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

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2046, 18 August 1885, Page 2

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

The No-confidence Motion. Wi i.i isi.iov, Satur lay. Tlllt Opposition caucus which L tefened to yesterday was held this moming in the Parliamentary Buildings, .uid was chiefly confined to the Atkinson l>uty, neithei .Mi Orniond nor Mr Montgoineiv b-ing piespnt. Over 30 niembeis <if the |>.nty put in an appearance, and I undei stand tlie proceedings wore of a satisfactory chaiactei. The political situation was dr-cu^sed ]>ietty fieely, and it was evontuilly decided tli.it .1 iio-coiiKdeuc(MeMihiti<iii sliimld bo bi ought <l»wn on Monday night. It tianspned dining tin; meeting tliat Mr Oiniond would piobably consent to'move the'motion, and it was decided to leave the matter in Majoi Atkinson's hands. I have hjiico learned tint Ali Oimond has undertaken the task, and the intention at piesent is that he will give notice of the motion on Monday evening. It iests with tlio Government of couise to decide w lietlier they will go on with the discussion :it once or adjourn till next day according to the usual custom. So far as can bo gatlioiod, tlio feeling of the meeting was stiongly in favour of Mr Ormond taking the leadeiship, and he is considered the most likely man to carry the \oto to a successful ihsne. .Before separating all piclnuinaries were aiiangod, and whips appointed to act in the interests of the paity. The Opposition an- very sanguine of carrying the motion. Allowing for all doubtful members they give their m.ijoiity at fiom five to seven. It is alleged on the othei hand that the fom native mcinbeis will vote with the Government in consequence of Mr Orniond's speech on the Native Lands and Disposition Bill, and that two or three niembeis whose siippoit is reckoned on by the Opposition will suppoit the Ministry on a direct no-confidence motion. The feeling against Sir J. Vogel however is so intensely antagonistic, thit unless theio is some extrioidiuary manipulation of votes, the motion is almost ceitain to bo carried, though pcihaps by a small m.ijnnts.

Various Rumours. The latest gossip 1 expecting the AgentGeneralship is that Major Atkinson is to be sent home to leceive the appointment. The lepoit was cuculated this morning, and I only send it to you a& a .sample of the absurd rumours that have been floating about lately. Rumoui has it that the Picmicr would not bo sniry to be relieved of the cares of office, and it is an open seciet that he has been on the point of resigning half a doyen times in consequence of the manner in which his Government have been treated by the House. I hear on good authority that after the latest" Meiggs statement made by Sir Julius Vogel, Mr Stout had almost made up his mind to resign, but again yielded to the wishes of hia colleagues. At any late, vvl,ether the Opposi tinn are successful 01 not, they aie deteiinincd to leoid then emphatic protest against the action of th' 1 (ioxemment so as to justify themselves to then constituent*.

The No-Confidence Motion. Wki.i.ini. ion', Monday. The political atmosphcie his Iven Mill |t"*t to mi iiunv cli.ur_ r es i)f Lite that it is ini|»ti--il >l»* to fmutoil what nn houi may bung foi tli. lin fin mud yo'ii louteis on S.iliud.w tli.it Mi <)i inoiid's consent li.id ,it List lnvn obtained to move n noc mhdence motion, jind the information, so far ns it went, was paifuetly coiroct. Mr Oimond's piomi-e to Major Atkinson, however, wui onndition.il on Ins being able to comiuind a inijouty to cuiy the motion, and ft om onquiues since made lie l).t-> come to the conclusion that such <■ majmity would not l>o foithuoinin^. In the lust place the natnc members deudidly object to \oto for imy motion Inought down by the number foi Napier, in cmiijqucnci of tho vciv prono'incjd o|iimon-. which arc held by Mi ()niKi:i.l on the subject of taxing n.itive I'/i(l-«.1 '/i ( l-«. If lus .dso tran^piicil th.it, owmj; t> ohl pohtic.l diifui ences Sir (Jomffj (!u<> uoiild refuse t<i follow Mi Omiond to the lobby, although he N violently (ipiintud to the piesent ALimstiy, a*id is ciedit«d with sijin^ he would give his suppntto any combination which would eject them fitjin office. It was in coiisequonce of th-'su lo.ison.-f that Mi Oimond infoune<l Major Atkinson yo^teiday that ho felt convinced if hi' \\_eie to nvno the motion it would lesiilt in a fail me, and he theiefoic declined to do so. Overtures hue since been made to Mr Montgomery, to the effect that if ho consents to iuo\o the no - confidence vote, he v ould iccjive the support of the entne Atkinson puty. Jle was aKo assmed that ho should btJ allowed frjo choice in forming n Ministry, as neitliei Major Atkinson oi any of his suppnitcis would take ollico. but would continue to rivo Mr Montj,'.)mery their support till the end of tho M>-,-inn, provided, of comso, that no questions of policy wore brought down, tha one binning din re being to get tho end of Sir .T. Vnprol. Mr Montgomery, 1 hear, wa-, gioatly flattered at the prospect of the Pieniii'islnp falling into his hands, and ga\e the proposal his «eii'ius consideration. It was repoited this morning th.it he Ivid consented to table the motion, but it is understood thut Mr M.unndiew has used his influence to prevent him taking any notion in that direction, ivs he informed Majoi Atkinson this morning that he must decline tho responsibility. Captain |{tti-cirs name has been frequently mi ntioinvl as likclv to mini! the motion, but nothing his vi t come of it. The whole business is th>iefoii» bun,' up foi a feu days ami pmbably foi the session.

The Public Work? Statement. I undtistaud the Opposition intend to insist that the Public \Volks Statement bo biought down without furlhei delay, even if doing so should lead to the blocking of .ill othttl busin.s-.. It is full \ o\p>Ueil that the I'iiblic Woiks piopo-ils will tin 11 sevui il \otos again t Miiu-t is, and auothut liiuioui is iHoitt'iit no ictiou vv i'l now be taken against tin: < iowunni ut till nftei the statement h biongitt do.vn.

Sir J Vog3l and the Opposition. Tho 1 (te ,t l.liby goss p is Lli it S.i .1. \"<.gel has itifin mud tle ilnihl'ii' 111 nhii> of Liv, (Toveriimeiit paity, tint if they suppoit member-. .11 .1 11 i-lou k!0..0i motion, he will resign his seat m the Cabinet immediately iftarw.irds, leiMii,' it 1 > :'iu Jloiwn to sottle Ins claim on th« colouv as it thinks do-inble. It is f.irt uir I'ported1 'ported that M'vei.d of tho dou'olfu -, li.t 0 piomiscd their suppoit on the excess cond turn th it SirJnli'is s-iill "make ti..cks" aftei the vote is disposed of.

The Seddon onsode Tho coni'n-tti'o to en j 111 o into Mi Seddon's alleged disqualihcatio.i h.i.s not yet commenced taking cwdonu*, but will piobibly do so to d ly. It is iop uted heie th it Mi S "ddon i-> tlie legisteied u.vnei of tlio Imd <iii winch the Kunni 1 sludj'c channel stands, and if so the decision of tlio committee is \eiy doubtful.

The Press on the Situation. The l'lcss, tonight, lcfening to the .situation, xays ■ "We uudeistind tlmt on maturo lefleotion Mi Oimond his declined to undeitake the ic'spon-ibilit> of 1110 nig ,\ vote of want-of-conhdenco 111 the Ministi\, on tho giouuds that 111 the picseut <Jikoig.iniscd tone of public fueling them would be no juospoct of a -mind financial policy such as he would advocate being accepted. However, we le.un the Opposition have giined stiength dining the last few

Still Unsettled. L\llL \11 u. I hear to-night fiom a icbable souice that Mr Montgomeiv has not definitely declined to move the no confidence motion, but lie cousideis the jnesent time is moppoituno, and that the Public Works Statement and ostim itcs shall be in possession of tho House bofoie .such a voto is brought down. He asked tho Minister of Public Woiks tonight when tho statement might bo expected, but Mr Richaidhon made a veiy vngiie ioply to tho effect that the pioeocdiiig-» of the last few days had somnwh.it altered the plans of Government, and he could not say oxactly when it would lie ready. Major Atkinson nskod what the Minister referred to. Mi Kichaidson said, still moie vaguely, that the member foi Kginout knew perfectly well what ho nienut Tho Major again rose for further explanation, but tho first order of tho day had been called on, and tho Speaker 1 uled tho discussion out of oidei. Tho dissolution bogey is again being held out to inembeis if they tin 11 out the Government. A member of tho Ministry this morning stated positively that if Ministeis woio defeated they would not only apply for a dissolution, but would cciUmly obtain one.

The Agent Generalship. I have just been informed on excellent authoiity that the Agent-General's resignation is either in tW hands of the Government or is expected by no.xt

mail. Sn Dillon Bell is iuid to be exceedingly anno>ed by the way m winch lie has lately bn'ii luated by tho (!o\ eminent, and this b'Mis out the infoi nutton I have ni'ac th m nucu u'Fciiocl t<>, th.it Sir .T. Vogt-l'-) c'ii"f lea^on for sticking to ofHcp is ins ,m\it U to be •ip pomtivl Sir D. Moll'ij.succeiioi.

The No-Oonfidence Fizzle. The galleries wcic all densely ci u\di'<J to ni^ht in anticipition of .^ no O")ihdt?nc.e niotini), but tli"v si'")) thinned # iiH limidhir that the motion Wits ])i>^ti)')imd.' Tli'i Kifi m.itei wcic at once taken, .uicl hi\e occu pied .ill the nulling.

Samoa and New Zealand. ftll (! t '(ilj,'p (Jlf^ Ills )lMi|U'(l .Uiotll' 1 lot t» i fniiii S lino i, pi.t}in<£ f<>i •mufvUion *<> \« \S Z.\ll 111(1.