PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2169, 3 June 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH— SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

The Birthday Honours. Wellington Tuesday. It is much commented on here that Major Atkinson has not been included in the birthday honours this year. I understand Sir Robert Stout recommended three months ago that Major Atkinson should receive the order of knighthood, but for some reason or other the suggestion was not acted upon. It is universally acknowledged by the friends and opponents of the hon. gentletmn, that an experienced Parliamentary Leader, like the member for Egmont, who has been three times Premier of the colony is fully as much entitled to the honour as several of his old colleagues who have already gained the distinction of knighthood.

The Agnew's Again. Those indefatigable lobbyists, Mr and Mrs Agnevv, who have nome real or fanciful land grievance against the Government, and who have attended the Parliamentary buildings again this session, were this afternoon escorted into the Parliament House by a force of A.C. and cautioned by the Sergaant-at-Arms that if they continued to annoy members within the gates of the building the husband would be taken into custody. Mr Stewart has a question on the Order Paper relating to the claims advanced by the Agnewf. Their petition was before the House last year and caused some interests, owing to the manner in which they haunted the buildings daily during the whole session.

Railway Works. Railway caucusscs are now the order of the day. The Haw kes Bay and Wellington members meet to-morrow to consider railway matters in their respective districts. According to tho Post to-night the Public Works Department have everyth ing ready for the letting of new contracts iii various parts of the colony, and it is proposed to advertise them in advance: so th it immediately the estimates arc passed the work may be commenced without delay. This is good news for the country generally, and particularly for the labouring classes, large numbers of whom are constantly being thrown out of employment, as various public works are completed.

No-Confidence Motion. Wellington, Wednesday, 11 p.m. The wa.nt-of-confidc.nce resolution which I referred to a few days ago was brought down to-night by Mr Montgomery, who moved that the Government should take back their Estimates and reduce them by £70,000. The Premier at once accepted the motion as one of no-confidence, and said if it were carried it would mean that the House refused supplies t>> the Government. It is at present difficult to say how the motion will go in the face of the universal desire expressed this Session for retrenchment. I hear Mr Montgomery moved it on his own responsibility. The debate is still going on.