TELEGRAPHIC

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 21 July 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] [PER PRK3S ASSOOIATrOK.] GENERAL ASSEMBLY. — , — * . Wellington, July 17. . Efforts were made in the Council and House, last night, to prohibit the production of the Kelly Gang drama at the Theatre Royal, this evening. The attempt was ineffectual, and will prove a spb-ndid advertisement for the piece, wbich was written by a member of the literary staff of the New Zealand Times. There was a dc] : ghtfully comic scecg

in the -House last higlit. In th.c dj3i>iU c on the Maori Prisom-rs' Bill, SirGoorge Grey was on his legs, speaking fervently on the cruel wrong proposed ia keeping the Maori prisoners another year in durance, wh« j n he suddenly stopped and protested he would not go on until Hall, 'he Premier, would listen to him. avowing that Hall va* treating him with contemptuous i difference, and wa* actuahy engaged in correcting the Han« sard proof of a sppeeh instead of listening to words fraught with the fale of the natives. Kail heeded not, never turned a hair, but went on with his work. Grey stood silent. The House burst into stormy disputation on forms and prece ents, but the Spenker ruled that no one could move a resolu ion while Grey ; wiisoft his legs. Grrey's friends propped Mm up a choir, and he stood silent and defiant. Forly-five minutes intervened, with occasional clamour and periods of dead si'enre, Hall meanwhile being imperturbable, and Grey like Patience on a monument. The dilemma was ultimately solved by the Chairman asking leave to vacate the chair for half an hour. On resuming Hall blandly assured Grey he had listened attentively all along, and the debate was resumed. There will be fiery and fierce contest over the Maori Prisoner's Bill. The Opposition are rieed against it. Sheehan supports it. The Colonial Treasurer avows he will not remain in office one hour if it does not pass, as the release of the prisoners at the present juncture means certain war. The debate stands adjourned. In the Council, Peacock's motion igainst payment of honorarium to Legislative Councillors was lost the division being — Ayes. 1, the mover; noes, 29. Grace and Fitzherbert did not vote, and fourteen members were absent. The preliminary debate partook more of abuse than argument. July 19. The House sits this afternoon, and there vrill be a hoc debate on the Maori Prisoners' Bill, which will be of long continuance. The Opposition have a good point to work if they can prolong the debase until after the 28th instaut, when the Maori prisoners must be released, and then, from a Ministerial point of view, all the fat will be in the fire. The coming week is likely to be an un» profitable one for the count r} f , and will tend to a heary slaughter of innocents at no distant date. Already no fewer than sixty-five bills are before the House, of which forty-nine are still down on the Order Paper for second readings ; only sixteen have got so far as notices for com« mittal, and only the surface is scratched off the Estimates, and financial business, so far as relating to raising of revenue, is not even touched, while there is a whole mass of legislation, in Native and domes* tic matters, settlement of Civil Service and public works, readjustment of representation, &,".. It would be quite impossible to eet through all this in a twelve months' continuous session. It ia believed, therefore, that after a few weeks' wrangling over the Estimates and one or two other matters the session will suddenly collapse. BIiENHEISf. The "Wool pack Inn, Eenwicklown, occupied by George Stevenson, was destroyed by fire last night, and one man was burnt to deatb. The pro* perty was insured for £1,220. Orign of fire unknown. Naxieb; Authentic information states that, the Mohaka reefs are good. Nelsom". Hon. N. Edwards died through the bursting of a blood-vessel, He arrived in Nelson in 184^, and was surveying for a short time, then was clerk for Fell and Seymour. He has left £125,000.