IN THE LOBBIES. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] [FBOM OUE OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1260, 27 July 1880, Page 3

IN THE LOBBIES. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] [FBOM OUE OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Last Night, 11.35 p.m. THE RAILWAY COMMISSION.-EEPORT ON PBOftMUED WAIKATO LINES. I regret to state that in the hurry of the moment I conveyed to you a wrong impression in reference to the Hamilton ana Te Aroha line. The iact is there was such a rush of excited members to obtain a sight of the report that I was not able for some time to get hold of any member having authentic information, and what was disclosed to me was necessarily done in a hurried manner. The printed report has now been circulated, and I am enabled to forward to you the text.

Hamilton to Aboha.— The district through which this line would pass is of but recent occupation by Europeans, and the existing population is small. We think, therefore, that the work as a whole would be premature, and we can only support the present construction of the two or three miles towards Morrinsville, which would form part of the line to Cambridge. Ihe remainder, wo think, may well stand over for some time to come, but, if during the next two or three years the anticipations of a large increase in settlement now entertained by those interested in the district should be realised, we recommend that work should then be proceeded with as soon as further funds are available." You will perceive by thi9 that the line is not recommended as far as Morrinsville, but 'only some three or four miles. Of course these recommendations are by no means final, and the line will probably still be taken to Te Aroha. lam happy to state that the railway between Hamilton and Cambridge is recommended to be con* structad. The text of the recommendation (Hamilton to Cambridge) herewith states "that the country between these townships has long been settled, and there is a considerable resident population. There is also a large extent of back country to support a railway, which we recommend." Grahamitown to Te Aroha needs no comment. The following is the text of the Grahamstown to Te Aroha line : — '• We are of opinion that the good water communication which exists between the two points makes railway communication unnecessary in the present state of the district as regards settlement. It is a matter for regret that the reclamation at Grahamstown and Shortland should have been entered upon before the construction of the railway itself ; and we consider that expenditure— reclamation for two station sites close together — was quite unjustifiable." There is considerable excitement over the report. Members whose pet schemes have been ruthlessly nipped in the bud walk about the lobbies vowing vengeance against the unfortunate Commissioners, and exhausting their vocabulary of abuse on the devoted heads of those who they think have thus construed themselves their natural enemies. The general im« pressipn amongst reasonable men, however, is that the report on the whole is a just one ; and at all events there is one thing certain, and that is that the present financial condition of the colony renders it imperative that a stop should at once be put on the expenditure of money in every possible direction. COL. LECKIE ON THE WAIKATO VOLUNTEERS.

I forward to you the report of Col. Leckie on the Waikato Cavalry and Hamilton Kifles :—"I: — "I inspected the Waikato Cavlry on the 6th, Bth, and 9th March, the men were welt turned out, arms and accoutrements clean and in good order ; the men and horsea are very good, and servicable and very well drilled. The corps went through a very pretty and usefnl exercise two troopers at a time, riding at full speed for a quarter of a mile, taking two jumps and tethering their horses together and firing at a target ; it showed that the men could both rule and shoot. They have an excellent instructor. I inspected the Hamilton Rifles on the 9th March, arms and accoutrements were clean and in good order. They are a good company, well drilled, but not clothed." The Premier made a statement in the House to-day that he hoped that the session would be concluded by the end of August. He hoped that the House would agree to his proposal take Government business on Wednesday, and if it did the Government intended to push on the Estimates, and hoped to get through them by Wednesday night. He hoped that Mr Oliver would make his Public Works Statement on Monday or Tuesday of next weok, and that then he would be prepared to advise the House as to what measure the Government thought most necessary to be passed into law during the session, and he thought, if members would not in future speak quite so copiously on every subject raised in the House, that the session would be over by the end of August.

THS HONORAEIUM. There was a great scene in the House the other night on the honorarium vote. A great reduction had just previously been made in the salaries of officers of both Houee«, but when the discussion upon payment to members came on, there appeared to be no desire to press any great reduction in that quarter. The whole scene was not calculated to impress one with the disinterestedness and dignity of the Legislature. Sir George Grey and Mr Hutchison, his faithful henchman, were conspicuous by their absence at the supreme moment of moving the reductions. — Least said soonest mended, I draw a veil ! P.S. — Mr Pyke is almost out of his mind. Those cruel Commissioners have killed the Otago Central, and the glory of "Vincent" is extinguiehed for ever!

EDUCATION SYSTEM. Mr Rolleston is just making a grand speech in favor of the present system of education. His defence is elaborate, and vigorous in introducing estimates.