PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1086, 13 June 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

(from exchanges.) It is probable that a meeting of tho Opposition will take plaea on Monday or Tuesday next, tho object being to settle the present vexatious question of the leadership. Mr Macandrew is desirous of retiring from hia present position, and to appoint in his stead Mr Montgomery. A largo section of the party decline to approve of either one proposal or tho other. The proposal to appoint Mr Montgomery will meet, it is understood, with exceedingly hot opposition from all parties on the Opposition side, including Sir G. Grey. The definite election of Mr Montgomery as leader will break the Opposition up into small pieces. Sir G. Grey is impossible at present, and if Mr Macandrew shirks his work, the chances are that we shall have the longest, and dreariest, and most uneventful session that has been held for several years past. Tho debate on the case of To Whiti and Tohu, which has lagged somewhat during the day on Friday, .was dramatic in its termination. The division on Mr. Holmes’ amendment gave an enormous majority to the Government. There was only one Auckland member, Mr. Moss, in tho minority. Tho most enthusiastic people for letting Te Whiti go are a few’ Southern men, who have never given a thought to native affairs till lately. Mr. Bryce, in his reply upon tho debate, was much moved, and was much more nervous and agitated than ho was at Parihaka. lie evidently spoke from the bottom of his heart when he acknowledged the services that had been rendered to him by Sir G. Grey. That gentleman made an eloquent speech, regretting that the course ho had taken had separated him from friends, and saying that when this was ovei - he could fall into his old position of contending for those principles he had always held so dear. Sir George was also deeply moved, and held tho House spellbound, as the graceful sentences, composed of aptly chosen words, fell from Lis lips. A letter from Mr. Stout on the subject appears in this morning’s Times, but his coaching has had little effect. Sir G. Grey states that he feels very much at severing his political connections with old friends, but be declares that he could not think of following Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Macandrew on a subject on which his knowledge and experience and reflection are so much greater than theirs. Ho could not 'think, on such a matter, of speaking according to their direction, and holdding his tongue when they chose.

Sir G. Grey has displayed greater vigor and freshness this session than in any other. Some of the members are saying that he is trying to break up the whole Opposition as at present existing, aud to constitute it on a new basis.