WELLINGTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 93, 22 July 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

• (fuqm oub own coekesponpen't. apdbess Ist beply. Mr Shanks, the new member for Mutaura, has given notice to move the Address in Boply to his Excellency's speech on Friday (to-night), but, to everyone's surprise, on Wednesday afternoon Sir G. 'Grey asked that it might be taken that evening. The Opposition had not boon oonsulted, and as they were not then prepared for it, Sir W. Pox, the leader, declined to allow it to come on until the proper time. The fact is there is quite a chance of the division on this question going agairißt the Government, and this was v very clever attempt to hurry the thing through before their opponents had organised their forces. However, Sir W. Vox was too old a politician to be caught napping after that fashion, and the attempt wa9 forestalled. OPPOSITION TACTICS. There i 9 Fome talk of a direct vote o want of confidence in the present Govern ment being tabled directly, before the Ad dress in Reply is finally disposed of ; fo there are many measures shadowed forth in the Viceregal speech which the constitutional party would be quite willing to adopt, and are, indeed, in favor of, knowing full well that in very many respects our Statute Book is woefully imperfect ; so that a united vote could nit be obtained nearly so easily against the Government's policy as again?

their general administration ; hence the greater suitability of a direct vote of want of confidence, rather than a general opposition to their policy as enunciated iv the Governor's speech. OUll JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE. The now celebrated Mr Barton has returned from his visit to Sun Francisco, and is again doing us the honor of representing U3 in Parliament. Rumour has it that he wa3 so well pleased with what ho saw in the capital city of California that at the close of the present session he intends to resign, and leave "Wellington, taking up his residence in San Francisco permancntiy. MOCK PARLIAMENTS. Your readers will doubtless remember that a few months ago, a Northern Maori chief called Paul, got np a so called Maori Parliament at Orakei, when a good deal of talk was indulged in, and a" good deal of food consumed, but practical result the was none. Mr Sutton is now inquisit' j enough to want to know the coat of l is little piece of nonsence, and lirs moved lor the production of all papers and ex^ jnse vouchers in conne3tion with the affair. 11AILWAY CAIIBIAOES. Mr Fi'ldwick, the new member for Invcrc:>rgill, lias given notice that he will ask whether it is intended to convert the present long six«wheeled carriages into doublebojjie carriages. The reply to this question will be one of general interest. The ex-p.-riment has been tried In Canterbury, and found to work well, as the American bogies have the effect of dispensing with all that wearisome oscillation and jolting which is so noticeab'o in the long carriages with rigid wheels when travelling at anything above a mere snail's pace, and they traverse the curves much more easily, too. MASTERTON EAIbWAY. Mr Beethum is going to ask the Minister for Public Works to*uight when our railway is likely to be opened through to Masterton. I hear that it is likely to be opened to Greytown at no very distant date, but i beyond there very little progress seems to have been made, so that the question will be very well timed. Would that either of tlie apathetic members for Manawatu or Wellington Country Districts would ask what has become of a railway that was onco projected between Wellington and Foxton. This is a mystery which sorely noeds clearing up, and Mr Johnston or Mr Brandon might well devote a little attention to it.