PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1735, 18 August 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH. — SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

DENT.] Progress of the Session. Wellington, Last Night. Despite the fact that Government, for the first time this session, impressed Monday as a full sitting day into the service, very little real progress has been made during the week. The Estimates have been under consideration, but by dint of a variety of outside issues these have been interrupted, and a number of fad projects on the part of members have been wedged in for discussion. Yesterday, for instance, the motion for going into committee of supply was blocked for six or seven hours by an amendment for the substitution of a land instead of the property tax. It was an ill-timed interjection, and, as shown conclusively by most of the speakers who xpoke from the aide of the House from which the amendment emanated; it could not possibly have any effect this session beyond protracting the business unnecessarily. The debate was nevertheless kept up with dreary persistency until it dragged out as above. Sir G. Grey spoke for an hour, his speech being full of ghostly unction, bitter declamation, and unwarranted assumption, if anythin -, in excess of many of his previous utterances. In one n'spect he rendered good service. Mr Hurst of late has become most offensive by jeering and laughing at members who happened to speak in opposition to his preconceived opinion. Sir G. Grey singled him out, and then ndministered one of the really sharp, cutting rebukes for which the old gentleman is famous. Tlic galleries being cliock full, nothing could possibly exceed Hurst's mortification, and what was more, no one seemed to enjoy it more than the very parties whose interests he attempts to conserve. Besides that class of obstruction different votes have been warmly contested, and a great delay occasioned thereby. The Estimates. The Public Works Estimates were got through last night, and as it is more than probable the ordinary Estimates will finish to-day, there seems little reason for supposing the session will be prolonged beyond the end of the month.