PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4165, 3 July 1876, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

[Br Tele&baph.]

ABOUT THE LOBBIES.

(From our Special Corresponded i.)

Wellington, July 3. Alluding to Mr Reader Wood's speech on Thursday, the 'Argus' says:—"lt is perfectly well known that the Otago contingent are actively canvassing the Canterbury and Westland members to throw in their lot with Otago, and if these overtures be successful the wishes of the rest of the Middle Island will be conveniently ignored, and one Province for the Middle Island be the policy. Auckland'apriceforgivjngupitsclaimto making the land fund Colonial revenue is that it shall.be the seat of the Provincial Government for the whole of the North Island. Sir George Grey aspires to rule the whole of the north, and Mr Macandrew the south. Mr Wood might just as well have told the House this boldly and at once, for it is perfectly well known: We are informed by a leading member of the Opposition that Mr Wood had no authority to speak in the name of that party on Thursday evening, and that the party is disgusted with and entirely opposed to the policy he enunciated and the way in which he did it. As we do not suppose that Mr Wood spoke on his individual responsibility we can only assume that-his followers have found it convenient to throw him over and to disavow his, leadership." The ' Post,' alluding to the debate on the Canterbury Railways, remarks that the only gainers by the discussion by any praises that passed were the Traffic Manager of the Otago Railways and the Provincial authorities there—the former being highly complimented by Mr Stafford, and the latter by themselves.

The Warehoused Goods Bill introduced by Mr George M'Lean and prepared by Mr Macassey, seeks to define the law relating to the lights of vendors of goods and merchandise stored in bond and free warehouses, who no * b een P*" 1 * or them. Its provisions are" that an unpaid vendor's lien upon them sha'l be determined on delivery of the band warrant to a bond fide holder for their value. Possession of the warrants is to be held to be prima facie evidence of ownership, and the registered transferee is to lose his right of lien if the warrants are afterwards delivered ever bona fide, and for their value warrants of free goods are to be put on the same footing as bond warrants. The vendor's lien is not to be prejudiced save as against a bona fide sub-vendor or pledger for value. The goods are not to be transferred | in the books of the warehouseman except on production of the warrant. Special contracts restraining the negotiability of warrants are permitted. A warehouseman's Jien is not to be prejudiced by the sale or transfer of goods. The Bill is to come into operation on the Ist November. Mr M'Lean has introduced a Bill to remedy the grievance carriers complain of under the Amended Turnpikes Ordinance of the last session of the Provincial Council. Mr George M'Lean has joined the Government as Commissioner of Immigration. In a caucus of the Opposition to-day, to consider the position, choose a leader, and to consider the propriety of tabling Separation resolutions, it is not unlikely that Mr Macandrew will be fixed upon as leader. It is known here that the Provincial party

have been telegraphbg to Queens* town and the Dunstan to know if Messrs Mandera and Pyke have pledged themselves to separation. Mandera proposes to-morrow to call attention to this matter. Practically nothing can be learned of what the statement or the Government proposals are likely to be. It is understood that financial affairs are not very satisfac tory. The Customs revenue is largely over 1874-5 returns, but L 70.000 under Major Atkinson's estimate. The goldfields revenue shows an increase, but the yields a slight decrease. Mr Pyke is duly installed and has an office as Government whip.

{Per Press Agency.)

There was a caucus of Opposition members to-day, at which twenty-nine were present but no West Coast members attended. It was decided not to interfere with the Imprest Supply Bill. After a general discussion on the position of affairs, it was understood that no particular course would be decided upon until after the delivery of the Financial Statement.