Parliamentary Gossip.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3359, 27 September 1879, Page 2

Parliamentary Gossip.

[By Telegbaph.]

(FBOM A COBBESPONDEHT). ' Wellington, Last night. The supporters of the Government held a caucus in the Cabinet room, Parliament Buildings, this forenoon, when 34 members were present, and 12 more were represented, thus giving the Government an apparent block vote of 46. The utmost anxiety prevailed amongst the members, and it vras agreed without a single dissentient that in the event of an amendment on the Address in Beply being moved the Liberal party should to a man oppose it. The Government whips, Messrs George and J; C. Brown, count on a certain majority of at least four, which may possibly be increased to sis. Mr Whitaker left this morning for Christchurch, where he is to marry the daughter of Mr S. Cos. Mr Whitaker left a pair against the Government. POSITION OF THE OPPOSITION. The Opposition held a caucus at the house of Mr Walter Johnston, forty-one members are said to have been represented, though the accuracy of the figures are questionable. Considerable discussion took place. The Conservatives, though desirous of making use of the Hon. J. Kail, are not willing that he should be Premier. A resolution was passed that the leader of the Opposition should move an amendment on the Address in Keply, practically amounting to a vote of no-con-fidence in the Ministry. Much disgust was felt that Mr Tomoana could not be induced (though great efforts were made) to attend the Opposition caucus. It is now thought he will vote for the Government, in which case the whole four Maori Members will range themselves on the Ministerial side.

McCaughan, Murray, and Wbyte will not rote on the no-confidence motion. Mr Masters is said to bo safe for the Government, though he did not attend their caucus today.

Seymour's, election as Chairman of Committees was gracefully done. The New Zealander this morning says the Opposition party in the House will attempt to carry a vote of want of confidence even in the face of almost certain defeat. The sooner they do so the better for every interest involved. The country is weary of faction strife, and desires that the dominancy of one or the other party should be at once tested, and that this, the one chief obstacle to the real work of session, may be removed. The speech of his Excellency the Governor may be accepted as a tacit approval of this course being at once adopted, the promise thus being redeemed of calling together the representatives of the people at the earliest possible period after the completion of the elections, and her Majesty's representatives for no farther delay. There was a great war in the House this afternoon when Fisher answered the following question—Whether a telegram sent by the Colonial Secretary to Mr H. Ingles, a J.P. at Kaikoura, and which Mr Ingles reports in a letter to the Canterbury Press to be in substance: " Will you stand on policy as defined in Governor's Speech ? If yon will you shall have entire support of the Government party. Even if defeated you will have claims to consideration." But which a Government organ claims to have been sent in exactly the following words: " 19th August.— W"ill you stand on the policy of Governor's Speech in opposition to the Saunders party ? Will support as far as possible, and consider you have a claim upon us even if unsuccessful," was franked by Col. Whitmore as a telegram of public service or was paid for as a private tele-« gram. Fisher said it had been marked urgent, and signed by Whitmore, but the sender would have to pay for it. KAIAPOI SEAT PETITIONED AGAINST. A petition has been prepared for presentation to the House of Kepreseutatives against the return of Mr Bowen for Kaiapoi. The seventh clause distinctly asserts that the [Registration Officer lodged a copy of the official roll with the Colonial Secretary in the terms of the Act, and that he used, as the roll on which Mr Browen was returned, a roll from which thirty-nine names had been struck off without any authority. PKBSS STATEMENTS. The Post is responsible for the following, whicli I don't believe :—" Sir George Grey has not as yet made his choice as to whether he will sit for Clmstcluircb. or the Thames. By law he is not required to make his election for ten days after the opening of Parliament. Of course Sir George Grey is pledged to sifc for Christchurch, but it is reported- that there is a probability of this being added to the already long list of broken pledges of which Sir George Grey has already to bear the responsibility. The fact is, that if he elects to««it for Christchureh and gives up the Thames, he is very likely to find himself out ia tlic cold altogether, as

it is almost certain that his return for Christchurch will bo petitioned against, and the petition will be sustained by such a mass of evidence as to render it probable that the late election for Christchurch will bo nullified, and the Premier be left without a seat in Parliament."