WELLINGTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 195, 17 August 1881, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

. (From oar own correspondent.) . [By Telegraph.] . ; Tuesday, il p.m. The "Railways Construction and Land BUI " Was circulated to-night. This turns out to be the title of a measure which has been so anxiously watched for, but there is another Bhort Bill called the " Railways Congtruction " which, as I te'egraphed last night, contains only a few clauses to supply onm sions in earlier B'llav There is also, it seems, a Public Works Bill as well which ia to come down later. The Railways Construction and Land Bill if, however, the Biil of the session, ana is being largely studied to I nigbfc. It willbe hotly debated on both sides, and it is impossible as yet to;predict its fate. It seems to be generally admitted, that its , provision? are very complete and satisfactory. The debate on the Representation Bill continues to drag afobg more drearily than T - ever. - Mr Reader Wood'a proposal to abolish Bpeciaj Maori representation,; and, -instead, -to, give the Natives equal electoral rights with Europeans in ordinary elections has aroused tbe fierce opposition/of the Maoris. Captain Russell spoke; in favor of this idea to-night and instantly brought forth an avalanche of wrath from Tawhai. The complications on the subject increase and the result is hard to foresee. It wa» thought at fiaafc that the Bill was safe for the secoDd reading by a large majority, but now a feeling is growing that, if once th« lecond reading »m carried, it would be almost impossibU to amend the Bill materially in Committee, being nearly all a question of boundaries and the most difficult of all to deal with. The schedules are not yet out,, and Ihear they cannot be ready even by to-morrow. An idea prevails that they are being kept back until the aecbndireading is disposed of. However, the general sketch I telegraphed a fortnight ago gives about as clear an idea as can ba gained of the Government proposals in their present shape. All the interest of the session now centres in the two Bills above referred to, and even the estimates are forgotten in the meantime. The evidence given before tbeTaranaki HarborCcmmittee is printed,' but all i 3 practically summarised in the Committee's report already telegraphed. I hear a very warm debate is impending on Friday, and that Mr Kelly is preparing a most elaborate defence of the Harbor Workc, white there will ba a vigorous attack from other parts of the House, and the assailants will be fortified by petitions and protests against the Harbor Works sent from several parts of Taranaki where excited meetings are being held on the subject. The progress of events is being watched with keen interest, as there is no telling wtat new and strange complexities may arise out of this affair. I hear also that another stiff debate is likely to take place over the final report of the Public Accounts' Committee on Messrs PolleD, Fitzherbert, Gisborne, and Domett's pensions which is telegraphed to-uight, and the gist of which I intimated last Saturday. There will probably ba strong opposition to the proposed Bill validating the above pensions. The Bill iB, however, pretty safe to be carried. Everything now points to a speedy close of the session after the Representation and Railway Bills are disposed of, and I doubt if any more measures of importance will be even brought to the second readiog owing to the extreme difficulty already experienced and impending in dealing with the Representation question. There ia plainly an increasing inclination . in favor of Hare's system 1 , and I rather fancy the Government regret not having tested the feeling of the Hon«e earlier on. the question, especially aa tbo Attorney General is each an ardent advocate of the plan, Several of tbdr staunch supporters, however, disapprove of it. and that i may be the explanation,

■ This Day, 3 p.m. It is intended to take to-night the debate on Mr Reader Wood's amendment to the committal of the Representation Bill, viz that the population basis be adopted, but that the combined Native and European population form such basis, and that the Native Representation Act be repealed. A sharp debate is expected, but it is not anticipated that it will last longer than to-night To-morrow is a private members' day, and on Friday it is proposed to take the debate on the Railways Construction andLandßill. Political gossip is very quiet, and there are not even rumors stirring. It is understood that the Representation schedules will not be down nntil the Bill is fairly in Committee, and that the Estimates will not be touched until both the Representation snd Railway Construction Bills are disposed of, so far, at any "rate, as their -committal*