PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 165, 26 July 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

The 1 Chronicle ’ states that, if defeated Sir George Grey will exhaust the forms o: Parliament sooner than resign. A great meeting in Wellington, to in angurate . a Liberal Association, takes plac< on Thursday evening, The Mayor presides and Sir George Grey moves the first resolu tion. Messrs Roes, Mass, and other member; of the Liberal party are expected to- addresi the meeting, and it is. anticipated .that tin movement will prove but the commencement of a powerful political organisation of i popular character in every part of tin Colony. Referring to the proceedings in the House on Tuesday, night, the. correspondent of tin ‘ Lyttelton Times ’ says : Ou resuming .after the adjournment, the House was crowded in every part. In the . anticipation of a warm debate, the members of the Legislative Council mustered strongly, and hundreds were unable to gain admission to the public gallery. At 7.30 Mr Saunders resumed ‘ the debate, at once attacking the Government on their" Native policy, but doing ho only in abuse, and advancing nothing in the form of argument. His speech was interspersed with namby-pamby platitudes and weak, pointless anecdotal illustrations, ; and fell flat off the House and galleries. Referring to fjir- George Grey, he said that men who had previously differed would combine in one common cause to defeat one common enemy. (Hisses.) On attempting a peroration he broke down miserably. Mr Rees,* on commencing his reply, characterised Mr Saunders’ speech .as a mere tirade of meaningless abuse, and charged him and his friends with being like an assassin in attempting to stab those" who had rained Them, to their present position. He scathingly referred to Mr Saunders’ ad misericordium appeal to consideration on the ground of his old a^e. , The Opposition majority is understood to be gradually decreasing, and from fourteen the number now calculated upon is fire or six. Mr J. E. Brown is at the head of seven or 'eight office-seekers, who are prepared to vote against the Government on condition that they will be included in any new Ministry that may bo formed. • This new party is distinguished from the Fox adherents as' the .“ Wolf,’’ or Middle party.

; Wellington, July 23, Although ■ Mr .Sheehan was evidently not well last night, his speech was an excellent one. He stuck closely to his subject, and was clear and concise. He preserved his temper perfectly, and did not from first to last utter a word which could offend anyone. There was not n grain of ill-nature in his severest remarks. His speech lasted two hours and a half, and after the adjournment Mr Wakefield' spoke for three hours. It was a masterly and. admirably delivered speech, but encumbered by too much detail. The galleries were crowded to' the last. Mr WAkelield referred so pointedly to the Minister of Public Words, and made so many direct accusations against him, that the necessity of his replying was obvious, and as he could not do it at half-past one in the morning, all chance of a division ‘that night wae over. To-day Mr Turnbull commenced to make a long carefully prepared speech, which was delivered with great energy. Very often he seemed to think he was ]

addressing a public meeting instead of thd. House, and said “ Gentlemen” instead of “ Sir.” He avowed himself now an out-and-out supporter of the Government and their policy, and'he.Ayarfuly packed : ;Mr Wake'i eld; on several-points. tHis speech v/as remarkable for tile hmgeHHmiber-A)f opposite" quo tat ion? If roih v S vvi ft,' Canning, Walpole;, Sheridan and others.. MuMacandrew, who followed, spoke pi duly and briefly, and then Mr Adams spoke up to the adjournment,-attacking the Government, and especially .Mr. Macandrew. for ,not haying spent more money on public works in Nelson. Neither party seems 'so anxious now for a division, and it probably will not come on till to-morrow night. Messrs Do Laiitonr arid Woolcock are- : understood to contemplata long speeches, and Major Atkinson and Mr Oriiiaud and. others will also probably talk. The Opposition majority is now calculated las from 7 to 10 certain.