The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1889. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2261, 23 October 1889, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1889. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

During last session thero was laid upon tho table, of the House of Repro sentatives, upon the motion of Mr Bruce and Sir J. Hall, a return of appointments to tho Legislative Council and of vacancies which have occurred therein. A copy of these returns lies before us m the shape of a tabulated Parliamentary paper, and from it we propose to cull some interesting facts for tho information of our readers. Tho Upper Chamber waß first constituted m 1858, when the the " unlucky number " of thirteen gentlemen wero summoned by His Excellency the Governor m Her Majesty's name to the first General Assembly o' Now Zealand, m pursuance of the Constitution Act. Since that date, up to the present timo, there havo been 121 calls to the Oounoil, making tho total "calls "to date 134. From this number we have to deduct the instances m which the same individuals havo been more than once called to the Legislative Council ; Hr John Hall and Dr Pollen having each been twice re-called, after ceasing for a timo to be members ; and Messrs J. 0. Richmond, J. T. Peacock, John Johnston, and Taiaroa, once re called. Thus, deducting re-calls, we find that the total number of gentlemen who have been at any time members of the Upper Chamber iB 126, ol whom 40 have vaoated their positions by resignation, 16 by absenoe^O by death, and 6 by disqualification, leaving 44 still occupying seats. The original thirteen of 1853 were :— The Hons. W*. Swainson, W. H. Kenny, F. Whitaker, J. Salmon, Hon. H. W. Petro, H. St. Hill, J. Y. J Lloyd, G. Cutfield, Ralph Richardson, H, Seymour, M. Richmond, J. C. W. Russell, and E. H. W. Bellairs, of whom only one, Sir Frederick Whitaker (who is thus the " father" of the Council), still continues a member. Of the 121 calls (including re-calls) mado since 1853, the record stands thus : 1854, three ; 1855, one ; 1856, one ; 1857, three ; 1858, six ; 1859, ono ; 1861, five ; 1862, six ; 1863, five; 1865, ten; 1866, seven; 1867, four ; 1868, six ; 1869, nine ; 1870, Beven; 1871, four; 1872, seven; 1878, three; 1874, one; 1876, one; 1877, three ; 1878, five ; 1879, four ; 1881, two; 1882, two; 1888, three ; 1884-] two ; 1885, nine ; 1887, one. Altogether the numbers called to the Council at any time during their several administrations by tho respective Premiers have been as 1 follows, viz , Stafford, 87 ; Fox, 25 ; Domett, 5; Weld, 10 ; Waterhouse, 2 ; Yogel, 5 ; Atkinson, 2 ; Grey, 9 ; 1 Hall, 5 ; Whitaker, 8 ; btout, 12. Sir Frederick Whitaker is by far the oldest member of the Council, his appointment dating from 1853, next to him being Major Baillie and Br Pollen, who date from 1861, though the latter has not held his seat continuously. Colonel Whitmoro dates from 1863, and the remaining members of the present Council rank by length of service m the following order via. 1865. Acland, Miller, J. C. Richmond ; 1866, Holmes, Mantoll ; 1868, Bonar, W. H. Peter; 1870. Campbell, Fraser, Grace, Waterhouse, Wigley ; 1872, Hart, Lahmann, J. li. Johnson ; 1878, Peacock ; 1877, J. N. Wilson ; 1878, P. A. Buckley, Martin, Reynolds ; 1879, Diguan, Fitzherbert, Taiaroa ; 1881, G. M'Lean, Oliver ; 1882, (Stevens, Williams ; 1883, Barnicoat ; 1884, Keeves ; 1885, Kenny, Morris, E. Pharaayn, Shephard, Shrimski, Swanßon, L. Walker ; 1887, Wahawaha. Of these 44 gentlemen, 5 owe their seats to Mr .Stafford ; 1 to Mr Domett ; 3to Mr 'Weld ; 8 to Mr Fox ; 2to Mr Yogel ; 1 to Major Atkinson ; 8 to Sir G. Grey ; 4 to bir J. Hall ; 2to Bir F. Whitaker, and 10 to Sir R. Stout.