PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2171, 8 June 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Railway CaucusesWBU.iN<.ros, Thur«day. TrtK reply that h.is been given the deputation of Otapo nictnbuis which waited i>n the Premier a day <>r two ago ap> in reference to the Dtago Onti.il Railway, w to the effect that the Premier does not see how the vote fur the lino can bo incrcwd m desired. He hat, however, a^iired them that if possible the amount allocated would be spent within two yo.us of tho pa-^inp of the vote. The Auckland membeis lia\ c also beun informed that an incrc.i^e of the vote for the evteu<<ion of the Tiunk Lino northwaid is impracticable, but the matter will be further considered.

Major Atkinson and the AgentGeneralship. It is rumoured as amongst the possibilities of tho immediate futmc that the ARPiit-< Jenpr.ilship will bi l offerred to Major Atkinson at the expiration of Sir Dillon Bell's term of office. The rumour, however, is not generally accepted, on the very reasonable ground that the piu-cnt Government would be much more likely to reward one of their own supporters with a high office of this kind, th.vn to bestow it on the loader of the Opposition.

The Taiaha TroubleThe Taiaha presented to Mr Ballance by W.ihanui, winch disappeared m mysteriously from the library, has turned up again, but there is some difficulty as to its permanent disposal. Mr Macindrew, 1 hear, wishes to obtain it for the Otago Museum, but nothing has yet been decided upon as to its ultimate destination.

The Loan Proposals. There is a report in the Lobbies that Mr Bryce intends moving that tho new loan be reduced to one million instead of a million and a half. The report has no doubt arisen from Mr Bryce's speech, in which he stated that one million would be quite sufficient for this year.

A Paper "Warfare. A reguUr newspaper war has been going on for some time between the Times and the Post over the finances of the colony. They have now sorted a fresh dispute. Regarding to the Wellington members who voted ag.iinst the Government on Thursday, the Post says, " Let the Wellington people who remember the hardships and positive suffering inflicted by the Civil Service reduction of 10 per cent, a few year* ago, think what they owe to their members for voting for a repetition of that iniquitous tax. It was felt in every branch of trade in Wellington. The retrenchment which our members supported Mr Montgomery in demanding was not one which would have extended fairly over the whole colony, it was not to be effected by reducing the conveniences or luxuries of "the people, but wai to fall mainly on a particular class of the community, of which class there are naturally in Wellington, ab the sent of Government, a larger number than in any other part of the colony." It then goeß on to say :— " Tho electors will do well to remember the fact when Messrs Beetham, Bince, Buchanan, Fisher, Johnston, Macatthur, Newman, and Wilson appear before them to seek re-election." The Times this morning protests against this article in strong terms. It --ays : " This attempt to bttlly and intimidate the local representatives while Parliament is sitting hab created a veiy unf avow able impression and has excited much difgwst among the members of both Houses. We can assure them however that it is very far from representing public feeling in Wellington ; indeed it utterly misrepresents it, and has been received with general disgust."

Bad Weather. Tho weather is again very wet and boisterous, with a terrific aea at the Heads. The Hineinoa, which left for Lyttelton last night with about 14 Southern members aboard, who are proceeding to their homes on business, was compelled to anchor in Worker's Bay for the night. The Waiiurapa was also unable to proceed to Napier last night in consequence of tho bad weather prevailing. She Hailed thin afternoon at four, but it \va& expected sho would either put back or take shelter at Worsor's Bay owing to the equally weather and heavy sea.

The New Eepresentation Bill. Wellington, Monday. Referring to what I have previously sent you about the new Representation Bill, the latest information on the subject is that the House is to be called together again either in February or Mnrch for the purpose of pacing a Representation Bill on the new basis of population.

The End of the Session. The session will probably last three weeks or a month, after which Parliament will be prorogued, and the elections would then bo held in time for the ordinary session being held in July or August. This 1 understand is the present intention of Ministers, and will be given effect to unless special circumstances arise, which would necessitate other arrangements being made. In any case Parliament expires by effluxion of time in August next year, the House having been elected in August, 1884. Those members of the present House who will be fortunate enough to be re-elected will therefore, if there should be no sessions next year, receive the full honorarium for the ordinary session a few months later. The new members will of course be entitled to the full amount for the ordinary session.

Additional Members. The full returns of the population of the principal cities are not yet available, but it is expected that the most marked increase will be in the district of Wellington South and Te Aro, so that Wellington will probably get an additional member.

Illness of Mr Hurst. Mr Hurst, the member for Waitemata, left for Auckland on Saturday by the W.tirarapa. Ha is suffdtinff from water on the heart, and he h.ts been neirmsly ill for some time. It ii Mr Hurst's intention to proceed to England »t onco in order t<> obtain the best medical advico available. Before leaving he left an open pair with the Opporiition whips, ,o be used as the party considered most desirable.

The Maori Block Vote. According tn l«bby gossip, stronjf efforts were made by Ministerialist* to uecuru the Maori block vote on the lute no-confidence division, by representing that should Mr Bryce return to power, he would rule the natives with great harshneas, and would not treat them with the liberality to which they are accustomed under Mr Ballance'ti management. However this may be, the fact remains that the Maori members voted to a man with the Government.

Chairman of the Groldfields mitteeAt a meeting of the Goldfields Committee this morning, Mr Vincent Pyke, who hat been chairman of the committee for some ye»ra, was again proposed as chairman but declined the honour, when Mr Fraser, member for the Thames, wan then choien for the office. A vote of thanks was proposed to Mr Pyke for his long services as chairman,