POLITICAL NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1556, 24 June 1882, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Raglan Petition. Wellington, Last Night. The petition of Oldham and another, of Raglan, was before the Public Petition Committee to-day. The member for Waipa was in attendance in support of prayer. No report has yet been made. Mercer Refreshment Rooms. A question was put to the Minister of Public Works, to-day, by Mr Hamiii, re the Mercer railway station. He asked if he is aware the ladies waiting room on the platform at Mercer is being used for , the accomodation of lodgers, also whether the sale of spirituous liquors to both European and native residents is allowable, and if not will he take the necessary steps to have the provisions of the Licensing Act enforced. It was evidently the intention to impugn the conduct of the licensee. He was, however, fully acquitted by the Minister, who gave it to be understood that on one occasion, precumabiy on an emergency, the ladies'rooinhad oeen used in the manner indicated, but that the keeper had been cautioned not to repeat the thing. As regards the rest of the question, reference was made to the Licensing Act. Offences Against the Person. There was another of those reprehensible whipping bills before Parliament last night. Mr Weston stood sponsor for it, and a sorry figure he cut. Sir G. Grey lashed him into a peifect fury by a suggestion he made that since he (Mr Weston) was so partial to the cat, its reformatory effects might be tiied on his own shouldeus. The suggestion fell from Sir G. Grey in his usual quiet, lsarcastic style, and had the effect ot convulsing the whole House with laughter. Mr Weston not only felt the cutting sarcasm, but, what was more unfortunate for him, he showed that he felt it. The passing of the bill on its second reading by such a large majority was altogether unlooked for. Enough transpired to show that when the bill comes up for committal, it will have to enter into further lecognisances for its good behavioui. The Opposition. The debate to-night took lather a singular turn, and goeb far to prove that there is still a great want of cohesion on the Opposition camp. It was distinctly understood no attack was to be made in finance until the whole policy had been brought down, but in violation of that understanding Mr Dargaville made an onslaught. The occasion was a motion for going into Committee of Supply. The attack was more vigorous than effective, and was to some extent resented by at least one reputed leader of the Opposition. From finance the debate went into one concerning the honorarum, which debate is just now piogressing.