Parliamentary.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 815, 6 September 1877, Page 2

Parliamentary.

[Prom OurSpocial Correspondent.] GrOyBRNMENT BtJILDINQS, Last night. At a meeting of the middie party held today in,the Parliamentary Buildings 19 attended and seven others sent apalogies. Two others who did not attend are. known to sympathise. After a discussion, which lasted fully an hour, an evecutive committee was apprinted to take oooion. Ttfe party was entirely unanimous m its vie vv aY to. the necessity of taking steps to form an organised Opposi ion to the present Gtoverhment. Mosc of the principal members present nude speeches, but no leader of the party was appointed, the work of direction and control being left to the executive committee, whioh is small m number* Sir George (Jrey, still retains 17 followers, including Dignan, Tole, Bees, Wood, Sheehan, Stout, Macandrew, and others. Only three Auckland members attended to lay's caucus. Five members attended from Otago. The attendance from both islands was about equal. Mr Wakefield was present, and this is regarded as significant of Mr Stafford's predeliction. It is understood that two main points of the new party are the localisation of the Land Fund, and. the shelving of the question of Separation for some time. Mr Rowe sent an apology, bei"g engaged on a committee. Mr Wakefield's resolution is to be moved on going into Committee of Supply. It is generally understood to have been drafted by Mr Stafford. The middle party attempt to preserve a moso unpenetrable silence about to d»y's proceedings, and when applied to by reporters, state that to divulge particulars would frustrate their objects. Io it understood that at the meeting to day each member pledged himself to the strictest secresy. WAIKATO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY. The Government decline to give an assurance that increased pay will be given to the Waikato Volunteer Cavalry. The dificulty is said to be, that if gran* ted, the Hawse's Bay, and Taraoaki corps would demand the same. ABANDONMENT OF DEFENCE OF KIHIKIHI. The following correspondence is laid on the tab c relative to the removal of the Armed Constabulary m Waikato.- Letter from CoL Movie to Col. Lyon, on Deomber 28th, encloses a return, shewing strength and distribution of the A.C, Force, and instructs him to concentrate all ranks under his command at Kihikihi, Tne men doing duty at other stations are to remain ' nntil releived by tlae district poli:e. A telegram from Col Lyon on January 9th to Col Mdule asks it he is to withdraw men from the roads and if the district offices and al stores are to be at Kihihihi ? On January 11th a telegram from Col Moule'tc Col Lyon says " you may reduce the ro«»d party to 30 for the present. TheOhine* muri party is to remain, pffioe and stor i to be at Kihikihi. Sergt Major Frazer and Col Lyoa to be transferred to the unattached list from Ist prox and paid fro a Volunteer vote." January 11th, Col Lyoo points out to Col iVloule that there are nc buildings at Kihikihi that can be used ai an office, no store, cookhouse, and tele' graphs that t^ero is only barrack accommodation for 15 men, and that no tentt are available. ■ A telegram from Colonel Moult, Jan 13, states that the removal o head qnarters to Kihikihi is to be held m abeyance. Col Lyon telegraphs to . Ooi Moule, Jan 15th, stating that several stations will as. soon as possible be left tc constables doing police dity. Th« road parly is to be reduced to 30 men. Men so withdrawn are to be stationed at Kihikihi. He then states that tents are totallj unfit during winter months. A telegram January 20th, from 00l Moule to Col Lyon relates only te discharge of a certain number of the constabulary. On same date Major Atkinson telegraphed from New Plymouth : I will arrange re sbatious of police, do not concentrate the A C m Waikato at present nor disturb those at Ohinemuri or the Toamen. A telegram of March 24 relates to transference of force to Inspector firoham, and stating Inspector Broham will communicate with Col. Lyon respecting quartera for the police. A telegram of 7th April from Colonel Moule to Colonel Lyon, says, the A.C. m Waikato are to be concentrated as follows, viz :— One sub. division with head quarters, at Alexandra; the remainder at Cambridge The party on the Cambridge and'Taupo road is not to be brought m, and tranfera of jpolice t«re to be carried out as previously directed. ' Hamilton, May 31st, 'from W 0 Lyou to the Defence Minister, encloses an extract from the Waikato Times of that date, reporting a meeting at which a'vott) of censure was passed ou the Officer Commanding the district. Colonel Lyon writes, viewing this vote of censure as really reflecting - upon : the Defence Minister, and points out that Major Jaokson was Chairman of the meeting, and that one Volunteer, a Mr Moncrief, had gone so far as to say he would refuse to parade. The writer con. aiders the oooduot of Major Jackson and Lieut. Kay most reprehensible, and reflecting great discredit on the Te Awamutu Cavalry Corps. Such a "state of things, he said, would be an end So all desciplioe. He considered one statement made at the meeting, 'a gratuitous iusult to himself. The following are copies of telegrams :— Colonel Lyou to Colonel Moule, April 9th, telegram re oonceqtra tion . received. I .would require you to ask the Native Ministlr if he would be pleased to re-consider- the order for the removal of head quarters to Alexandra. There are only quarters for one married officer, and they are occupied by SubInspector Morrison. I have taken a house here foe a year, and been at.the expense of furnishing again, having had to sell off when I le£t for Wellington, and again at Wellington. My children are at school here. If head quarters remain, it would be more convenient to look after both subdivisions. Colonel Moule telegraphed to Colonel Lyon on April 11th, that Dr Pollen cannot sanction retention of head quarters at Hamilton. "You may ohose either Cambridge or Alexandra;" On April 12th Colonel Lyon replied to Colonl Moule, ouooain* Cambridge as head quarters. April 16th, telegram from A Kay. reporting the settlers much dissatisfied with the removal of the Con. stablary building from Kihikihi to Cambridge. April 19tb, Colonel Moule telegraphed to Colonel Lyoa, statibg that he only gave instrtefciona to take cook house down. April Ist, Dr Pollen's answer to Mr Kay (already puhliah*d). M*y 3rd, extract from WaikaTo Timks In extenso. " ■ In .the House 'to-day, the Premier m reply to Mr Reynolds, Baid it was the intention of the government to invifca teni,ers for lo^ai Iprintiug, au d Accept any

wltictt did not exceed tha coat of -the CFo.vernmsnt printing Office. . In reply to Mr Wakefield, tie Govern.ni|nt stated' there was no intention id introduce a 'Dog Registration Bill this .sessions... A 1 row oooured over the MSS of the famous speech of "breach of privilege jTooes^at the* bar which was borrowed' by ,^e Speaker to print for the use of I jriembers, arid whion.the elark cf thoj '£? l f afterwardß refuse to retnrn, M*? Wakefaeld asked by what authority tfir MSS was detained. The Speaker said he had s deolined to retnrn ifc withoat the permission of the House. Mr WhiUker said he would consult the Crown*Vrosioutor as to whether or not the document would be wanted at- the hearing of the case to-morrow. Jones divert a pife for himself m telegraphing to. Moon, of Pjako askmg him to furnish information, to be~ used against the Attorney-General on the trial, and promising to keep Moon's name a secret. Moon replied to the effect that Jones ignorance was only exceeded by his impudence, and that he intended to proceed against Jones fob libel. Mr Moon also forwarded copies of telegrams by telegraph to tli£ editor of : the 'Few Zealand. Times,' who publiahes them to day. Major Drummond Uay has also sent a slating telegram to Jones, which Jones has shjwn to his friends, and proposes to hare framed and ghue.l. Meantime some enthusiastic admirers ot. Jones are sending m snbsoriptlous 4 towards his defence. JEb.will ,^e defended by Messrs Bees and Hislop,' M H R for Oamaru. Committal to the Supreme Oourt is regarded as almost oertasn. 'JDhe "?* ake place at -Dunedia. " Mr Woolcock moved that the franchise and electoral law be altered during the present Session. Mr Wuitaker agreed that the law was as bad as bad could be. ( tie had a Bill ready to consolidate thirty, bye Acts into one, bub m oonsequence of tUe census tnis year being the basis for the redistribution of seats, the Bill would be delayed till next Session. . Mr Woolcock withdrew nis motion, and on the motion of ATr Thomson, the Houae agroea that the Government introduce a oill to provide for the remission of fines on Crown Grants. Mr Pjx moved a resolution tor the production of returns and correspondence r& cho suppression of gambliug swoeps, lottries, and raffiUa.