POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 14 August 1880, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

(BY TELEGRAPH.) Wellington, August 14.

Mr. Wright made a telling though not eloquent speech last night, exposing the railway jobbery that has been carried on in the Colony. He hit out straight against the Strath-Taieri railway, and strangely none o? the speakers who favored it were capable of answering any of his statements. He made a hard hit at the Attorney-General (the Hon. F. Whitaker) in reference to the Kawakawa line. Mr. Wright's speech should do some good, by causing members to inquire as to the value of some of the lines on which the Ministry propose expending money. Some amusement was occasioned by Mr. Wright's reference to a late "starring" rour° taken by the genial member for Duns-tan. Mr. Pyke "had complained of the Railway Commissioners not having consulted him. when taking evidence in his district, and it was in Wright's explanation of the circumstances attending this apparent slight caused the fun._ He explained that when the Commission reached the district graced by the presence of Mr. Pyke, they found that gentleman a way on a theatrical tour erecting the part of Sir J. Porterin "Pinafore" in company with a prima donna, a publican, and a glazier. The House literally roared with laughter at what honorable members thought to be a capital joke, but the merriment was increased when Mr. Pyke! rising with a , countenance radiant with delight, made a I personal explanation. He admitted the prima donna, but repudiated the publican and the glazier, and justified his conduct by saying that the public were pleased, the hospital funds were increased, the wife of his bosom was satisfied, and he was happy. Hon. members want to know how the prima donna fared amidat all this general good.