PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH.-OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1569, 25 July 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH.-OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Last Night. During the last few days matters have been lively, the prevailing opinion being thatthelongtalkedof"oonfidence"motioii was about to make its appearance. To day there has been a decided bustle about the lobbies, knots and cliques in close confidential confab being particularly numerous, and otherwise characteristic of the impending event. Sir G. . Grey, Mr Montgomery, and the other recognised leaders in faction fights, have »ow, by common consent, been left out of the reckoning, and expectation is now understood to centre in no less a personage than the member for Mount Ida. Malcontents on both sides, it is said, have united in a request that Mr de Lautour should lead the assault, and, although not by any means a communicative man, he has given it to be understood he is prepared to meet their wishes. This arrangement, however, has not had the effect of clearing away all the preliminary difficulties. Mr Montgomery, whose pomp, if possible, surpasses his impotency, wishes it to be distinctly understood that in the event of a Governmental defeat Mr de Lautour should stand aside, and allow him to come to the fore as champion of the victory. Of course I give you that on the strength of current report. It is a fact, however, which may he relied on, that there are still grave dissentei's in the Opposition camp, and, but tor these this " confidence" scramble would have been tabled some time ago. The prime movers in the affair are, however, exerting themselves to the very utmost to get it brought on with the least possible delay. They have got a theory that grave dissention exists in the Cabinet, in regard to that portion of the Native Reserves Bill providing for the removal of the Native Department from Auckland to Wellington, and further that Sir John Hall's adverse criticism of the Laud Bill has tended to weaken the position of Ministers. As to minor counts in the indictment, they are said to be legion, the most formidable being that of the prisoner Longhurst, alleged to have been wrongfully convicted of assaulting a child, and on whose behalf evidence was tendered to, but vefused by the Minister of Justice. The Government, on the other hand, appear perfectly ready to meet the challenge, relying confidently on their ability to command agood working majority. It seems hardly necessary to calculate on the probabilities of a defeat ; were such a thing, however, 'to occur, the formation of a Government capable of withstanding a first shot is hardly conceivable. Some of the more enterprising have already constructed the "new Ministry on paper," the whole i thing bein» simply a burlesque. A singular epidemic appears to have taken hold of the Press and reporting gallery. At least two-thirds of the denizens of these quarters are at present | on the broad of their backs, and nnleai things take a change for the better the ' ordinary business of that department will find some difficulty in getting carried on. The Press Association, with a complete staff, has had to depend on outaide assistance, the last to succumb being Mr Gallon, the manager. The complaints for the most part take the form of 'neuralgia, „ swelling of the. glands', and other facial disorders of a" painful nature. Ah examinations of. .the [ gallery /Hangings has. repeated' the ' fact ,that ;, the .^drapery is largely^impjegnated'v^ith^arsenio, 'and to ■that cause tbeAlisorders are'attribu'lied'U': - 1 -^ {^Ji}&*>J^^^j*^2£i2£JL£^2 lm Z^j£Zm*^m2m-?!'' 't~ 'I'l,

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