Parliamentary Gossip.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4530, 12 July 1883, Page 3

Parliamentary Gossip.

FROM OUB OWN COEBEBPOKBBNT.) ' . . Welmbgton, This day.

The debate on the decentralisation question continued la«t night, but few ■peakers yesterday took part in it. The most able speech was that of Mr Connolly, the Minister of Justice, and the most bitter was that of Mr Fish. Mr Connolly, living in a placp' like Marlborougb could well understand the defects of "Provincialism distributingmoney, as was too of* en tho case in centres of population, and neslecting those parts removed therefrom. M»jor Atkinson had arranged that it should net be made a Government question, but his punic fi»itb is notorious. ■- ' Mr Hutchison, the member for Wellington Bo'utb/who is anxious to revive the fleeting popularity he once bad, wanted to introduce his Contagious Diseases Act . Bepealßill. ' How this move could give more -votes at next election I cannot tliink, but it could have been done for no other purpose, unless it arose from Mrs Dr Potta* lectures. He is as well known in the

House as he is in Wellington. • : _ I have reason to believe criminiil pro eeediDßß will be taken against the printer and publisher of Facts, published in Gis borne. ! What appears a shocfeiae thing happened in the Council yesterday, especially to one of the headf, of the «reat Liberal party. 1 "A sub section in clause seven of the Prisons Bill pro]ride;d ? that prisoners •ODvicted.of felony, or sentenced to bard labor or penal servitude, may be punished by the infliction of 25 lashes for a««rarated prison offences. This provision was struck out in the Lower House, but Bir (j«o. Whitmore wanted its re>insertion; and the Council, to its credit, would not haarof it. ■ : * • The Hons. Whitaker and Holmes had t breeze in the "G^pper Chamber yeaterday afternoon, Mr Whitaker stating that Mr Holmes had misrepresented facts. Mr. Holmes is supposed to be wrath be ciuse the TTnion «.s. Company did not get the'direct service contract.