POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1316, 25 June 1880, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(from que own correspondent).

Wellington, June 25.

The no-confidtence debate took a singular and rather unexpected: turn to-night. The Opposition had not the least hope of unseating the Ministry, and plainly stated so in the, House, Their object in continuing the debate* was solely for the purpose of entering a protest against the Government proposals. They were not only speaking to the House, but to the oouritry. On their supposed security the Government forgot for the most part to look complacent. The Colonial Treasurer only, at whom, the shafts were principally hurled, showed signs of the indisposition usual in his case on such occasions, but his was not supposed to be a sickhess even unto death. ,To-night when Miv Ormond. aimed welldirected shafts at the interstices in the armour which the wearer supposed to be impenetrable, and in a long speech inveighed.the' Government; policy, lie spread co'nsterhatibri'in the. ranks of the Government.'.anil their supporters, and caused loud cheers and sniiles of the utmost approval from the Opposition". If the House had considered, it would not have been taken so; much by surprise, Mr. Qrmond is noted for being such an eccentric member that, although it is hoped on one side he' will vote in direct opposition to his expressed sentiments, it is apprehended on the other side, with some show of reason, that his action portends the existence of a middle party as inimical to the Government as what is" "known as the Opposition. Ministers-are. in. extremes, and, as their declaim'er poured forth his impeachments, grouped themselves to disouss the situation. It is understood that a Cabinet meeting will be lield to-day to consider what should be done, and it is probable that the Houg;e and country, will not long remain ignorant of the effect of Mr. ■Ormond's bombshells. Messrs. Wood, Saunders, and others are viewed as belonging to Mr. Ormond's party. If this party should get into power, the Governim.ent policy will be entirely reversed, arid the property tax go by the board. Yesterday, Mr. Jones asked the Government yrhat steps they had taken to discover and punish the person who stole the repiirt of the' Civil Sjerviee Qommission, as stated in the House on the' 28rd inst. by the Minister for Justice. Action was taken because an impression has become firmly rooted that a seotion of the Press supporting the Government has been favored, and that directly by the Govern-ment.-It has transpired that the Native Commission's report was in the hands of certain Government newspapers before it was laid on the table of the House ? and that the Premier's sgcrettvry refused to supply ;the Civil Servioe Commission's report to the representatives of Opposition papers, whilst it was in the hands of the compositors of the New Zealand Times early cn Friday, and Hot" on the .table of. -the House . till past midnight. It is said that whilst copies of the report were handed to the representatives of the lopal papers who wired it to "the principal Government papers in the Colony, it was posted to the manager of .the United Press Association, and not sent to his office. He would not, therefore, have been able to place the papersJhe'represents in a position to publishJhS:T.epoFt.ai«iultftngo.Uß]y..Tyith the Government papers, had he not been on the ;alent. and got it frolm the Post-office before the closing of the Telegraph Office.. The 'Government disclaims any knowledge of th"e,:inatter",' although it-is- known- that if her tain members of the Ministry are not directly one" p,£ their subordinates' at* least knew more about the master than he would care to confess. ■The ; Minister; for Lands even ventured to asgert that the report was gtolen, Mr. Jones, . . acting'/ upon the assertion, iridiciited "that the culprit should be discovered if possible and punished. When, however,' in asking the question yesterday, he proceeded to particularise other instances in which Gr°dpguments hepn in the 'Hands' of newspapers' friendly to the Government before being laid on -the the table of the House, the 1 Premier, as was, expected, objected to the fcourse Mr. Jones was pursuing. He, however, succeeded ini . saying, sufficient on the matter to open the eyes of meudbers, and : t'o create a desire for an enquiry, So far as f' ca^.understand j'the only §iq that can be laid to f;he charge.;o£ .newspaper i:epre- ; sentatives is that of imposture,' not robberyr-' 'lf' only for the' purpose of; clearTng therii of the p,f the Minister of Lands the enquiry is mpst; desirable, while an important", principle is involved. ".

. .ii (Pbr Press Association.) • ■ Welmnoton, June 25. In v the. Hou.se. to-day. Mr. t Hall .gave notp!& "'td' 3 ''ftfirleayfe^o 5 jntrocluo'e c( Registration (j Representation) JJill on Tuesday,'