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

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2034, 21 July 1885, Page 2

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

Sir George and Sir Julius. WKMiN'f.rox, Monday. Thf late«t Lobby gossip is that Sir George Grey intends making a vigorous attack on .Sir Julius Vogel the petition buiine*-. He li.is ib yet tnkon not no definite action on tho motion foi a special conunitteo to consider tho petition, but he is fully determined to move in thi-> duection on the giound that as the Public Accounts Committe contains a majoiity of Government supporteis the j>etition would probably not lie dealt with on its incuts. In connection with this matter the Piess (Mi Wakoheld's p.tpci) has a strong aiticlo to night, which winds up ,>- follows ,—Sn Julius Vogel appeals to the House "ad inispiicoidi.ini to givj him some money. but he aNo bi-cs his appeil on an illegil wiong. He says in eflett tint Sn John Hall withheld from tli" money his s^i rices and his just expectation, though not his legal lights, entitled him to He know ■. that Sit .7. Hall never disn ised of Ins claim 01 dealt with it in anyway. Whit Si John Hall did was that ho told Sn J. Vogel that peisonally he did not oiisidm him entitled to the money, but th it he would not urge his personal \lews. J-fe would siib.nt the sl.um to Pailiament, and whatever might be the decision he would loyally give effect to it. Sit Julius expressed his willingness to luavo his claim to the aibitiatiun of Parliament, and to abide by their decision in the ensuing session. His claim wa.s thoroughly investigated by the Public Accounts Committee, at tint tune a purely non-political body, and was subsequently considered by the House in «i perfectly dispassionate and deliberate manner. It was rejected by an overwhelming majority. Sir John Hall took no part in the proceeding*, but merely conveyed a formal notification of the lesult to Sir J. Vogel. The latter, in reply, ackuow ledged tho perfect fairness with which his claims had been tried, and let it be understood that he legarded the decision as final. We ask P.uhaiuent and the public whethei it i< honest on the p.ut of Sn J. Vogel to omit all nipiition of tho mattci of these cncunistances fiom his peti tion ' We say that such anomisMou is sufficient in itself t<> condemn th>; petiti m W« say fuithei th it to giant his piayoi would be to biaud Sir J. Hall as a swiudlei and tho House of Representatives as an assemblage of logues or fools."

The McKenzies. Acmioits little incident occuired while the Land liill was under discussion last night. Mr Scobie Mackenzie, the member for Mount Ida, was speaking on the bill, and during the coiuse of Ins lennrks he strongly condemned what is known as the •' McKen/ie Clause," put in at the instance of the member for Moeraki (Mr Jno. McKennc), and which is to tho o(fect that no person occupying Ciown lands, on which aie more than 20,000 sheep, or 4,000 head of cattle, should be allowed to acquire the leasehold or license of any more pastoral or Ciown land. Mi Scobie Mackenzie informed the House, apparently with perfect senousiie-'s, that the membei for Moei.iki was now so ashamed of his own clause th.it only tint veiy afternoon, in course of conversation with the latter gentlennn, he had said to him (Mr S. Mackon/ie) pic\ioiis to his depaituie South, "In Heaven's naino tiy and get nil of that clause out of the bill, and uh.itevci you do don't allude to me in the mitt'ji.' Of couise tho House liughod heartily at Mr John McKen/ie's expense, and his name, sike continued hts speech e\ idctitly satisfied that he had killed the " Mclven/.ie clause." Mattel s progress jd satisfactory enough till Mr J)uncan, member for Waitaki, managed to catch the Speakei's eye. This rantlemau speaks with .a bio.id (Jaledoiuan Jrccent, and the House screamed with langhtei at the vigoious style in which he " went for " the Member for \[t Ida for having tiaduced the Member for Moeiaki in his absence. Keferrinj to the nitei view bjtw ecu the Macken/ies that afternoon, described by the Member for Mt Ma, Mr Duncan, calmly igiioimg altogether the rules of the House, said, " Sn, I don't believe a word of it." After the snipper adjournment Mr Scoliic Mackenzie lose to make a personal explanation. He said he hoped the House did not considei tho account of his nitei view with the member for Moeraki in a senous light, as the whole conversation was pmely tmigmarVi and was used by him moiely to illustrate his aigum*iit. The aftair, although intended doubtless as a harmless joke, lias caused no little comment, especially as Mr Scobie McKen/ie is generally leg.uded as one of the most ciptble men amongst the new inumheis letiirneti at last Paili.iment. What mcmheis want to know now is whpthei when he agim addiessos the House he will liist piefacj his observations by telling mcinbci", "This is not a goak, and is not to be taken jocululy, but as mj stem conviction."

Defence Works. Tho Minister foi Public Woiks h.is uitioduced a bill to amend the Public Woiks Act, ISS2. The bill is mainly intended to piovide that th'i Crown may resume possession of land requited for defence wi)rks. The Minister is t > be empowered to take such land .is may b> necessary foi the purpose, or to require th it any lands shall be, kept free fiom all obstructions interfei ing with th « lange fm firing. Compensation for land taken, or to b^ kept fiee fiom obstruction, is to \n stttled by a coiu]ien»ation couit, piowdod m part 3 of the Public Woiks Act. -V seveio ]ienalty may be inflicted on anyone destioying woiks, suney maiks, etc., or niteifeiing with othceis. Tho tenth clause of the bill is letiospective, bunging undei ltsopei.i tion all lands taken foi fiutiticatnm woiks since the beginning of the piescnt year. WhLLIXG rox, Monday.

Sir Julius Vogel's Claims The .ill ab-.oibmg to) le of lobby gossip ju-tnow i-' tlio Coldhul Tieasmei "> ll.iiiiion the colony and the cflcct th.it his petition i» likely to have on the pio>pect> of the sc-moii. I can stite with certainty that Sii J. Yogel is most peisistent in piecing his cl. inn, although he was strongly .uhised by Mi Mac null e\y not to bung it forwaid at such an exceedingly iiifipporfcunc tune as the picsent. Ho insist--, notwithstanding, on having the petition considered, a-, owing to the uncmtain state of his health, ho is .iiiMoiis to make some pio\ision for his family. I hear fuither that Sir Juliu.-> ! intends to n-.k his colleagues, in case the Public Petitions Committee decides in his friMuir, to put a, .sum on the Estimates to cany out their recommendation, and in the e\ent of the othei members of the Mini-try ipftiMiig to do tin-*, Sir Julius thicite.ii-. to ie--ij,'u Ins seat in the Cabinet. As matters stand at pie-ent, it is evtieinely uulikeh that the committee will make any such recommendation, but as the unexpected fiequently happens, they may, after hearing Sn Julius's evidence, (winch of course was not available when the case \va>fin muily before the House) decide that the cause i-, a just one, and bung up .1 leport to that effect. Such a lepoit would give use to the most awkwaid complications, it being no seciet that the other Ministeis \seie against Sir Julius bunging his claim befoie the Hou^e, and tho piobabdity is they would refuse to put any money on the estimates for their own colleague. As Sir Julius' resignation would undoubtedly follow such lefusal it would most likely piecipitate a crisis. Cantcibuiy membei s, whoha\e nothing in common with Mr Stout, would distinctly icfusc to follow his leadership if Sir Julius weie out of the Cabinet, and as those patucian gentlemen aie still masters of fie situation one can haidly foresee what might happen.

Education Statement. The Minister for Education (Mr Stout), intends making his education statement tomoirow night.

Local Government. A> for the local government bilk, it li.i«t been decided not to ask for then coiunutt.il till Frid.iy, the (jo\ eminent evidently considcung discretion i^ the better part of \nlour. Tlioyha\e detei mined to get the Ohantiblo Aid Bill icpnnted, as asked for by M.ijui Atkinson.

Monday Sittings. I le.un that ii " niund iobin" is about to be ]>i evented to Minister, asking them to consent to Monday sittings for the re ni.undcr of tho session, in <uder to get the bu-ine-s thiough .is speedily as possible. The rieiniei'-. opinion is that the work to be done w ill occupy till September at least. Meeting of Vogehtes-

A largo meeting of Canterbury, Nelson and Wetland members was held at Sir Julius Vogel's residence this morning, including membersof both Houses. Tho utmost secrecy was impressed on each member present as to the result of the meeting, and this, of courie, givrs rise to several rumouia Mto its natuie. I ha\e since learned that tho meeting was held coniequent on tl c rccoipt of a cublogiam giving a sati»[»i(itory

account of the prospects of the East and Wetit Coast Railway, and the deputation wished to know whethor the Government would guarantee three per cent, on the intcie^t of the loan for the construction of tho line. The result of the meeting has been kept r.ither quiet, hut a statement on the oubject will probably be mado in tha M.tu->e in a day 01 two.

The Rumoured Resignation. Tho Time-, thi- morning reviews the rumour that w. is men dilation some weeki ;iRd as to the resignation of Ministers with .1 \ii>\\ to a reconstruction, but three mem-lH'l-.nf the (J<>\ eminent thii inorninj? declared the repoit to be absolutely without foundation.

Mr Ballance's Bills. Mi B.illance appears \cry of p.iN-mg tie Nttive Land Bills, but many <itl)i ¥ i im>inl) •!■, ..till assert th.it they have no ill nice wlutevei of l)oinp added to the St.itutc H > >k.