WELLINGTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 209, 2 September 1881, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(From our own correspondent.) [By Telegraph.] The Privilege Committee of the Legigla. tive Council have presented the following report:-—" Your Committee hare the honor to report that the evidence taken by the Committee established the fact that a member of the House of Representatives (Mr Reeves) undertook to purchase the expectant honorarium of the Hon Robert Campbell and the Hon W. Wood, and that Mr Reeves states that he was clearly of opinion that there waß a distinct agreement that the transaction was intended to be a binding bargain. That the Hon W. Wood does not controvert the facts as staled by Mr Reeves, but alleges that what took place when the agreement of sale it said to have been made was simply a joking conversation, and that be never intended seriously to sell the honorarium. The Hon Mr Campbell being absent has not had an opportunity of affording an explanation. The Committee, therefore, express no opinion as to him. The Committee is of opinion that assuming all the facts as alleged to be true no br«ach of the privilege* of the Council has been committed, but at the same time they consider any Bale of the honorarium, especially to a m«mber of the House of Representatives, a very irregular and improper transaction. Th« Committee, however, are not able to say that they are satisfied that the Hon Mr Wood did not intend that the transaction which undoubtedly took place was understood or intended by him to be a

■ale of his hoßorarium. (Signed) G. Water house. Chairman. We dissent from the Report, inasmuch that we are of opinion upon to ancß of teßtim °ny that tbeHon Mr Wood entered into an agreement for the sale of the honorarium to Mr Reeves, (Signed*} •J. W. Wilson, G. Buckley, W. H. Reynolds '' °° th . c I{e P ort being presented the Hon Mr Robinson gave notice of motion that it be referred back to the Committee. i This Day 125 p.m. The stonewalling tactics are still being steadily persisted in and there is no appearance of any tendency to yield on either side. I have been at some trouble to ascertain as accurately as possible the relative strength of parties on the question, and on comparing the information received from some of the most reliable members on both sides leather that the probabilities are as follows: — Those who are opposed to the present Representation Bill are of two classes, the inveterate stonewallera and the moderate opponents. The former are, I am told, limited to 'fourteen, vie , Mesirs Bastings, Collins, Gjbbg, Grey, Hariris, Hursthouse, fi<;vestam, Lundon, Pittj Reeves, SeddoD^ Sheehan, Shepherd, and Speight. The "moderate" oponentß number fifteen, viz , Messrs Ballance, Gisborne, Kelly, Ormond, Reid, Russell' Westou, Hurst, George, tole;..Mo B s, and the four Native members Tnis would make 29, but some Ministerialists put their opponents at twenty seven while some of the Opposition claim to have thirty-three, but I have been, unable to verify either of these numbers. The above list has been checked by two members on each side who assure me it is correct. Mr Kelly's antagonism to the Bill rumor connects with the New Plymouth Harbor Board, and the soreness associated therewith. Mr Russell's is commonly put down to Mr Ormond's influence, while the Auckland support of the course pursued is, of course, accredited to Sir G. Grey. So far as I can learn eight Auckland members will vote for the Bill, vii , Colbeck, Hamlin, McDonald, Swanson, Whitaker, Whyte, Wellis, and Wood, and nine against, viz., Grey, George, Harris, Hurst, Lundon, Moss, Sheehan, Speight, Tole. but of the latter, only Sir G. Grey, Messrs Harris, Lundon, Sheeban and Speight will help in stonewatlipg. Of the Taranski men, Mr Kelly will oppose and Messrs Atkinson, and Trimble will support the Bill. Hawke'a Bay will give two votes (Ormond and Rusaell) against, and Suttcb for. Of the Wellington members Mr Batlance appears the only opponent of the Bill. The others are said to Biipport it; although Messrs Brandon and Mason, whose districts will suffer materially, are looked on as doubtful unless the schedules are considerably amended. All the Nelson and West Und members, of course, oppose the Bill as also the Maori members. All the Marl borough and Canterbury men and all the Otago members except Mr Bastings support it. Somebody seems to have spread the report that Messrs Brown and Jones are against the Bill, but there is not the slightest foundation for this statement. Some look on Mr Finn as doubtful, but I am assured that he is quite safe for the Bill. It ie reported that Mr Baßtings is about leaving in disgust not intending to return during the session. Sir G. Grey has told several members on both sides of the House to-day that he intends leaving by the earliest opportunity for the South to "stump" the colony against the Government, and "educate" the constituents to influence their representatives against the Bill. He says he will mo»t likely start to-morrow by the H»wea for Lyttelton. and [ hear the itonewallers are pledged to continue their operations until his return This was at first regarded as a joke, but it is averted to-day that be seriously contemplates this step. There is some doubt as to the plan of operations after midnight on Saturday, supposing the atonewallers persist until then. The general expectation is that tht House will rise at 12 o'clock, and resume in the regular course on Monday evening. Others anticipate, that the House will rise only from midnight on Saturday to midnight on Sunday, and othei-B again believe that the Government will insist on going on through Sunday, lest there Bhould be any bitch in getting again into Committee, and also in the bope of discouraging and tiricg out the Btonewallers, but I believe nothing is yet definitely settled. Regarding telegrams about the renewed native fencing, I am informed on authority that the accounts which have appeared are somewhat highly coloured, although in the main correct; the action of the Maoris is troiiblesome and vexatious but no serious complications are apprehended. 3-16 p m. The Nelson members are sb vigorous as ever although showing signs of phsyical exhaustion. They have, however, the advantage of requiring to keep only three (or even two or one at a pinch) constantly in the Hou9e, while the Government side must always have 20 present to prevent a count out. It has now, I hear, beeu agreed to adjourn at midnight on Saturday till Monday eveniDg, instead of sitting all through Sunday as some extreme Ministerial advocated. Both parties have drawn up a complete time table and rota of attendance which has been issued by circular to all the members of party wbjo are disposed to carry it out. The Hansard reporters have at last beeo relieved from constant attendance at the House but are required to hold themselves in readiness to attend at a moment's notice. The press reporters have also arranged a rota of attendence in the gallery. The House has now continued sitting 49 hoars, and there is no chance of an adjournment before Saturday night. One very staunch Government Bupporter just now told me he saw no hope of the Btonewall breaking down, but that the majority oould not possibly give in, aa, if they do, there will probably be another stonewall on the part of some of the Otago and Canterbury members who will agree to no compromise. Most people now are talking of a dissolution as offering the only escape from the dead-lock. Nothing is yet settled about Sir G. Grey's projected stumping tour.