THE LOBBIES. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1412, 21 July 1881, Page 2

THE LOBBIES. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, SPEC IAL CORRESPONDENT.]

:ri { U v <sMr Orniond's Amendment a Surprise. Wellington", Last. Night. I It is now definitely known that Mr 'Ormond's amendment was not known by .any,impqrtaut J;£otign,.of, t the House .untAL, it was announced on the floor. Before the House met mit 2.30, intimation was given to MivShe'ehan, in view of his repeal of tho Abolition Bill, coming on that s6rhetnTn<* of the kind rtoiild t'rau'S"pire. It isVriot' supposed 1, however, that the intimation was explicit, only sufficient to justify him ini ({withdrawing his bill. Not.i woidof whatweiehisinteutions had reached Ministers, and as a matter of course the amendment was received by them unexpectedly, although not wi^hsorpriae, an Ormond has been evidently drifting 1' into hostility for' the last two sessions. Mr Saunders, whose speech immediately preceded Mr Ormorid's, and was a bitter attack 1 on the Government proposals, had uot, it is now" ascertained, the slightest idea of what was coming 1 on, andiifc". ia understood he "is so much incensed at the result,thathe willnot vote for tho amendment. Despite nil that has been t>aid to the contrary, no one can possibly predict the result, , Men who were counted on last night to vote'for the amendment, have already repudiated all intention of doing so, so that the whole thing remains an open question.

Probable Dissolution. The Government, I-bulieve, wjfynot he at all seriously opposed to the adverse ihsue, and even although i they carry the day by a narrow, .majority, it is more than probable a dissolution will be sought. Iv that case they will go to the country at once; a couple of months supply will bo voted, and no attempt made to pass the Re-distribution BilL ( It was at fiist thought thai the Re-distribution Bill would be, iunibted upon, but it is now ascertained that this will not be the case. The Grey section say that the re-distribu-tion proposals are framed with a special regard to the interests of tho party, and for that reason fchoy will not push them to an l.ssue.

Opposition Tactics. The tactics of the Opposition, so far, are to say as little as possible. In that case ,tb,o v debate imay not last long. The possibilities at ia%e«ent are that the House may bo disbanded within the next week.

Lobby Rumours, There was i report in the Lobbies this forenoon that the Government would give way on the local government question, and that the difficulty would thereby be patched up, That cour.-e, however, is known to be impossible, the Ministry having openly accepted the challenge as a direct vote of no confidence. ,

Government Caucus. The Government held a caucus to-aay, at which it is asserted the party have been perfectly leassured. They say that all but openly avowed defection is accounted for. '

The Opposition. Curiosity is excited as to the kind of combination Oirnond and Grey are likely to foim. There are those who think it would be politic for the Government to accept the situation and allow Ormond to be bent for in eate of a defeat. He has no real following himself, and the last thing lie'would think of doing would be to think of recommending that either Grey or any of his party should be sent tor. Orinoud's position is altogether a puzzle, and no one scorns to be able to ilotcct an intelligible gleam in the course he has pursued. .Since his speech last night he hns kept Ins seat, with his hat deeply slouched over his eyebrows. The Government, it is said, merely wish to keep the debate going until they have succeeded in getting a clue to Orinoud's real put pose.

A Novel Solution. One version has it that the Government is deeper in the plot than is supposed, and that the whole thing is a device on its part to get a. dissolution, and inn the elections thioiigh quick, so as to prevent Grey stumping the colony. That is routed by the fact that Ormond is known to be in close communication with Giey and Sheolian.

The Auckland Four. It is said the celebrated " Auckland " four," Hiust excepted, wilt oLe against the Government.

adfiped for the wants of the country, thing appeared to be lost sight of, which was that, with three or four exceptions, the Counties Act had been brought in operation throughout New Zealand. There was evidently something good in the form of County Government, when the bulk of the people accepted it ; still he would be prepared to take the voice of the people, andfbg iguided^ /by^bjem on this matter, which." was f -in- his opinion, insufficient; as a baste 1 M a no -confidence motion. Referring again to provincial ingtifcutipna, -h& an id in 1§76 SirnJulius Vogel, fruit .state^tliHtv fc Snfllion^and ahalf hud been expended to satisfy the lo^roHifiirHPfTSn^tfrs — of""l?roviiicial Gov^rntneqija. Mr?.*»hephaii had placed theis&tie btefcre tne flouJe,"b"ut the members were afraid r to tojfdh" itjaid that was provincialism or anti-provincialism. The people of tha country did^npt^ want; provincialism in any form ; all tney wanted was funds to carry on, their .present? form of government in some, shape or the other, and to give it vitality and power. „ „