POLITICAL NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDKNT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 1919, 23 October 1884, Page 2

POLITICAL NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL CORRESPONDKNT.]

The "Lords" and the District Railways Bill. Wellinoton, Tuesday. The chief talk of the Lobbies to-day is the action takeu by the Upper Huuse last night in tho aummaty ejection of the District Railways Bill. There were rumours. to-day of all aorta of reforms in the Upper Chamber in consequence of last night's vote, and the Wellington members of the Council especially, by whose votes the bill was thrown out, were th 3 subject of a largo amount of abuse. On the other hand, it was stated that Sir Julius Vogel and Mr Stout were in reality not sorry that the bill held come to grief, having done their utmost to push it through tho Lower House.

The Government and the Bill. However that may be, there is no doubt that the notice of motion Riven on behalf of Sir Julius Vogel to-day by tho Premier is a masterpiece of strategory on Sir Julius Vogel's part. Tho motion, as your readers will perceive, proposes to purchase the District Railways mentioned in the bill, instead of leasing them for 21 years as originally proposed. The adoption of this course effectually takes the whole affair out of the hands of the Council, as it is proposed merely to place a sum on the estimates for the purchase of the Waimea, JDunstan, Ashburton Forks, and Rotorua railways, tho payments to extend over four yeais. The whole sum required is estimated at £GOO,OOO, &o that £150,000 will have to be voted each year for the four lines mentioned. I understand this intention on the part of the Government fell like a bombshell to-day on the opponents of the District Railways Bill in the Council. It is generally felt that they will not hesitate to throw out the East and West Coast Railway Bill when it comes before them, especially a& they had been so successfully outmanoeuvred in regard to the District Railway's Bill.

The Extra Minister. The Civil List Act Amendment Bill was distributed to-day. As I informed you yesterday, the bill provides for the salary of an additional Minister to the Cabinet. The salary to be appropriated is set down at £J2.iO, and the Minister is to have charge the Minos Deiuitinent. The appointment i-5 not likely to be made till the close of the session.

Serious Outbreak of Erysipelas at Fanhaka. Wednesday Evening. The Government have received a telegram from Dr. O'Carroll to the effect that a seiious outbieak of cellular erysipelas has occurred amongst the natives at P-unhaka, and that beven men, oue woman and three childicn have already died from the disease. The Government has authorised the expenditure of a necessaiy sum to be expended in medical comforts for the natives in the dihtiict.

The New " Lord." The, lion. Mr Reeve*, who was c.illed to the Upper llou-,0 yesterday, lost no unnecessary time in nuking his appearance at the *cat of (Inveinment. The newly created "lord" au-ived from Chnstchuich by the Haw era to-day, and took his .seat in the Council thK .iftoinoon.

Weakness of the Ministry. There isaiiunom* afloat that MmKterh will not bi? -.tiong enough to cany the icsulution m its present form for the pm chase of the railways mentioned in the Diitiict Railways Act, which was thtown out by the Council on Monday night. The resolution is. set down for Friday next.

Trunk Railway. The report on the North Inland Trunk Railway elicited a long debate to-night, and will probably extend over to-morrow, as ,1 great many members intend speaking on the Mibject. I understand that amendments will be moved on the motion for the adoption of the central route. Sir Gcoige Uiey intends moving that the Stratford unite bo the one adopted by the House, and should that be iejected, Major Atkinson will piobably nio\e a further amendment, to the elfect that a branch line be constructed at some point between Tar.an.iki and Auckland, to connect with the main trunk line.

The Insurance Bill. While in Committee on the (-J overnment InMii.ince Association Bill, List night, the clause refeiiing to the extension of business to the United Kingdom, &c, ay.is struck out.