POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2334, 2 June 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER, j Interesting Proceedings. Wellington, Tuesday. It was evident from the appearance of the House at the opening this afternoon that something unusual was expected, as notonly the chamber itself was occupied by nearly every member at present in Wellington, but the gallories were all crowded with expectant faces. The greatest eagerness was displayed to hear the Ministerial statement, and when the Premier announced that his Excellency had granted a dissolution, there were loud cheers from the Government side of the House. The debate that followed the Premier's remarks was one of the liveliest of the session, and partook of the character of a second noconfidence motion, so much so that Sir Robert Stout complained that certain speeches made this afternoon had not been delivered when last week's amendment was pending. It is considered likely now that the Opposition will agree to grant the supplies asked for by the Government in which case the House will probably be prorogued on Monday or Tuesday next. Ministers will proceed with the Government Loans and Local Bodies Act Amendment Bill, and a few other necessary measures before Parliament is disolved. ; Cabinet Changes. ; The rearrangements of portfolios that I recently referred to, will be conferred principally to the Public Works Department. I hear Ministers have decided that Mr Larnach, the Minister for Mines, is to take over the management of working railways from Mr Richardson, who will still remain in the cabinet as Ministsr for Public Works and wiU have charge of the unconstructed lines. This is regarded as a strong bid for support in the coming election, as one of the most frequent indictments against the present Government is their mismanagement of the railway department. Mr Larnach occupied the position of Public Works Minister for a short time in the Grey Government, but made no particular mark during his term of office in that capacity. | I understand the Ministry have been urged j by several of their friends to drop Sir Julius Vogel, but they have decided to stand or tall together during the election. New Government Organ in Wellington. It is reported that a new weekly newspaper in the Ministerial interest is to be established here at once. This step has been decided upon owing to the fact that none of the Wellington papers can at present be said to support the Government, the Post having lately assumed an independent tone, which is not altogether pleasing to Ministers. Competition for the Premier. Sir Robert Stout has been offered the choice of several constituencies in the North Island at the coming election, but he has decided no to forsake his old love, and will stand for re-election for D uned in City West. His return for that district is considered pretty safe. Opposition Dinner. The dinner given by the members of the Opposition last night was attended by 4S members of the party, and, I understand 14 others were accounted for. Major Atkinson was in the chair, and a large number of toasts were proposed aud responded to, the proceeding being of a very cordial nature. In the course of his speech Major Atkinson expressed his [firm conviction that the Opposition would coma back from the country with a majority, lie was of opinion that the Government should have resigned on being defeated by tho House, but thought it would be moro conducive to the Opposition interests that an appeal should be made to the country. Mr Pyke on the War Path. Instructions have been given by Mr Vincent Pike, the member of Dunstan, for the issue of a writ for ±1000 damages against Messrs Wilson and Horton, proprietors of the New Zealand Herald, for libel contained in the report published in that journal of some statements made at a public meeting in Auckland by a Mr Hodge, who recently visited Wellington as a labour delegate: The alleged libellous statements have, it is stated, been published in several evening papers through the colony, and Mr Pyke intends to proceed against every paper in which they have appeared. The Crisis. Wednesday. Rumours of the most sensational character have been flying about to-day respecting the political crisis. One was to the effect that the leading members of the Opposition had waited on the Governor this morning, recommending him to dismiss his responsible advisers. This was such an obvious absurdity that little attention was paid to it. Another report was that tho Government had by some means been made aware of the resolution passed at the Opposition meeting this morning, and as a counter-move intended to suddenly prorogue Parliament this afternoon. The resolution I refer to was passed at a largely attended meeting of the Opposition, and was to the effect that Major Atkinson would this afternoon move without notice that a respectful address be presented to His Excellency, the Governor, praying that it is desirable that the next meeting of Parliament should be held under the new Representation Bill now before Parliament, and that Parliament should meet at a date not later than Ist September next, and that this be an instruction to the Government. Major Atkinson intended moving the resolution to-day, after the preliminary business had been disposed of, but the whole afternoon was taken up by discussion on two side questions, the report of the Local Industries Committee being one, and the return of expenditure on village settlements north of Auckland also causing a long debate. The leader of the Opposition took the first opportunity afforded him to-night of moving his resolution, and it elicited a very warm discussion, which is still proceeding 1 . -The Premier deprecated any undue heat being displayed in the debate, and he straightway proceeded to lose his own temper, and treated the House to one of his customary lectures, delivered in his loudest and most peremptory tones. He expressed his intention of dividing the House on Major Atkiuson's motion, but I understand there is a good majority prepared to support it. The Representation Bill The action of the Government in the Upper House to-day over the Representation Bill affords another proof of the statement so frequently made that Ministers never intended passing the bill this session. It is scarcely necessary to point out that the bill passed the House nearly a fortnight ago, and only this afternoon was brought on for second reading in tho Council. Mr Reynolds was anxious to postpone the committal of the bill till tomorrow, but Dr Pollen promptly moved for its committal at once, as a matter of urgency, and Mr Buckle]', the Colonial Secretary displayed unmistakable hostility to the Bill in the short speech he made. On the motion for its committal, an extraordinary scene then resulted. Mr Buckley refused to take further charge of the Bill, and Dr. Pollen took it up, and finally carried it through all its stages. Mr Buckley during the discussion said he was strongly inclined to leave the chamber, aud never return to it. He also stated with some warmth that certain members of the Council had expressed their determination to drive the Government off the ' benches. Later, when the Bill had passed the council, and was brought up to the House by the clerk in the usual way there were loud and prolonged chcers as the sergeant at last took the bill up to the Speaker's chair. Mr Wakefield, who was speaking at the time, made a strong point of this, by saying that the Representation Bill had been passed by both Houses against the wish of the Government, who were never sincere in their desire to make it become law.

Re-assembling of Parliament. The Colonial Treasurer's speech last night with reference to the date of meeting of the House aroused strong indignation amongst members. Sir J. Yogel certainly implied that if all went well the House would meet in October, but he also inferred that if any unforseen contingencies arose, it might probably not meet until next year, and this proposal from a defeated Ministry was considered of such an unaccountable character that the House will insist on a definite date being fixed for the House being called together. The Member for Dunstan. Mr Pyke has accepted tho apology tendered by the New Zealand Herald for the alleged libellous statement of Hodge, the labour agitator, which was published in the Herald.