SECOND EDITION. LATEST PARLIAMENTARY.

Evening Star, Issue 3582, 15 August 1874, Page 3

SECOND EDITION. LATEST PARLIAMENTARY.

(By Telegraph ) [From our own Correspondent.) Wellington, August I§. The Government received a defeat last night on the Wellington claims against the Colony. Mr Fox denounced the claims as being of a character, if it had been the case of a private individual, of the utmost greediness and grasping avarice. Mr M‘Lean Spoke under a strong sense of the unfairness of the claims, and narrated the trouble he had to settle the Manawatu dispute, saying that, through his unwearying efforts, the £r<>yince gained poasefsion of land which enabled it to carry on for three years, and it

had never as much as thanked him ; and now it preferred a claim which was a pure afterthought. He would never undertake the settlement of another such question. Mr Vogel charged the Province with ingratitude. Mr Fitzherbert retorted by saying the General Government had tried to get out of an honorab'e debt by au act worthy of a petti fogging lawyer. ‘On a division, a mition voting f.15 tOO to the Province was carried by 29 to 25. On the Railways Bill a discussion was raised over the proposal to purchase the Otago Provincial lints. Mr Vogel intimated that as soon as the trunk lines approached completion the Government would take over the management of the whole of the railways. To that end it was necessary that all the lines shou'd be in their possession. They could never do with four different railway systems in the island. Mr Mervyn strongly urged the construction of the line to the Dunstan. Mr Vogel said the Province must do it, and should tax the lands benefited. The Colony would no' undertake the branch lines for many years if at all. It is impossible to gain much information of what is doing in political circles. The Government will have a certain majority on the Abolition question of ten, probably twelve. I believe the members’ votes will b° ayes, 43 ; noes, 32 ; or perhaps one more for the Government. Otago is likelyjto vote thus : For—Messrs Bradshaw, Creighton, Cuthbertson, M'Gillivray, M'Glashan, Mervyn, heynolds, shepherd, Steward, and Tolraie. Against—Messrs Brown, Gillies Macandrew, Reid, and Thomson. Mr Wales is doubtful, hut is thought likely to support the Government. Mr Vogel announced that he will probably adjourn the Polynesian Bill for this session, m order to go on with the Forth Island debate, and not prolong the session.