POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2536, 25 May 1882, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

WELLINGTON, May 24.

To-day has beon observod as a close holiday in honor of tho Queen's Birthday, and neither sows nor gOSBip seems to be stirring. The amendment moved by Mr Joyce last evening to tho Address in Beply is generally condsmnod as a stupid blunder in tactios due to tho mover's vanity. He hoped he might by a il'ike carry his amendment, and so be in tho poiition of having defeated the Government. I do not know whether he contemplated bring sent for by his Exeellniiy, but it is not unlikely. However, his aspirations met with a sovere check, for, with tho exception of Mr Feldwiok, his oeconder, he was met with a chorus of disapprobation on all hands. There is no doubt a considerable feeling in favor of the Premier being a member of tho popular Chsa>ber; but tho other plan, if inconvenient, is to thoroughly in accordant with conslitutional practice and precedent that the older stagers ridicule the wild denunciations launched by the less experienced member 3 against a plan so well established and often adopted as that of having the Prime Minister in the Upper House of the Legislature. _ A very moderate tcna is adopted by most of the older Opposition members, it is only air George Grr-y and new enthusiasts eveh as Mr Holmes who clamor for " blood," or at least for violent radical measures. Mr Bolmes created a good deal of amusement during his *' stump" speech last night by constantly forgetting that ho was not aotualiy on the stump, aad repeatedly addressing the House instead of the Speaker. He was at last rather sharply o&lled to order. It now seems probable that the Address in Reply will be oarried without any serious opposition. Nothing is definitely known as to the prospects of the Chairmanship of Committees, that h to say, aa to tho action the Opposition

will take. It is stated that Mr Hamhn will g>je hie hearty support to the candidature ot w-i Hurst, and if Mr Hamlin', friends follow bu lead there should be a very fair cnwaoo ot hw Hurst's eleotion. I have not heard whether the Opposition will abandon their intention of putting up Mr Thompson, bnt »t a substantial sootion of the party go with JW Hamlin for Mr Hurst they may as well give in at once with a good grace. The idea seems to be that the Opposition will wait awhile, and not precipitate their action, the Government reiving mainly on the Peace Preservation Bill as their battle ground. They appear anxious to have the Ministerial proposals fully before them preparatory to concentrating their strength on an exhaustive onslaucht. I fanoy they will yet find that Ministers have several awkward cards in their pack, which thuy will play when the right time comee. Sir George Grey may boast after his last night's strain, but the Government are not beaten yet, or anything like it. I cannot help thinking that the Opposition, as at present constituted and led, will still find them uncommonly tough customers.