POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1317, 26 June 1880, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(from OUR OWN" correspondent). Wellington, June 25.

• Mr. Jones to-day stated in the House of Representatives that as the Crown had refused to grant him leave to introduce the Oamarn Town Lands Exchange Bill, he would postpone action in the mattes till a future qccasion. The concurrence of the Government is absolutely necessary, as the Bill deals with Crown lands. The Minister for Lands has a very strong antipathy to such exchanges, and expressed the opinion to a deputation the other day that to effect that thp exchange desired would efltail thp sacrifice of land, the whole of which will, not long hence, be required for large public buildings. He is at present' unyielding, and likely to remain so. - June 26. The norconfidence debate will yet last three ' unless unforeseen circumstances bring it to a close. The Government; appear more hopeful, arid they now clutch at straws. Their beclouded faces were lighted up yesterday v?hen Sir W. Fox treated the House to a pantomimic display. A sopiersault on the floor of the Houso would have made the display perfect. He commenced as though suffering from a surfeit of brotherly love, and expressed disapproval at the party tone of the debate, "but he soon forgot himself and drifted into invective, for which line he is celebrated, and made the bitterest

and most impolitic, yet empty, speech of j the session. Captain Russell and Messrs. Stevens and Dick spoke wisely and well. The two former spoke professedly on the Government side, yet each contained a denunciation of the Government policy. Messrs. Ormond and Wood were the subjects of their particular attention, but the former has not yet suffered much from -their criticism. Much good will be developed out of the debate, which affords, opportunities for thoroughly canvassing the crude proposals of the Government. Almost every speaker has expressed his willingness to allow the Government to retain office if they modify their proposals. The Government, however, refuse to accept Mr. Ormond's recommendation to curtail their estimates by a lump sum of a quarter of a million, and still challenge him to take the reins. Mr. Dick particularly intimated last night, that the Government were not prepared to incur the odium of making a sweeping reduction. It is impossible to tell how the debate will end, because even Mr. Ormond may yet vote with the Government in consequence of his objection to Sir George Grey. The Opposition are, however, disposed to arrange with the Middle Party, although there has been no negotiations yet to promote that end. The Middle Party is assuming a definite form, and consists of Messrs Ormond, Richardson, Levin, Johnston, Pitt, Wood, and Saunders, and there may be others but they are not yet known.

(FROM OTTR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, .1 une 26.

It is now questionable if the division on the no-confidence debate will close before Thursday next. The Government will have a majority, not because a majority of the House concur with their proposals, but because several who do not agree wit them will vote against the no-con-fidence motion in order to keep Sir George Grey out of power. The rumors with reference to the formation of a Middle Party are now thoroughly believed, but nothing is likely to be heard of this party uutil after the no-confidence motion has been disposed ofr This question once settled, the Middle Party, which includes Messrs Ormoiyl, Reader Wood, Saunders, Sutton, and several others who usually vote with the Ministry, will make their power felt. They insist upon considerable modifications of the financial proposal and of course the Ministry will comply with the demand. It is said that Sir William Fox aims at the leadership of the Middle Party, and his speech last night gave a strong coloring of probability to the report. His remarks were not so red-hot Ministerial as usual, and he criticised their proposals more impartially than is his wont on similar occasions.

It is stated that the Representation Bill, of which notice was given yesterday, will materially alter the boundaries of electoral districts, and it is understood that the Chief Surveyor has for some time been engaged laying off the new electorial districts. Of course it is impossible to speak with any degree of certainty upon the matter, but I think I am correct in saying that Oamaru town will obtain a member, that a member will be given to the northern portion of Waitaki County extending to Otepopo, and that Hampden will probably be included with Palmerston and the districts in the locality. Auckland Provincial District will most likely lose two members, Taranaki one, Nelson two, and Westland two, while Canterbury and Otago will each gain fouTj and Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and Marlborough will remain in their present position, save that Wellington City will get more adequate representation.

The work of economy has commenced. The Postmaster-General has given instructions for the discontinuance of the special trains which carry the Suez mail from the .Bluff to Christchuroh.