THE ELECTIONEERING TELEGRAMS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1790, 15 November 1879, Page 3

THE ELECTIONEERING TELEGRAMS.

[By Tbleobaph.] [feom due own cobkespondent ] WELLINGTON, November 14,

Although tho evening was lost yesterday as a private member’s, it was far more lively than usual to any one in search of amusement. The telegrams on electioneering subjects, asked for by Mr Saunders, were laid on tho table, and soon began to act like a blister on tho Greyites. Sir G. Grey himself had escaped well enough by paying for his telegrams, but Lis two rush colleagues, Mr Sheehan and Col, Whitmore, figured very badly, and altogether some strange uses had been made by them of their power to control elections at tho public expense. Mr Macandew got hold of the telegrams the instant they were laid on the table, and did all he could to prevent them being seen nntil ho moved that they should be withdrawn and referred to a select committee, but still many of them were seen and enough found out to enable a good deal of talk to-day. Mr Ingles figures largely in the telegrams, and besides a seat in the Upper House, he had a dispensation to say as much as ho liked against the Government, or their measures, or oven Colonel Whitmore himself, if he thought that the best way to keep Mr Saunders out. A Greyite was to have been up to take tho votes from Mr Saunders at the other end, but bo does not seem to have been promised a seat in the Upper House in case of failure. Your readers may expect a treat in the pereual of these Government telegrams when they come from the Committee, and perhaps some movers will be surprised to find that the late Colonial Secretary was capable of telegraphing one thing to Sir G. Grey and givim quite another version of it to another Minister and to Mr Ingles. It was remarkable to see the same members, who had so loudly and so wildly demanded that the private paper in Mr Swanson’s pocket-book, written by himself, should belaid on the table of the House, now professing to be shocked at the publicity given to these Government telegrams sent at the public expense. After three hours’ debate the Government consented to the telegrams being referred to a Select Committee, who will have power to call for a more complete file of these election proceedings for the public good.