THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3365, 4 October 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1879.

Oub telegrams announce the defeat of the Government by a majority of two. The Premier moved the adjournment of the debate till Tuesday, and" in that time will no doubt mature his plans for the future. Mr Hall's amendment was as follows :— "That while this House is prepared to give effect to the Liberal measures desired by the country, we feel bound to submit that your Excellency's Government, as at present constituted, does not possess the confidence of this House." Several constructions may be placed npon the intention of the amendment, and the words we have italicised may mean that Sir George Grey, if he reconstructs his Ministry, may be allowed to carry on the business of the country. 3N"o doubt; several of the weaker members of the Government, for the good of the party, may voluntarily retire, and give the Premier lan opportunity to take men from the Opposition, who will be prepared to subscribe to the Liberal measures, and whose defection will leave that party in a minority. The Governor, however, may refuse to accept a reconstructed Ministry, for the defeat has been received upon the question of the form the reply- to His Excellency's address should take. The amended address plainly tells the Governor " the measures mentioned by you, we approve of, but your Ministry the House has lost confidence in." Should the Governor at once say to the Opposition— " Well, form from your ranks a Ministry possessing the confidence of the Parliament, and with a sufficifnt majority to conduct the business of the country, and I will be prepared to accept them as my responsible advisers." This the Opposition may find a great difficulty in doing, for without doubt, the moment the Ministry is selected, that moment honorable members of that side of the House, not receiving portfolios, will begin to look about for faults ; and it being a question altogether of administration, such can be easily found, even if imagined for the occasion. Those taking such a position must of necessity take shelter with the present Government party, then in Opposition, consequently strengthening their hands, and enabling the party to oppose successfully that in power, and probably on tho first occasion defeating it on some trivial question.

Ik oar advertising columns the Government are calling tenders for the Newmarket junction contract of the EaiparaPunui Hallway. The following gontlemen have subscribed to the Orohan's Home:-—His Worship the Mayor,* £2 2s ; W. Souter, Esq., £1 Is ; Kcv. V. Lush, £1 Is; Alex. Brodie, {Esq., £1 Is ; John Bead, Esq., £1 Is; John Hudson, Esq., £1 Is; Samuel Stephenson, Esq., (cricketing appliances). £1 ss; William Stephenson, (timber), £3 ; A. Mennie, Esq., £1 Is The Mayor, and Charitable Aid Committee will bo happy to receive subscriptions.

Trrr ;uinivrrs«ry sorrices in connection vritii i«i<> Culnm'own Y/esl<iy^» Sundiiy tii-hi.'cj will b" iirld to-morrmv. [;■; o-ir notice of/tin-exhibition held in St. George's School oa Tl\ur--iky I'vraiuti, one small err. r ciecurrci'. The <vr[iUciiie pi-e<ciit-.'<] to M'ss .Annie JMurriiMi bcuig iHuminp.'cd by Mrs lizard, and not Miss Lush ;is stated by us. A i"TER hearing all the evidence in the case against Dr Wallis, and W. J. Hurst, for corruption at the City West election, the KesiiitMit Magistrate has reserved his decision tiil Thursday next. We noticf by our telegrams today that one of the hon. members for Wellington city, Hutchinson, has asked the question in the House as to whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce a measure of reform in the Waste Lands Boards of tho colony, and the hon. the Minister of Lands has promised to reply thereto.' Reform in the administration of Waste Lands Board is urgently required, if the the most Tital interests of the colony are to be attended to. In our own district we have several times experienced the disadvantages of the present system, and our local governing bodies have from time to time drawn attention to the necessity of alterations in the Act. Mantilini's Waxworks will be exhibited for the last time this evening. A list of the leading presents to be given to-ni^ht will be found in our advertising columns.

The Star correspondent, Wellington, points out that Mr De Lutour's speech was a most effective gne, and his quotations in proof of Mr Hall's political creed told very much. He says :—" Mr DeLautour delivered immeasurably the best speech of the session—fall of pro found thought, weighty arguments, cogent logic, telling home thrusts, and lofty sentiments. He said if everything was to be reduced to lobbying, and rotes settled before discussion, they would soon have to consider whether the existing form of Government was best. The Government could not be carried on in the lobbies as during the past few years. If the Opposition were victorious (he next Ministry must be essentially a Canterbury Ministry. The Land Fuad was colouialised in the hope that provincial jealousies would cease, but they had not ceased. Local considerations still mainly influence votes. He quoted from Mr Hall's speech in 1877 : ' I deny that because a man has to obey the laws he has necessarily a right to a voice in the making of them, and I think the franchise is practically. low enough.' On the Ballot Biil in 1889, Mr "Hall said: 'If the bill should pass the House or Representatives he still hoped it would not become law. A bill more detrimental to the working of goad constitutional Government he could not conceive. Hardly a single measure he would more regret being placed on the statute-book.' Mr Hall had also supported the Maori dual vote. He was now the leading tactician of the Canterbury land ring. Commenting on Mr Saunders' statement that only 5,000 acres were gridironed,' Mr DeLatour gave the name of one small district where 5,000 acres were gridiroued in one patch, and another 12,000, and so on. The gridironing was done along frontages to shut up the back country. In Watmate there were three parallel lines gridironing, few miles apart, thirty miles along. The leader of the Opposition had entered a written protest against National Secular Education, and memorialised the Home Government against allowing the bill.