1 aider of the Opposition. For the rest he gloomed and darkened as the speech went on, and deep chagrin was detected as the House cheered Mr Vogel’s peroration. Theft his voice, when ,he rose to draw attention to an omission of Mr Vogel’s in not concluding with a motion, was marked by sharp and angry tones. Some of his own lieutenants were heard to say in the lobby after the iidjournment, with something of expletive expression, that Mr Vogel had completely “taken the wind oat of their sails”; another, a supposed leading man, said they were fairly knocked off their legs. Already it has drawn many members to the Government, so much so that lately, in speaking of the personnel of a committee, Mr Stafford said he really did not know in what state p rti ;s were. Some of his former followers could tell him, I do not doubt.