PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1695, 26 July 1879, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

[By Telegraph.]

[prom oub correspondents.] WELLINGTON, July 25.

Last evening Mr Hobbs came out with his opinion of the Native meeting, the Native administration, and the Native Minister. He spoke with great hesitation and appeared reluctant, hut nothing could he stronger or more lamentable than the charges he made before he sat down. He said that if such things had been done in a corner he might have left them unnoticed; but blazoned as they were before both races, his conscience compelled him not to appear to approve or connive at such actions even by silence. In the course of his speech Mr Hobbs said While I stand in this House I will go into the lobby at no man’s bidding. I will not he driven like a sheep to the dip, and and those who go into the lobby with the Government will not even resemble sheep going into what is known as McDougall’s dip, because they are supposed to come out clean.” The “ Hansard ” reporters were absent from their places when Mr Hobbs began speaking, and the Speaker’s attention being called to the fact, he requested Mr Hobbs to wait until they were there. At about three o’clock this afternoon, the Premier made the extraordinary proposal that the House should adjourn for half an hour," to enable the Government to bring down an Imprest Supply Bill. No one can imagine what the adjournment was wanted for, as it has of late been the rule, rather than the exception, that; Ministers, or at least the greater part of them, should be absent from the House. It was probably hoped that Sir W. Fox would make some objection to such an absurd proposal, so as to give a color to a charge of obstructing payments for the public service. He. however, at once acquiesced in the political manoeuvre, and said ho had a’d through been prepared to do so, and would offer no objection to the pa: sing of any vote required for the present public service. A vote of .£300,000 was passed without a word, and all the forms gone through in less than a quarter of an hour. Sir George looked utterly disappointed at the peculiar nature of the process, which was evidently not what ho expected. Sir George’s speech and acting at the meeting last night must have damaged him in everyone’s estimation.

In reply to Mr J. E. Brown. Sir George promised this afternoon that the Government would offer every facility for the appearance of agents, not being lawyers, in the Land-tax Revision Court.

A good deal of interest has been created amongst members by what is known regarding what is called the railway job. It is said some astonishing revelations aro expected from inquiry by the committee appointed to investigate the alteration of the railway map laid on the table of the House last year. It is reported that if the matter of the inquiry is proved it will establish more serious charges against the Government than the Tapanui railway affair. . Tho following is a translation of Eewi’s letter which Mr Famlin to-night read in Parliament: —“ Kihikihi, July 25th, 1879. Mr Hamlin, M.H.R., Wellington. Mr Hamlin, — Acquaint the House with these words—Greetings. I have seen in the papers that Fox and another member are upsetting the Government. lam very vexed at that kind of work. We together with the Government planted a tree to bring forth good. The new Governor saw the tree and approved of it. Ho also ordered it to grow. Now Fox and other members are uprooting that tree that is to produce good. I thought you (the House) would have waited till the tree bore fruit, and then discover the nature of that fruit, good or bad, before acting. If the fruit turned out badly, it would then bo right to uproot the tree ; but as it is, Fox and his friends hive commenced destroying the tree before it bad borne fruit. If the Government falls so will I, and tho tree we have planted—that is, the work we have undertaken for the good of the two races of the Island. If you think well, read this telegram to tho House. (Signed) Eewi Maniopoto.”