PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 439, 13 September 1877, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

(From our Exchanges J hawkb's bat land purchases—defeat OF THE MINISTRY. Sir G. Grey's speech on the evening of the 7th instant was wonderfully calm and temperate. Once or twice lie branched off a little, but, on the whole, spoke to the point, and with effect. Mr. Stout made some good points, but- his eulogy on Sir G. Grey should have made its object exclaim: " Save me from my friends." Mr, evidently spoke under strongly Vup,,emotion or passion. He was following lead in making utterly unjustifiable referUhc;o : j ? Mr. Rees' private affairs, when Messrs. Wood and Wakefield interfered, and the Speaker called Mr. Whitaker to order, ruling such personalities utterly irregular. Mr. Whitaker subsequently apologised. If members were accustomed to blush, they might have had one at the. well-deserved rebuke by Taiaroa regarding the tone of the debate. Mr. Wakefield's speech, which commenced at midnight, was _ probably the most brilliant piece of political invective ever heard in the House, Both ia matter and manner it was admirable, and, as Messrs. Ormond, Atkinson, Whitaker, Russell, and Sutton successively came under the lash, they absolutely writhed. The manner in which he fixed upon Mr. Ormond himself the epithet applied by the latter to HenryTakamoanaofthe'.most accomplished liar in the Colony was admirable in its dramatic force, and caused cheers from all parts of the House; in fact, Mr. Wakefield was cheered throughout, and his brilliant oratorical effort well deserved it. There .was not an unparliamentary or ungentlemanly word in it. _ The announcement of the result of the division on Mr. Whitaker's proposed addition to the motion —the Ministry being defeated—-caused Opposition cheers, and the Government and their supporters looked blue at their defeat. In addition to the fifty-one who voted there were seven pairs, and four Opposition men and two Government men were accidentally absent.

The following is the division list| Ayes, 25 : Atkinson, Bowen, Fitzroy, G-ibbs, Henry, Hunter, Hursthouse, Johnston, Kenny, Lunisden, Macfarlane, M'Lean, Moorhouse, Morris, Ormond, Rdd, Russell, Seymour, Stevens, Sutton, Tawiti, Whitaker, Williams, Wooleoek. Noes, 26 : Baigent, BarfF, J". C. Brown, Bunny, de Lautour, Dignan, Fisher, Gisborne, Hislop, Lusk, Macandrew, Montgomery, Nahe, O'Eorke, Kees,' Seatou, Sheehan, Stout, Swanson, Taiaroa, Takamoana, Thomson, Tole, Travers, Wakefield, Wood. THE GOVERNMENT DOOMED. There is no doubt that the Government is doomed. Their own supporters admit they cannot survive Mr. Or mend's indiscretion, the verdict in the ' Waka Maori' case, and other things.'. Stormy scenes are reported amongst Ministers themselves, Mr. Ormond's colleagues accusing him of having killed them. ESCAPE OF GAS. The stench in the House during the debate was fearful, and was made rather worse by the carbolic acid which was profusely used. OPPOSITION MOVEMENTS. On Saturday communications were, exchanged between the Middle Party Committee and Sir George Grey and his lieu : tenants. Sir G. Grey and his party agreed to follow the lead of whoever the middle party might elect to lead a direct onslaught on the Government. A correspondent writes to the ' Star—- " The Government cannot hold their own. On the question of the .Native land sales at Napier, Sir G. Grey will, it is said, execute a damaging flank movement, demanding a committee of inquiry to prove Mr. Ormond's accusations against himself. The House cannot refuse this, let the whipping for the Government be ever so active. Mr Stout's speech was well received, but was not, however, accepted as a satisfactory defence of Sir George Grey. The latter said he spoke to the country —not to the House. Ministers are showing too weak defence. This wretched question will now close up all practical business. Every "discussion is bitter, with no satisfactory results. The House appears almost ready to vote for dissolution, and I should not bie surprised if a motion iu that direction received great fa vor, especially if the Ministers are defeated ; they would then join this cry. Mr. Pyke has declared against the Ministry, and, it is said, jpins the Opposition ranks. Others have done so to-day." A motion will be tabled early next week, probably by Mr. Montgomery, that an immediate change of Government is desirable and necessary. This is the form decided on in preference to a direct No Confidence motion in deference to the wishes of one or two members. An absolute majority is sure, and probably when victory is secured its fruits will. be laid at the feet- of Sir William Fitzherbert,