PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1978, 26 June 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[By TbiißGbaph.]

Pfbom ode own coehbspondent.J WELLINGTON, June 25, Mr Bryce returned to Wellington at noon to-day by the Hinemoa, and proceeded at once to Government Buildings, where a Cabinet Council was held. I hear that ho brings a very satisfactory report ,'of West Coast affairs, the Natives who had fenced across the new road line with the object of guarding their cultivations from trespass, having agreed to run their fences alongside of the road instead.

Mr Bryce took his seat in the House on its resuming this afternoon, and replied to several trivial questions about Native affairs. At three o'clock tho Premier announced that the evidence taken by the Civil Service [Commission would be laid on the table, adding that it would take some time to make another copy for tho Legislative Council. Then there was a pause of expectation. In a short time there [entered a solemn procession of two messengers, each staggering under a gigantic heap of papers tied round with red tape. They approached the table and gravely deposited their load amid a sort of hush of consternation, followed by a general titter, whioh at last broke into a roar. The Premier politely intimated that there was the evidence. First [one member and then another went to the table, and began to handle the bundles, each of which was about two feet thick, and to examine their outside with evident ouriosity, but nobody ventured to open them, and though they have now been lying on the table for six hour?, no one has had the hardihood to commence the perusal of that mighty mass of crude and indigestible information.

Another small excitement this afternoon was the notice given by Mr Hall for Tuesday next for leave to introduce the Representation Bill, whioh certain Opposition journals had so industriously announced would not be brought down at all this session. The Bill is not yet printed. Last night's instalment of the no-confidence debate was not particularly brilliant or striking, but was remarkable for the excellent sense talked by most of the speakers, also the repeated assurances given by members on both sides of the House, that they did not want to turn out the Government, but only to bring about a remodelling of their financial policy. This was strongly put by MrMaoandrew, and Mr Ormond took a very similar tone in considering some of the features in the Ministerial financial policy, but declaring his intention to vote for them in the coming division.

There are again rumors as to the formation of a Middle Party in the House, and Mr Ormond is mentioned as likely to be leader. Messrs Reader Wood and Saunders are talked of as probable members after the no-confi-dence motion is disposed of. No doubt this rumour may, to some extent, be due to the strong opinion expressed by those gentlemen against some parts of the Government policy, but from what I can hear it is tolerably certain that nothing definite will be done until the present no-confidence motion is disposed of. It is still quite uncertain when the division will come off ; probably it will not be before Wednesday or Thursday, unless some unforeseen turn should take place. The Government still expect a majority of ten. That once secured, it is said that a considerable modification of the financial policy will be forced on Ministers by their own supporters, or if they refuse to concede this, then the Middle Party may be an accomplished fact.

The 'atest rumour is that Sir W. Fox is bidding for the leadership of the Middle Party, but this is generally discredited. His speech to-night was strongly Ministerial. Mr Stevens followed him, and is speaking at 10 p.m.