POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 15 July 1880, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(by telegraph.) (from OUR OWN correspondent). Wellington, July 15. To the initiated the debate on the Premier's motion last- night that Mr. Hurst should take the chair in Committee of Supply meant more thaij lay on the surface. It appears that for the past few days some members of the mechanical majority have seemed, in the opinion of the Premier, to want hardening, and the unfortunate member for Auckland City West was subjected, as a first victim to the complicated but salutary process, by being roasted. He is now considered likely to be content to stay where he is. Messrs. M'Lean and Stewart had a passage of arms last niyht over the Hurst business. Mr. Stewart did not scruple to denounce Mr. Hurst as a rat in language ruled by the Acting-Speaker to be unparliamentary. Mr. M'Lean said that a rat like Mr. Stewart should be the last man to accuse Mr. Hurst of ratting. He, too, was so carried away by his feelings that he necessitated being called to order by the Speaker. Mr. Stewart replied that he could' say a {.'feat deal about the hon. member for Waikouaiti, leaving the impression that he was in possession of some dreadful secret, and trusting to the imr probability of being asked to explain, in which, perhaps fortunately for himself, he was not wrong. He also made a hit by saying he jinew p gentleman who possessed three qualifications which he enumerated, concluded by saying that Mr. M'Lean was not noted for the •possession of any of them. (FROST OtTR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, July 14. The question of. selling the railways is to come before the House to-morrow, Mr. Driver having given notice to move, "That in the opinion of this House it is desirable that immediate steps be taken to dispose of, either by absolute sale or lease, the whole of the Colonial Railway property to one or more joint-stock compapies, such purchaser or lessee to have the right of selection over 5,000,000 acres of Crowp Lands/' .. July 15. A further extension of tHe time for sending in the property tax formg is to be granted. As the regulation at present stands, the forms should be sent in by the 2nd August, but this is impracticable, as the Treasurer's proposals re the exemption of furniture, &c., have not yet been brought before the House for ratification. Supposing that the proposal is agreed to shortly some time will be required for the preparation of new forms, and it is therefore intended to extend the time for sending in the forms until the 31st August.