POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2586, 21 July 1882, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

fßx Tblkobafh.l [*BOM THE "PBBBU.'n WELLINGTON, July 30. An analysis of the voting and pairs in last night's division leads to some ourious combinations. It now turns out that every single vote was either recorded or paired. Thus, as eighty-four voted and ten were paired, the actual numbers recorded were, Ministerial 49, Opposition 45, but the former include Mr Pilliet and Mr Buohanan, who assert that they voted, not as on a Ministerial question, but as being strongly opposed to Sir George Grey's Bill, and the Opposition votes included Messrs Weston, Fish, and M. W. Green. It will at once bo seen that these faots indicate some ouriong party complications. It will readily be seen that if Ministers have only forty-nine votes, inoludiog Mr Pilliet and Mr J. Buohanan, and the Opposition forty-five without, then a single transfer of those two votes would produoe a " tie" now that Messrs Weston, Fish, and M. W. Greea have so openly given in adhesion to the Opposition. The latter party, moreover, profess to have good hopes of securing at least two others from the Ministerialists of last night. Indeed, sorr- -•/ " - thusiastic Oppositionists and loudly boast thi of a majority of Government, but we kne how utterly unreliable an and the Ministerialists sti six. It is dear that ther wide discrepancy in the tions. It would be iudis stage to hint at oertain ei it is quite certain that bol their utmost efforts (at determined way whioh c r with the previous emptj for an approaching stri tery. Most of the old veterans oondemn last trial of strength as inc But, judicious or injud done now, and has opei vista of probabilities, motion, whioh has hithe talk, may now at anypractical shape. I hear leaders will endeavor tc steps for bringing on tl motion, but even now '. surprised if it fall throti strongest reason to bel oounting on votes of tainly not vote with oomes to a division. An unexpected complication should take place, I feel dioting that if the Op join issue directly with of Want of Confidence, beat them by a small. The Ministerial leaders j Uast night on the ground •absolutely neoessary to c which was rapidly g through the weakness ._ - _ tt i-. and that it was essential to call on the allegiance of the Government supporters at once, in order to administer a blow to the Opposition, and check the insidious cdoroaohments of the latter, whioh had been developing more and more eaoh day. It is claimed that the desired efibot has been secured, and that the results are entirely satisfactory. Time will show whether this view is oorreot. It is curious that _ both sides profess to be delighted with last night's division.

No papers of any general interest were tabled to-day. The total number hitherto presented this session now amounts to ISO. No fewer than 310 petitions have already been presented since the session oommenoed, and the daily flow seems to continue with unabated oopiousness. A return of all sums paid by the Government in connection with the sittings of Assessment Courts under the Bating Aots during the last financial year has been presented to Parliament. The total amount is £762.

The reports of the Hawke's Bay, Canterbury, Otago, Ellesmere, and Taiori Agricultural and Pastoral Sooieties were laid on the table to-night. At the present time there are as many as eighty, five Bills before the House of Bepresentatives in various stageo of progrof s. I need hardly say that the ohances of thoir passing on to the Statute 800% are, in the majority of instances, exceedingly remote, but it seems to amuse hon. members to bring thorn in, regardless of their future if ate. It is probable that Mr Walter Johneton will make his promised statement relative lo the establishment of direct steam communication between Great Britain and New Zealand on Monday or Tuesday next. The letter from Sir Dillon Bell, already referred to in the House, is now in the hands of the printer, and will be circulated on the same day that the statement is made. I am informed that the lotter is very lengthy, and gives very ■full information on the subject derived from the best Home authorities. Briefly I understand its purport is that if _ a very fast and luxurious mail service is desired the oost will be enormous, and a very large subsidy will have to be paid by the oolony, but that a moderately rapid and comfortable passenger and cargo service, say days each way (i.e., reduoing the present time for sailing vessels by one half),; can ba secured for a .comparatively trifling ■ cost to the State. Mr Coster is now in Wei- ; lington on behalf of the New Zealand Shipping Company, and it is understood that he is preparod to make certain definite proposals. The Cemeteries (Consolidation) Bill consolidates all the existing legislation of the Assembly respecting the cemeteries and burial grounds contained in eight Acts, and also proposes to repeal all the existing provincial legislation of a general oharaoter upon the subject. The general scape of is to provide means for the control of all oemeteries and burial grounds by trustees or managers, as at present, including the power to close such cemeteries or burial grounds which now subsist. But in undertaking toe consolidation jof theße measures the Commission were led to consider the neoessity of providing means by which the oare ar.d control of cemeteries could be vested in looal bodies, .and with, this object have prepared a series of olauses to which attention is specially directed. Tte local bodies ti whom the powers are to be given are the County and Borough Councils sad town districts. The new Stats* Bill (which it is proposed shall come into Sorce on the let October next), contains a now proration intended to got Q.ver a difficulty which often occurs now when persons presenting an instrument offer to supplement the faots by extraneous evidence, * practice which if allowed would render the first part of the olause nugatory, and lead to embarrassment. The zight to a higher duty, if thfl facts justify suoh duty being chcrged, is siwed under the new Bill. A pr< vision ia imposing a penalty for registering o*:cjording any transfer of shares without '*• being duly

stamped. An addition ii suggested aa to the duty to be paid upon an exchange. This appears to have been an omission in the Stamp Aot of 1881, and covers oases whioh may frequently arise. An addition is made to the exemption of instruments executed by or on behalf of the Queen.