POLITICAL NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4167, 29 August 1881, Page 3

POLITICAL NEWS.

♦■ [By Telbgbaph.] [from oub special oobbbßpondent.] WELLINGTON, August 28. The cloture resolutions were beforo the Standing Orders Committee yesterday. Mr Hall tried hard to jjet the Committee to approve of them, and, while argument was proceeding, sont for Mr Bowen, a member of the Committee, who was absenL when it met. Mr Bowen, on arrival, supported Mr Hall. The Speaker (Sir G. M. O'Rorke), also a member of the Committee, was opposed to the resolutions as being unnecessary and uncalled for. Ultimately tho Committee decided not to interfere, on the grounds that tho resolutions woro on the Order Paper for consideration by the House, and that they had not been referred to tlie Committee. Tho evidence of Messrs Reeves, J. 0. Brown and the Hon W. Wood was taken yesterday, re the honorarium transaction, when some rather curious disclosures were made. Mr Wood tried to make it appear that he considered the matter a mere joke, but it was shown that after entering into the arrangement with Mr Reeves, he considered it such a good thing that he advised the Hon Robert Campbell to do the same. Mr Campbell, as soon as the honorarium was voted, paid the forty "pounds to Mr Reeves. The feeling amongst members with respect to the stonewalling tactics on the one hand, and the cloture resolutions on the other, is intensifying. It is generally anticipated that the coming week will be a very stormy one. If Mr Ormond moves a Want of Confidence motion, it is almost certain to be carried, many members regarding it as the best way out of the present complications.