PARLIAMENTARY.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 443, 11 October 1877, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

[The following was published as an "extra' early in the week : —J (From our 'Wellington correspondent.) Monday, Noon. Messrs Curtis, Sharp, Ballance, and Bryce have joined the Opposition. Baigent, Mao farlane, and Johnson are doubtful. At half-past two to-day, Mr. Larnach will give notice of a direct want-of-confidence motion, which will probably be taken at once, and decided to-night. The 'New Zealand Times' admits that unless there are defections from the Opposition they must win. Monday, 4.30 p.m. Mr. Larnach's want-of-contidence motion is now on. 'Che Government are lobbying hard. The decision will be taken to-night. {From our Dunedin correspondent.) Tuesday, 9.8 a.m. The Government were defeated on Mr. Larnach's want-of-confidence motion by 42 to 38. Mr. Larnach will undertake the for mation of a Government. (From our Wellington correspondent.) The Government were defeated. Opposition 42, Government 38. Messrs. Baigent and Brandon voted against the Ministry. Messrs. Johnston and Maefnrlane refused to vote, and Sir R. Douglas (who had paired with Mr. Bryce) stopped in by mistake, and had therefore to vote with the Opposition. Messrs. Stafford and Cox paired with Messrs. R. Wood and Taiaroa. The new Government, if carefully foimed, will have a good working majority. <> {From "oi.t Exchanges) DK. BUSSELL's liBTIEEg. Dr. Russell's letters, bo Btrongly used by Mr. Ormond, are printed. They entirel} fail to bear out in any degree the statements and alleged quotations made by Mr. Ormond as to Sir. George Gray's fonducfc and connection with the Taupo Land Company in 1867. Sir George Grey is only alluded to twice—the first time being in a, P.S., as follows: '• In the letter from Mr. Russell to Mr. Locke, I have written to Col. Whitmore on the subject, as it is agreed to take him into the whole concern. The Governor, for leasons of State, thinking it better at present that he should not be in the concern, mother moneyed man will be in his place." However, the second reference is a few days after when Mr. Russell writes to Mr. Locko :—" I enclose you the letters from the Governor to tie Natives." ABOUT THE LOBBIE3.

Monday night's vote has tended to consolidate the Opposition. Until the division was taken it was not known which side would have a majority, as there were a half-dozen votes promised to both sides. Considerable doubt existed as to where tb?se would drifu to. The Opposition, having nothing to give, experienced a great disadvantage, which illustrates what occasionally takes place on the eve of an important division, and shows some of the means resorted to. The division on Mr. Larnach's motion brought out instances of how votes affecting the existence of a Government are secured. An Otago member while the debate was going on, wrote to a Minister of the Crown:—"Dear M or N, —As you kindly promised me, if I was at any time in difficulties, you would assist me, I have now to request that you wili let me have £5, as I urgently require it." The Minister admits receiving the letter, and the member referred to states thai he received the money, which was expended on the following day in giving a picnic. The member was absent from the House during the '"est of the debate. Soon after the division-bell was rung he was seen to emerge from the Premier'? room, and enter the House to record his vote; carefully waited to see into which lobby Ministers went and then deliberately followed them. One member hailing from the North attended the Opposition meeting, and encouraged Mr. Larnach to move his motion, and proffered to give -a hair against the Government on this motion. This becoming known to the Government a large Bank of Hew Zealand proprietor was seen in close conference with the member in question. A few minutes before the division thiß Northern member intimated to the Opposition whip that, on consideration, he found ho would have- to votr with the Government, but on some future occasion he would pledge his vote against them. Another breach of privilege case was near coming before the House on Tuesday in consequence of a written notice being posted hi the lobby intimating that any person desiring information on the private aflVirs of members might apply to an hon. member, for Otago, who was designated th« " House detective .•" •-

MS. LUSK.S CASB. The Privileges Committe.e oa.Mi. Lusk's. case will probably report in favor of his 'expulsion from the House, as his explanation given in the House is proved entirely incorrect, and his bill of costs. shows that he charged the Auckland Corporation for his Parliament-: avy services. It is said the Items ore as follows : —Drawing clause?, £lO 10s.; attendance ou Ministers to promote Bill, £5 5p.; do doj.long attendance, £lO 10s.; waiting on Premier, £5 53.; drawing Water Works Bill, £lO 10s.; advice to Mr. Stevenson generally, £lO 10s.; urging on Premier the passing of the Bill, £6 65.; waiting on and consulting Solicitor-General, £3 3s.—£6l 19s.

LANDS BILL. Mr. .tie Lautou" . lias given notice, of the following important new clause in the Lands Bill: —" From and after the passing of this Act, no person who shall hereafter purchase or acquire any waste Lands of the Crown in a proclaimed mining district, ivder any law for the lime being'in force regulating the salß or acquisition of such lends, sliall ~bs deemed to have any right or title to the 'flow, of any water-course running through,'in, or upon such lands, which would iiiterfve with or prejudice the right of any holder of a miner's right or mining lease to the discharge into such water-course of any tailings, mining debris, or waste water, produced or used in or upon any claim as aforesaid." DIVISION LIST ON MR. LAttNACIl's MOTION.

Ayes, 42 —Messrs. Baigent, Ballance, Barff,, Bastings, Brandon, Brown, J. C. (Tuapeka), Brown, J. E. (Ashley), Bunny, Curtis, de. Lautour, Diguan, Douglas, Fisher, Gisbo.me, Grey, Hamlin, Hislop, Hodgkinson, Joyce, Larnach, Lusk, Macandrew, Montgomery, Murray, Nahe, O'Rorke, Pyke, Rees, Rolleston, Seaton, Sharp, Sheehan, Shrimski, Stout, Sw.mson, Takumoana, Thomson, Tole, Travers, Wukefield, Wallis, a -.d Wood, W. Noes, 38 Messrs. Atkinson, Beetham, Bowen, Burns, Button, Carrington, Fitzroy, Fox, Gibbs, Harper, Henry, Hunter, Hursthouse," Keily, Kennedy, Kenny, Lumsden, Mauders, iSl'Lean, Moorehouse, Morris, Murray- Anysby, Ormond, Reid, Reyncids, Richardson, Richmond, Rowe, Russell, Soymour, 1 Stevens, Sutton, Tawiti, TescheniaVer, Waeon* Wbitaker, Williams, and Woolcock,