Political Gossip.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 538, 26 June 1880, Page 2

Political Gossip.

From our Wellington Correspondent. (By Telegraph.) Friday Night.

The no-confidence debate is proceeding without many salient features, except general dissatisfaction with the financial proposals, notably property tax. There is no chance of Sir George Grey’s motion beirig carried against Ministers, but there are again rumors as to the formation of a Middle Party in the House, with Mr Ormond as probable leader. Mr Reader Wood’s name is mentioned as a probable follower of the new party 7 , after the no-confidence motion is disposed of.

CORRUPTION and EXTRAVAGANCE. Everyone is inlking of tbo terrible disclosures made by the Civil Service Royal Commission. The Wellington Chronicle says no one, save a very few, seemed to have ever dreamt that our Civil Service was in such a fearful condition. The report of the Commissioners has taken the great mass of the people by surprise. Corruption in its most vicious form has long been eating into the very core of New Zealand’s public affairs. The dreadful extravagance always attending unlimited borrowing, whether in the individual or in the State, lias had its wonted effect in this colony. The people have gone on eating, drinking, and making merry ; they seem to have followed up the course taught by the old Epicurean philosophy. They are now sitting on the stool of repentance, and wondering in sadness of heart over the melancholy past, and wondering “ what might have been.” With a country fertile as any on the face of the globe ; with a climate that is absolutely unsurpassed, with a population belonging to the grand old race that is loading the march of civilisation all the world over : in brief, with all the advantages that should conduce to the happiness and prosperity of a colony, Ni w Zealand finds herself pretty much in the condition of the Prodigal Son.”

BALANCE OF PARTIES. The new Radical member for Oamaru has been welcomed by the Opposition, who expect another victory shortly. Should Mr Adams, in his present complication, find it incumbent to resign, the Opposition may have a supporter returned. A Wellington paper says it is broadly stated that Mr Bunny has ratted, and that the price of his transformation is £IOO a year, which he will receive for acting as Chairman to the Waste Lands Committee.