NOTES FROM SPECIAL REPORTERS AT WELLINGTON

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 233, 22 August 1873, Page 6

NOTES FROM SPECIAL REPORTERS AT WELLINGTON

. . Aiigust.il. It is understood in well-informed circles that an being organised with Mr. Fitzherbert as leader. A move is to be made on the Budget.—' Star. 5 Dr. Featherston's . affectionate solicitude for the interests of Shaw, Savilje, and Co. (remarks the 'Post') is really touching. From some additional telegraphic correspondence laid on the table i ,6n the sth instant, we find that on the '4th of January Messrs Vogel and Reynolds telegraphed to him from Melbourne, " Do. not.renew Saville's contract without express authority." T.p this Dr.. Featherston.on the 10th January replied, pathetically'protesting against;these instructions by saying, "Don't- imperil thousands' lives intrusting service' inexperienced hands." The anxiety was, we'fancy, as | much at the probable loss of thousands of pounds to Shaw, Saviile, and Co., as the probability'of any lives being lost in ships flying a different house-flag. At any rate,-it is a pity the same anxiety o was not shown for the lives of the . children on board the Bebington, who'se deaths, according to the evidence, might in. all human probability have been averted had there been on board a proper supply of farinaceous food and medical comforts.— ' Star.' Mr: -' Mervyn brought in his little Bill to alter " the boundaries of-the Dunstan electoral district; " alleging for such introduction of his grievance that when he contested the Dunstao district last general election, the electors on one side of the river voted on their property qualification and on the other on their miners' rights. He was not particular about the matter at all, would put it off for another session" if necessary, and would let inquiries be' made about the matter if any doubt existed. Mr. M'G-lashan told hon. members that no grievance existed in the district or it would have been brought before the Provincial Council of Otago. The member for the Dunstan said it was very kind for Mount Ida to take such an interest in his district; but he considered it a piSee of impertinence on the part of Mount Ida to interfere. So Mr. Mervyn got on his legs again, and told the House that the member for Dunstan had never shewn his face, in the district since his election ; and further, that he expected from the bland and smiling face of the member for the Dunstan that he never expected to fill or again contest a seat in. the Colony. So the Bill was put to the House, • and cast out like an unclean thing. Those Otago free fights are eminently refreshing and agreeable—they enliven the hard work and the business of the country. If all our Otago men were like some of our goldfields members, we certainly should want additional representation, and we had better have it, as the "Buller Lion" wishes, on a numerical basis.—' Star.' There were some sharp words between

Mr. itolleston and Mr. YogeL The subject under discussion was tHe agreement between Queensland, and New Zealand and New South Wales for laying the cables to connect these colonies with the European telegraph system. The ticular point on which the]two gentlemen f found themselves at loggerheads was one of a technical and comparatively, unimportant character. Mr. Rolleston thought that- the vague expression in the agreement —a " permanent break-down of the line"—should be defined as one of twelve months' duration. Mr. Vogel said their so defining it might give certain undue advantages to the contractors, the nature of which he explained. At any rate, he observed, the delegates had had the best opinions in Australia on the" point, and, being guided by those, opinions, they had determined to leave it as it appeared in the agreement. The opinion of the hon. member. (Mr. Holleston), however, might, of course, be very much better. He would not say that it was not so. This was no doubt an aggravating way of putting the case, but-still quite correct and parliamentary. Mr. Eolleston, however, rose in great wrath. He said he supposed hon. members were' in the House' for the purpose of expressing their opinions ; that was all that he had done. He/considered Mr. Vogel's allusion to his observations as a piece of impertinence. • It was Mr. Yogel's turn next, and it must certainly be admitted that he shines in encounters of the kind.. Without any display of temper on the one hand, or of supercilious mock dignity on the other, he remarked, in a brief matter of fact manner, looking down at the paper before him while -he spoke, that it was much to be regretted that Mr. Bolle'ston should allow himself to. make use of expressions of the kind. He did not appear, as yet, to have mast'ered "that demeanor which was generally regarded as befitting in the House. With this interpolation he passed on to the dis'cussion of the general question.— ' Hawke's Bay Herald.'

Mr. Bradshaw moyed the second reading of the Mining on Private Property Bill.^—Mr. Collins opposed it, and moved that the Bill be read that day six months. —Mr!; O'Connor supported the second reading.—Mr. Bathgate announced that the Gqvernm'ent would not support the Bill.—Mr. Maeandrew said it was a pity that''-the mining and agricultural classes were" constantly at strife to prevent each other settling on the land. It was hard to say how to stop it. The Bill would have the effect of, allaying differences, and he should support it. —Mr. T. L. Shepherd said the Bill was framed on the unanimous recommendation of the Goldfields Committee last session. He said the Bill would facilitate settlement. —Mr. Bunny said the Bill was important, and should he brought in by the Government. It was defective in not providing for the Government entering on private property for prospecting. He" should oppose it. —Messrs Gillies and" Shepherd opposed the Bill.—Mr. Sheehan said the objection to .the Bill had be en. .'very much overstrained. A similar one was in force," in Victoria.. If the Government would undertake to bring in a similar Bill next session he would advise the mover to withdraw it. If not, hoped it would be .pressed.—The Native Minister said the Government would take action next session if. the Bill was withdrawn. —The question " That the Bill be read now," was negatived by 19 to 37. —Mr. T. L. Shepherd then spoke in favor of the Bill being passed, and hoped some member would mov&<s?hat it be read that day next week. Mr. Mervyn moved that the Bill, be read that day week.—Mr.. O'Connor moved the adjournment of the debate till Wednesday to give the Government.time to reconsider the Bill. —Mr. Mervyn withdrew his motion.—Mr. Vogel did, not op-. pose the adjournment. He had understood the Bill to deal with lands- already sold, but as it only proposed to deal with lands to be sold in the future, Government would reconsider it. He suggested that the. Bill should be inserted in the Otago "Waste Lands.Act. The debate was accordingly adjourned to Wednesday.. Mr. Vogel moved that the House should sit for the remainder of the session on. Monday evenings.—Mr. White opposed the motion.—The discussion was cut short by the dinner hour. „ .