PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1818, 18 December 1879, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

[By Tkleqbaph.J [iBOM OtTB COBBKBPONDENTB.] WELLINGTON, December 17. The whole of last night and until 3.30 this morning was spent in talk on the Public Works Bill. The feeling on both sides was strong, and the debate moat asrimonious. Mr Oliver looked as if another such night would finish him up. He admitted that he had an interest of £35 in one of the district railways, and this afternoon Sir George Grey moved a vote of censure on the Government without notice. Sir George could only get about two hours’ talk kept up on this long vote of censure, and that was a most damaging one to his own party, which is evidently all to pieces for want of a leader. The members abused each other in fine style, and several of the most prominent members of the party declared that they would go no farther with such a party. About 5 o’clock Sir George found himself in a minority of 12 to 39. In this game, as in many others, he played completely into the hands of the Government, as many of the Government supporters were not in favor of their proposals re district railways; but no one but the most thoughtless reckless partizan could vote for the censure on the Government. There was a very strong feeling to-day on both sides of the House as to the position the country would have been in if the House had now been about to leaye the future weal or woe of New Zealand in the hands of Sir G. Grey and his party, such as they now show themselves to be. Sir George Grey’s last effort in the House was characteristic. It was to make the Government detain the Hinemoa and all the northern members to suit his convenience. The supplementary estimates went through this morning without much talk or obstruction. All attention is now centred on the question whether the Government shall or shall not guarantee the debentures of the, district railways.