POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2540, 30 May 1882, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

IFEOM THB "PBESB.""! WELLINGTON, May 29. That wretched nuisance the Chairmanship of Committees is to be really and truly settled to-morrow, finally and definitely. The keenest canvassing is being carried on by the friends of both candidates, and the party whips are unflagging in their exertions. The net result so far is that the Ministerial whips count on a majority of throe for Mr Hurst, while the Opposition as confidently reckon on a balance of one in favor of Mr Thomson. Now it is obvious from this calculation that two members must have been claimed by both sides, for if you transfer two from either side to the other it makes up the total claimed by that side. That is to say, if you take two from Mr Hurst's alleged majority of three and add it to the Opposition, it makes tho latter one ahead ; similarly, if two be taken from the majority of ono insisted on by Mr Thomson's friends, it leaves a minority of one, but if the two be added to Mr Hurst's side that makes him three to the good as his backers assert, Thus it is plain that two men are counted twice over, I c mnot say for oertain who they are, but I suspect them to be one Auckland and one Otago member. I fancy the Government are little less sanguine than their whips, and are disposed to give one of their claimed votes to the Opposition, which of course would leave a majority of only one for Mr Hurst, while it is thought not unlikely that one member at least may walk out of the Houae without voting, which would bring about a tie. This at present seems quite as likely an outcome bb any other. Ministers attended an Executive meeting at Government House to-day at noon, and afterwards held a long Cabinet, where various arrangements were made relative to the sessional programme. Major Atkinson is still hard at work on his budget. He has been at home all day, so as to avoid being interrupted, and has not been at his office at all. It is now almost certain that his financial statement cannot be made earlier than Tuesday week, as it is likely that two or three days will bo ocoupied over the Native Bill. It is thought very likely that the debate on the West Coast Peaoe Preservation Bill will collapse speedily to-morrow, and the Bill go through flying. There is some uncertainty whether the debate will be resumed in the afternoon or evening. I hear that Mr Shoehan, who movod the adjournment, and consequently has the right of resumption is very anxious to speak in the evening, and wants tbo debate to be definitely postponed till 7.30, but that the Government will not consent to this unless the rest of the business should last till five. At any rate there ia a possibility that some time may be wasted over the Committee Chairmanship with amendments, &c, and this may keep the balls rolling till five. I hove no doubt some arrangement will bo made so as to gratify Mr Sheehan's wishes, and enable him to address his " vindications " to full galleries. It is expeoted he will follow Bir G. Grey's line and defend his own polioy and that of the Government. At tho same time the want of accord in the prominent members of the Opposition is very noticeable. Sir G. Grey has effeotually inserted a wedge and split up tho nascent party. It is more and more evident that no strong or united opposition oan be looked for while he is in the House. He cannot be ignored, and he will follow no leader but himself. So far as the Opposition are conoerned, he is entirely master of the situation, and holds the balance of power in his own hands too firmly for rivals to wrest it away. Ministers, on the other hand, seem to be strengthening their position daily, and my impression that they will be found to have a substantial and reliable majority in the hour of trial, grows in conviction.

According to report, Mr Wynn Williams will most likely give notice to-morrow of the Pilliet Indemnity Bill. It is said that this arrangement is somewhat distastoful to tbe Opposition, as they do not relish leaving the case of oiio of their own men in the hands of a staunch Ministerialist, but they can see tho Bill might be in some danger if they took it in charge, because Government are quite strong enough to throw it out if they pleased. It is rumored that Mr Justine Williams, one of the judges who tried the Stanmore election petition, has expressed himself in favor of a free pardon being granted to Mr Pilliet, but this course is deemed inexpedient under tbo circumstances. The Indemnity Bill is expeoted to pass with little or no opposition. An important mooting of Otago members was held to-day to consider the best steps to be taken for the promotion of the Otago Central Railway, and twenty-two members were present. A lengthy discussion took place, lasting over two hours, A general opinion was expressed by those present that it was absolutely neocssary to adopt immediate vigorous measures for urging upon the Government the nooessity for pushing on the construction of the lino with all practicable speed. Various suggestions were offered as to the most effective course, but it was ultimately proposed by Mr J. W. Thomson that a deputation should wait on the Government tomorrow morning, to oonfer witn Ministers on tho eubieot, and to ascertain thair views as to the question. This resolution was carried unanimously. It was also resolved to appoint a continuous committee to watch over the interests of Otogo in this matter. The committees consists of Mefsrs Barron, Bathgate, Forgus, Pish, Pulton, and Pyke. Tho meeting then adjourned. It is thought there may be considerable opposition to both the Otago and the Auokland Harbor Board Bills, but that compromises will probably be arrived at, and the matter arranged by a little " log-rolling." The report of Sir W. Pox ua to tho West Coast Oommisiuon, has not yet been sent in, but it is understood that its main points will be as follows :—Sir William has completed the division of the native reserve, but hf.s made tho allocation only to tribes and hapus of tribes, deeming it unadvisablo to give grants to individual Natives. That work is now all done. Sir W. Pox is continuiug his investigation touching tho awards of the Gold Compensation Courts whioh were hold after the Maori war, and issued land scrip to the loyal Natives, chiefly those of Waitara. The lend for this scrip was never definitely allotted to the scrip holders, excepting in the oase of the Lower Waitara,whioh has all been practioally settled. In tbe Upper Waitara the land has never been allotted to tho scrip holders, and this delay has been one of the prominent causes of discontent on the West Ooaot. In Sir W. Pox's opicion, howover, tho delay was quite as muoh the fault of the Natives as of tho Government, iJ not more so, as tho Maoris would not allow tho surveys to be made which were a neoeasary antecedent to the issue of tho grants, and they refused to permit surveys, and surveyors dared not venture there for fear of their lives ; and yot the Natives, after preventing the surveys which wore absolutely essential toward the grants being made out, grumbled at not getting their land. Now, however, all are eager to have the land surveyed and tho grants issued, but there is a great difficulty in the way, owing to the defective condition of tho old surveys in Taranaki." Theso are so faulty that the Commissioner of Crown Lands actually oinnot recognise the work formerly done in his own offioe. It is oaloulated that the necessary detailed surveys would occupy five years, unless a special effort is made, Bnd Sir W. Pox is anxious that the Government should provide a sufficient force of surveyors to push through the work in one year. He will urge the Government to take steps for enabling this to be done. He finds there is ample land to satisfy the claims of all scripholders, and that in the Upper Waitara very few of the original holders have parted with their scrip, which hitherto has not been at all in demand.