POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 320, 4 July 1889, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE LATEST FROM THE HOUSE. Willington, last night. Rumour has been busy with stories about an alleged split in the Opposition camp, and wan particularly explicit in a statement that Sir George Grey and Mr Lance had formally intimated their secession from the party. There seems to have been a substratum of truth in the report, though the facts were considerably exaggerated. Sir George Grey is not identifying himself with the newly organised party, and Mr Ballance denies that he was ever with it, or that his support was counted upon, for Sir George withdrew from last week’s meeting before the elected, Messrs Lance and Kerr heart and soul with their old awodHArkl

their opposition to ths being staunch supporters ol the they could not follow Mr Ballance tack upon it, and would probably the chamber rather than vote on the qtwitlon should a division be forced. r

It is understood that the Opposition now recognise that it is unlikely that any movement hostile to the Property Tax would succeed, and that they hesitate to propose the amendment which has lately been talked about. They profess to have no desire to harass or worry the Premier, but intend to discharge merely the legitimate functions of an organised Opposition. The Ministerial whips reckon upon having a majority of five in favor of the Property Tax, and thirteen on a question of no confidence. About a dozen members of the House, headed by Dr. Hodgkinson, waited upon the Premier on Tuesday morning, and asked that a vote should again be placed upon the Supplementary Estimates this year for the establishment of labor settlements, The object is to place small parties of agriculturists upon land, where they will be able to maintain themselves with the products of their industry. Sir Harry Atkirnlon promised to consider the matter, and submit it to the Cabinet, and give the deputation an answer in due time. The cost of the Te Kooti expedition was only £2600, which was quits pleasing in its modesty, af er the great to do that was made about it by a few splenetic or ignorant writers whose estimate of the expense was something enormous in proportion to what it really was. But at the same time there is no doubt that the Government, through Mr Mltchelson's blundering in the first place, was really responsible for any expense that was incurred. Mr Carroll spoke highly of the Premier’s conduct in the matter and of the thankfulness of the settlers of Poverty Bay, There was a good deal of banter on the subject when the vote was being passed, but nothing serious was said that is worth telegraphing. In reply to Mr Carroll the Hon. Mr Hoalop, for ths Native Minister, said with regard to the Omaha land trouble, them had been unforeseen difficulties in completing the plans and putting the case in a mature state before the Court,