POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2545, 5 June 1882, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

FBr Telegraph.) [PROM THE “ PRESS.”) WELLINGTON, Jans 2. Very few papers are presented to Parliament as yet, and hardly any of general interest. Most have been anticipated by the retnrns in the “ Gazette.” The final report cf the Commissioners to enquire into the constitution, practice and procedure of the Supreme Court and other Courts was laid on the table to-night. Ibe Commissioners transmit Bills they have prepared, viz. :—(1) Supreme C'mrt Bill, with coda of procedure; (2) Court of Appeal Bill; (3) Law Amendment Bill; (!) Criminal Law Bill ; (5) Local Court Bill, with code of procedure They are very bulky, and as their purport has been already published in the interim reports of the commissions, it is needless to recapitulate In their report the Commissioners say statute consolidating and amending the Divorce law is necessary, and recommend this to the attentionot the Government. (2 Kegistrarsof .cupreine Courts should be professional men of experience, t his involves increased salaries. (3) An entire change is desirable in the mode of tazi-jg and assessing law costs.*)' A fixed sum anould be allowed according tea the scale annexed to code ; but the Judges to"fhava power to decide the amount of costs to do allowed, as well as the mode in which they are to be borne. The appendices to the report are as follows Ist, A recommendation by the commissioners other than, the Judges, that as the Jndgei will have extra burdens placed on them, and considering the salarieri in the Australian colonics the salaries of the Judges should bs increased at once. This recommendation is signed by Messrs Barstow, Stout, Harper, Gisborne, Wilson, Ward and Holmes. 2nd, a memorandum from Chief Justice Preudergass, and Justices Johnston and Richmond as follows:

‘‘Although wo join in the report, some new methods are proposed ia which we are not confident, but seeing they are adopted by the great majority of the Commissioners, after ample discussion, we are not prepared to refuse that a trial be given to the new propoials.” 3rd, a memorandum by Mr Justice Gillies as follows—- “ 1 concur with the above memo, but dissent from the belief that the proposed code will lessen expenses to suitors and obtain a speedy settlement of actions.” 4th, a memorandum by Mr Justice Williams as follows “ Absent from the colony the greater part cf the period over which the deliberations of the Commissioners extended, signature therefore not taken as expressing an opinion as to the details, but merely assenting in the main to the larger principles.” sth, a memorandum by the AttorneyGeneral (Bon. F. Whitaker)Have signed the report, but must not be understood to ex press an opinion on the proposal to alter the superannuation allowance of the Judges. This subject will have to be comidered by the Cabinet. I must not be deemed to be prejudiced by it.” Mr Moss has given notice that, on going into Committee of Supply, ho will move as follows ‘‘With a view to the better control of Parliament over the public expenditure it is desirable that the following changes should be made in the practice hitnerto pursued : 1. That an Act should be passed determining in detail the several departments, and the salary to be attached to each office; 2. That no change in the departments or in the salaries so determined shall be hereafter made, except by amendment of the said Act; 3. That all appointments to offices exceeding .£303 a year in salary should only ha made by the Government provisionally and bo formally submitted to Parliament for approval.” Mr Steward’s Gaming and Lotteries Amendment Bill has just been circulated. It contains one operative oiaa.-e as follow? “ The following proviso shall be added to section 19 of the said Act, and shall be reed and construed as part of the same, that is to say, provided always that any sweepstakes or sweep drawn on a racecourse on the occasion of any race meeting, or cn ihe ground and within view of any r ca, shooting, coursing, or other match, athletic contest, or game of skill in which the sweepstakes or sweepstake or share of each individual participating therein shall not exceed the snm of £5, shall be excepted from the operation of the Acs.” Jnne 4.

A good deal of comment has been excited by the seaming reluctance on the part of the Opposition to hold their adjourned meeting and definitely elect their leader. Mr Montgomery, although acting in that capacity at present, has never been distinctly chosen. The explanation hitherto offered for the delay haa been that all the membere not having arrived, it vas inexpedient to proceed in their absence. Mow, however, that all are on the spot, the apparent reluctance to hold a meeting has been much remarked upon. It is freely rumored that the party have already tired of Wlr Montgomery and are di- p-J-od to try back on Mr hi acandraw, out others again do not think it would look well or promising to change front again so soon. 1 hear, however, that a caucus will probably be held to morrow morning, when another attempt will be made to settle this troublesome question. It is evident that so far as the Opposition are concerned Sir G. Grey holds the balance of power, and is absolutely master of the situation. The Opposition cannot possibly defeat the Government without his help, or in my opinion with” it either. 11 they were to achieve that feat they would still be at Sir George Grey’s mercy, as he could turn “them” out again forthwith. Sir George Grey’s friends are assiduously spreading it abroad that nothing will induce him or Mr Sheehan to accept office at present, but that they mean to watch over the course of events, and do not mean to be towed in the wake of Mr Montgomery or Mr Macandrew or any other leader who may start up. From what f can learn the Opposition have given up as a bad job all idea of upsetting tue Government on the Native policy, but they may try to harass the passage of the Bills through committee. Sir George Grey too, will, most likely, make his claim then felt. As it is now, he intends to propose certain amendments, T hera is not thought, however, to be any rea'l danger to the Government on this point. It is also rumored that the Opposition will not seriously attack the Ministry on the question of finance, lest they should thus endanger the new loan, of which Otago, Canterbury and Auckland are all naturally eager to secure a share. ' l here may be some desultory financial skirmishing, but I fancy not a very formidable battle, unless some fresh situation should unexpectedly intervene.

The Local Government question seems again to ba looked upon by the Opposition aS their moat promising point of attack, and there is certain to be a sharp fight on this subject. I strongly suspect that Ministers have still tome trump cards to play which will materially modify the position, and it they pliy them well, I doubt the Opposition having much show this session. At all events, 1 believe the latter party will in any case make no hostile move until the vacant seats are filled, as they profess to be sanguine ot securing the whole three. Yesterday was prolific ot “local” caucuses, no fewer than three being held at the Parliament buildings. Ihe Auckland and Taranaki members met together to discuss the question of railway extension in the North Island. In case ot tbo now loan being floated it was nnani monsly agreed that the North Island had a claim prior to any other for the completion of the trunk line through from Wellington to Auckland, as the South Island main line htd already been made. After considering the merits of the two ultimate routes, namely, the coastal route via Taranaki and 'Ve Awamutuand that through the centre of the island, via -’aupo, the former was deemed preferable. Major Te Wheoro asserted positively that there is known to be a good line by the central course. Ultimately a committee was formed to watch Auckland and Taranaki’s interest.

A meeting of goldfields members was also held and was veny fully attended, twenty being present, Mr DeL»ntour occupying the chair. A lengthy discussion took place relative to the various questions of mining, such as the gold duty (its possible reduction or abolitio;.), miners’ rights, the laws relating to goldfields, riparian rights, the advisablenesa of procuring diamond drill*, rock borers, the incidence of taxation. Chinese immigration and so forih. A committee was formed, consisting cf Messrs Weston, Fitzgerald, Pyke, Dehautour, J. C. Brown, Sheehan, Cadman, Sertdou, Petrie, Connolly and Daniel. The committee met Dter in the day, and divided themselves into several subcommittees each to devote its attention to one or more of the subjects mentioned above, and to obtain all possible information on the subject, and to report to a future meeting. The Canterbury and Woitland members met together yesterday, the meeting being convened by Mr Weston and Mr Wright, There were twenty-five present. It was moved that Kir J Hall take the chair, bat Sir John declined, and proposed Mr E G. Wright in his stead. Mr Wright was only elected. As in most other “local” meetings tbo question for consideration was what works ought to ba eontrncted out of the new loan if carried and floated, Thera was some discussion and difference of opinion reia live to the desirableness of farther borrowing at present, but in the end it was agreed that this question should be waived in the meantime, and that members should hold themselves free to vote for or against a loan, discussing now merely its allocation if passed. It was generally held that railway connection between Can ter bury and Westland and northward past Hurnnui was desirable, and ought to be among the new works out of the loan, but no definite resolution was passed. A committee was appointed, consisting of Me==rs Wright, Weston, Bc-Idon. Poetlethwaito, MeIlwraith, Steward and Holmes, to obtain ail needful information, and to report to a future meeting The Stanmore case is now practically settled, and Mr Pilliet leaves to.morrow for Christchurch to condnct his election campaign, an indemnified man.