HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1107, 30 June 1882, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, June 29.

> The petition of parties is as difficult to fathom as ever, and no reliance whatever is to be placed upon any of the figures given as to the strength of parties or fractions of parties into which the Opposition is now divided. Almost every day brings a new aspirant for the position of leader, until the matter has come to be treated as the jest of the day. \;Ofey will neither push nor pull, and so the Opposition tread-mill works on. Lone Dfteatitime the Government are stopping u^p all the weak places in their position, and the longer they can stave off attack, the better they will be prepared to resist it when it comes.

The split amongst the West Ceast members is regarded as very unfortunate for their part of the Colony. On the one side Weston and Petrie are pulling together well for their districts, while FitzGerald and Seddon hold aloof, the former laying himself open to the suspicion of personal animosity towards Weaton. The disagreement has now assumed the phase of open warfare in which FitzGerald has not so far shown to advantage.

In the House this afternoon, Atkinson moved that at its rising to-day, the House should adjourn till Wednesday evening next.

After the usual batch of questions had been disposed of, the House went into committee on the Auckland Grammar School Bill, and some slight amendments made was interrupted. The debate on the Otago Harbor Board Empowering Bill was resumed by Wes- , ton, who was interrupted by dinner adjournment. Last week he (Weston) made a most telling speech against the Bill. The time had now come he said, when the people of Otago should be protected against themselves. Grey followed, and supported the .Bill. Bracken said it was a good thing that the House had among its members one like he member for Inangahua, who was able o render valuable services to the Colony, but in the matter under discussion his opinion was not worth much. The scheme had been supported by excellent author^ ties on works of this nature. He appealed to the Hoube to pass the measure as a right due to Dunedin. Several other members spoke, and the debate was again interrupted by 5.30 adjournment.