PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1697, 29 July 1879, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

TBt Tblegeaph ] [fbom oub cobbbbfohdeh2s.l WELLINGTON, July 28. There is really nothing new to report this evening. Mr Swanson and one or two members who act with him are standing bail for the Government in the matter of dividing to-morrow afternoon, and are pledged to vote against the Government if any more delays are attempted. . Last week every effort was made by Government whips to get an adjournment. There will probably be few pairs in the division to-roorrow, and including pairs I still think that the division will be about what I told you on Friday, fortyseven against thirty-four, with four to walk out and two absent, which with the Speaker accounts for all the members of the House. If any alteration occurs before the division, it is far more likely to increase than to diminish the majority against the Government. A few details in cannection with the ThamesWaikato railway map alteration will enable a clearer idea of the matter to be obtained. The House sanctioned the construction of a railway from the Waikata to the Thames, but did not specify the exnet spot. The place where the railway was to be constructed to is Te Aroha, thirty miles from Grahaastown, but there is splendid water conveyance between the two places, and a railway therefore is quite unnoeessary. The words of the Act are—" From "Waikato to the Thames, as specified in tho map," but tho map only showed the construction of the lino from Waikato to Te Aroha. The map has been altered since it left the draughtsman's hands and since it became a. parliamentary document, nnd is now made to appear as if Parliament had sanctioned the construction of the other thirty miles between Te Aroha and Grahamstown. The real question therefore for the coiamittee on tho subject te ascertain is toy whom and by whose authority the map was tampered with. The vague wordins of the Act appears to have been taken advantage of in a way that tha Minister for Public Works calls keeping within tho four corners of the law. Is is said the Opposition have p;rsuaded Mr Howe to vote with them, on the usßurance that the Thames Railway interests will not suffer in the event of the defeat of the Government.

A long winded memorandumiad between Sir <J. Grey and the Governor is predicted, if tho Governor allows himself to bo drawn into arguing the matter. It is stated on good authority that when tho Opposition get into power they will not prolong tho session. They will simply pass the Loan Bill and Representation Bill, but no other public measures of any importance, and then •dissolve Parliament on! go to the country. Government emissaries are endeavoring to create a belief that Sir Q. Grey's liberal meeting was upset by persons hired for that purpose. Thus is quite untrue. The hostility evinced at the meeting was the spontaneous outburst of quiet, sensible citizens, who were simply disgusted at tho miserable tric-kery and claptrap of Sir G. Grey and his satellites. The following telegram has been sent to Mr McMinn, member for Waipa, by an influential • constituent:—"Excitement intense. Wo cannot believe you will disappoint the confidence the Greyites reposed in you. The only difference between yourself and jour opponent was that you distinctly pledged yourself to support Sir George Grey in any political distress, and Mr Whitaker declined, though he would promise anything short of it. That crisis has now arrived, and we wat.-h your actions with tho • deepest anxiety. The Opposition here are Tidicnling your fickleness, and will be only too glad to see yon commit political suicide." The " Post" reports that the leaders of the Ministerial p:rty have been heard to threaten that they will use to tho utrsost their power of moving further amendments to the address in reply if that of Sir William Fox i 3 carried, and that they will thns protract the struggle until a complete deadlock is caused, and so force his Excellency to grant a dissolution.