This gave Mr Larnach a hnndle to move an amend ment that the first business on Monday evening should be the consideration of the appointment of a committee to inquire into the W ard-Hislop | affair. The Premier fired up at this, and de clined angrily that the Government would take the amendment as a distinct motion on the part of the Opposition traversing the policy of the Government. He proceeded to denounce the waste of time in discussing this subject day after day, and spoke of it" as a trumpery case." (Cries oi" Oh ! oh!") " Let us come to an issue at once" he said: "If the Government are not fit to deal with this case of Ward's then turn us out of office. We have been accused this after noon of hoing utterly unfit to deal with this onse. Sir, the Government mean to deal with this case in the ordinary course of business, and they don't intend to allow a committee to be appointed. I will allow no other business to be gone on with until this business is disposed of." Mr Bnllance replied in a tone much warmer tlian his wont, and was followed by various other members. At 9 o'clock, after the shortest debate on record on a no-confidence motion, the question came to a division, which resulted in the amendmant beiug lost by the narrow majority of four, the figures being 40 to 36, There was loud clapping from the Opposition bunches when the result was announced. It is said that there was a distinct majority pledged to vote for the appointment of a com mittee, but when it was made a Ministerial question the weak-kneed gave way and voted with the Government. On the merits or demerits of the Ward-Hislop correspondence there was evidently a majority against the Government since they only won by four, while of those who walked out five usually vote with the Government—namely, Messrs Birron, Allen, Samuel, Menteatb, and Fish. Among those who voted with the Opposition wate Messrs Scobie Mackenzie and Dr Newman. 