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

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1920, 25 October 1884, Page 2

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

The Trunk Railway. Wku.ixgtox, Friday. The debate on the North Island Trunk Railway route flagged ternbly thi-. afternoon, although Mr Samuel endeavomod m a really able little speech to Keep it going, while he advanced the claims of Taranaki to the adoption of the Stiatfoid route. Scarcely anybody expected though that the division would have resulted so largely in favour of theCeiitia-1 line,' notwithstanding that the adoptiyti of the Committee's report was a foregone conclusion from the first.

The Extra Minister. I hear to-day that Mini»teis do not intend to piess the hill for the appointment of an additional Minister, this session. The pioposal is likely to nmet with strong opposition, even from their own supported. It id also-said they have abandoned the " South Sea Bubble " Bill, as it i*> faoetiously called for .in indefinite period.

The End of the Session. Ministers are exceedingly anxious to In ing the session to a close as speedily as possible, pai tly on ing to the state of Sir J. Vogel's health, which is so pieeaiions .b to preclude any chance of his appealing in the House again this session, and also owing to the general desiie amongst members to get back to their homes. I hear an cffoi twill be made to prorogue in a week 01 10 days fi oin the piesent time, probably Satuiday next or the Monday following.

District Railways. Mr Stout gave notice, this afternoon, that he pioposed to amend the lesolution in fa\oiu of the colony taking o\ei the fi\e railways mentioned in the schedule to the Distiict Railways Bill, by the in^eition of a piovision that no payment shall be made on account of the purchase of the lailways until after the close of the session of Paihament. Active whipping is alieadv going on in favour of the lesolution, but Ministers will no doubt bi i stiong enough to cairy it in its alteied shape.

' The Talk of the SessionMi O'Callaghan to-day, amidst laughter and hear, hears, gave notice to move for the production of a ictuin giving the number of speeches dehveied duiing the present session by Mi Seddon, and the estimated cost to the countiy. Air Seddon, evidently nutated at the applause which followed the announcement, afterwaids rose. and solemnly gave notice that he would mo\e for a leturu of the number of sitting days which Mr O'Callayhan had attended this session, togpthei with the number of houis he had been absent.

The Public Works Statement. The Public "Woiks Statement to night did not excite anything like so much mteiest as usual, although the gallenes weie pietty well tilled. The uncertainty as to the actual date of dehveiy of the Statement, however, may has c had something to do w ith the want of inteiest on the pait of the geneial public. Mr Riehaidson commenced to lead In-. Statement at 7.40 p.m , and it occupied about an hoiu and a half in dclneiy. The iiscal applause was gnen to the Minister on resuming his seat.