POLITICAL NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2052, 1 September 1885, Page 2

POLITICAL NEWS.

[BT TKLKfiHArH.—SPKCIU, COKKKSPOXDEXT.] Rocks Ahead. Welm\«tov, Monday. Ai.tiiouch tho Government contnved to defeat the no-confidence motion on Friday night, there aie still some awkwaid rocks ahead for thorn before the scsion closes, uio«t dangerous to tlie ftast and Wi-ht Coast Railway. A report ha\ ing got ahtoad that the Government was considering the most eonvcniant w.iy of shelving the question, so an to avoid defeat on it, several of the vvann sttppoiters of that scheme, 1 hoar. have intimated to Ministers that it it is not made a Mmistciinl question they will with draw their Mippoit from the Government. A number of the Ministerial supporters on being made aw.ire of this also informed their chiefs that if ttiey acceded to that le quest and made the l.uhvay a party question they would notMipportMini.ster.<any longer. That is the position of matters at present, and a mooting of Government suppoitors is to be held to-morrow to consider what coin ie is to be adopted. I nndei stand the intention is to demand from the <Jo\crn mont an intimation of the course they in tend taking on tiie iail«'ay question, and the Native Lands Deposition IJill, and it will require tho utmost diploimcy on the part of that astute politic,in, the Colonial Treasurer, to satisfy the demands of the dwcordant elements compo-mg the Govemment party.

The Lands Disposition Bill. It is reported that nothing more will be hoard of the Native Lauds Disposition Hill this session. A large quantity of evidence has yet to be taken by the Native Affniis Committee, and ex-Judge Fonton has now arrived in Wellington to give evidence on the bill. I hear the Maori member* arc insisting that an amendment bo made which \ irtually reveries tho character of the whole bill.

The No-Confidence Resolutions. Major Atkinson's ievolutions are a long way down on the Order Paper to night, no less than "SO orders of the day being before them. The chances are that the letuaining resolutions will not be moved. As far as the Ministers are concerned they m ill not afford the member for Kginmit another oppmtunitv i'( bringing on tho resolutions unless the fi'i'lmg of the House tends in that direction, which is very improbable.

A Good Joke. The Post to night relates a iuo~t amusing incident in connection with the Parlia ment.iry excursion on Friday. It was an nonnced th it the (!o\ eminent steamei Hmemoa would make a trip to Nelson, and a notice to this effect was ported in the Assembly Libr.uy, intending pissen£ers being requested t<> send m theii mines to the Hon. Col. Hrett. Piinctu illy to the hour named. Col. l>iett and two other meiiibeis of the Legislative Council, accompanied by then sisteis, cousins and aunt*, appeared on board and ordered Capt. Fauchild to be off as soon as possible, and then they all turned into their beiths. Capt. Fanclnld having some doubts as to the piopnetyof starting on such a tup with only thtee members abo ird, «*vm though accompinipd by a bey v of f.iir damsel", quietly went up to the Government Huilduigs and a^ked the lion Ministei foi whetlier he was to go with the<e niembeis aboaid. >[r Lunacli at once ordered the captain not to go unless at least ten mem bers of the L-gi-latnie weie aboard. The Hmemoa conseqiuntlv did not leive the whalf, and h<'i intending passengeis slept soundly until an early horn the following moining, when the stentoiian voice of tlie •f.illant commandei of thoicseive foiccs of ('interbury was heaid loudly demanding coffee, cilling on his fellow pas -engeis to get up and see the lieautifiil scenety of Nelson Harbour, anil congiatulating them on the magnificent pi-sige they hid made. "Not .1 movement; as steady .is if they had been ashoie.*' The discomfitiiie of the lion, and gall tut le.»i<l.itor, when the -teward informed him tli it theie was no coffee leady, and th.it they had not left the lailway wharf, tiny be imagined. Tho colonel tells the btoiy himself.