POLITICAL NOTES

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2671, 24 August 1889, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES

BY TKLKOIIAPIC— OWN UORUKSI'OXDKNT . Wellington. Friday. AN ILL-FATKI) WORK. It certainly looks as if some fatality was attached to the Otago Central Railway Dill, as it is safe to say that no other measure ut so much iinpin tmee lias so often suffered defeat at th« hands of rarlianiout as that Bill. Its supporters, however, expected this session at all events that success would attend their effort!?, especially as during the l'urliainentary recess, the Premier and Minister of Public Works and several Otago members travelled right through the interior of the district, in order to see for themselves the nature of the country to be Uppcd by the Ota go Central Line. The Ministerial party having become thoroughly convinced of the necessity for completing a, line which has already cost half a million of money, proposals were submitted this session altogether differing in character from those of previous years, namely, instead of proposing to construct the line on the land grant system, as is the case of the Midland Railway, tt.e government asked the House to agrco to the construction of the line on terms of payment by the pastoral rents from the land through which it should pass. This prnpos-il was almost as strongly opposed ti;, tlio former was, and was characterised last night by Mr Ballauco as borrowing in its .worst form. TUB CANTERBURY OPPOSITION. Groat indignation is expressed by the supporters of the Otago Central lino at what they consider the ingratitude of the Canterbury members in voting against the railway after they had secured the safety of the Midland line. The Canterbury men, however, fail to see where the ingratitude comes in, as they allege that there were no sttonger opponents of the Midland Railway in tiro House than the Otago members. They also point out that they all along supported the construutim of the Otago lino on the land grant system, but as that was departed from in the new Bill, and what they regarded as borrowing proposals inserted instead, they withdrew their support.

MIN IST ICRIAL RESII )ENCE. Tho desirability of disposing of the Ministerial resideuco formerly occupied by Hit- Julius Vogel was brought under the notice of the Premier this afternoon by Mr Goldie, who reminded Sir Harry Atkinson of the promise lie had given the House that this property should be disposed oE as soon as possible in the interests of economy. Sir Harry replied that efforts had been made to Ret a reasonable price for the property, but the Government found they could not obtain :i satisfactory offer, and they were not prepared to sacrifice it. Since then an application was made to the Government for tho Mmi>t'jiial reserve, to be used as an endowment for a Wellington university. This statement was received with cries of "Oh ! nil !" from several Opposition members. Sir Harry said he was surpiised t , ) hear such expressions of dissent from lion, members; his opinion was that something would have tobadono towards providing a university for that city shortly, and, but fur the extraordinary turn of affairs this session, the Government would have submitted a "Bill dealing with the matter. Sir Harry Atkinson added that in consequence of this opposition no further attempt had been undo to dispose of the property ; tho House is nt present not occupied by any of tho Ministers, Mr Mitehclson lived in a private Jlouso, the other Minister's residences being occupied by Sir Harry Atkins:m, Messrs Fergus, Hislop and Richardson.

A MIXED DIVISION 1 . The supporters of the Otagn Central lino now freely express the opinion that they have boon "sold " by the. Government over Mm Hill, and they say further that if Ministers had done only half tho whipping np over it, that they did hist week to save their own seats, it would easily have been carried. There is, no doubt at all, that the Premier, at least, was thoroughly io earnest cm the matter. This was abundantly proved by his vigorous speech last night; but it i-i an open secret that tho Minister fur Public Works and Mr Richardson were not enamoured _ of the measure. Tiio whole of the Cabinet however, voted for the second rending. Tho Opposition no doubt treated tho division us a party one, as with the exception of Dr. Vitchctt and Mr Jones the whole of the p.irty voted against the Bill, while no less than sixteen Government supporters also opposed it. As was explained by the Premier the. rejection of the Oiago Central lino will have the oll'ect of preventing all now works from being proc.vj.Jod with.