POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2548, 8 June 1882, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

pFBOM THE "PBB08."J WELLINGTON, June 7. Iu the Legislative Council this afternoon the Hon. Mr Stevens, in moving the Government to attend to the ventilation of railway tunnels, spoke strongly of tho foul » f »te of tha atmosphere in the Lyttelton, Deb rah Bay, and other tunnels, wuiuu uo ana was attended with injurious effects on the health of railway servants, such as drivers and guards, who had often to travel through them, the Hon. Captain Fraser, who followed, ridiculed tho idea of any bad effects being produced by the air in the tunnels, and declared we were growing too effeminate, and said English tunnels, including the Box tunnel on the Great Western, were much logger, and no evil consequences were experienced by him in travelling through them. One member suggested that the use of native coal was accountable for the foul atmosphere. Tho motion was oarried. The Native debate in the Council was chiefly noticeable for the vigorous defence by Sir George Whitmore of his military career and its sequel. He strongly oondemned Sir Donald McLean's polioy, and declared that he (the speaker) oould have finally sottled the Native difficulty in another week had he not been suddenly dismissed wii.h disgrace and oontumely. The Hon. Mr Hart withdrew his motion for a committee of enquiry into the West Coast Commissioners' report. In the Lower House dullness has reigned supreme, and the day has been occupied with private business of a purely non-Bensational character. This evening the House has been much thinned by a danoe at the PosbmasterGeneral'*, and to-morrow evening both Houses are expeoted to rise in order that mombera may attend the ball given to them and to the oflloers of the Nelson and Miranda by the Wellington citizenß ; so there will not be very much work done this week. At a meeting of the Auckland and Taranaki members to-day the subcommittee reported that the coastal line for the Auckland-Wel-lington railway had the following advantages —(1) It is only half the length of the Taupo route j (2) There is no reason to apprehend greater engineering diffioultioß in the one than the other; (3) It passes through better country ; (4) It brings a muoh wider distiict into communication with the seaports. The report was discussed, and it was asserted there was no likelihood of delay in the surveys concerning whioh To Whero was accredited from Tawhaio, and bb to whose views he furnished some interesting information. Ultimately it was arranged that a deputation should wait on the Govornmont, and explain the views of the meeting. I regret to say Major Atkinson is no better indeed, to-night, he is rather worse if anything. His oold is very severe, and it is

improbable he will be able to deliver his financial Statement on Friday. He will do it if he oan, but it is muoh more likely it "will not be brought down before Tuesday next. I hear tnat another of the " doubtful*," or rather a supposed thoroughgoing Oppositionist, has now definitely given his adhesion to tho Ministerial side, on the ground that after seeing for himsplf, he is satisfied with what Ministers have done, and intensely dissatisfied with the conduct of the Opposition. In fact the Government party is consolidating and strengthening daily, while the Opposition seem to grow more and more disorganised. Nothing fresh has transpired regarding the Opposition leadership.