PARLIAMENTARY.
The Chief Justice's Opinion on Abolition.
(TROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPON-
DENT.)
Sir George Grey moved for a return giving the date on which the Governor was supplied with a copy of the Chief Justice's opinion as to the power of the Assembly to abolish the provinces and representative institutions therein. Mr Bo wen, in replying, indulged in a considerable amount of quibbling on the circumstance of not being Chief Justice, but only Attorney General, when the opinion was given and stated, that if such advice had been tendered, the .Governor would not feel warranted in giving the return as to the occasion.
Sir George Grey stated that the admission conveyed all the information he wanted, namely : that the advice was not tendered to the Governor when sending down the Abolition Bill. Sir George moved that an address be presented to his Excellency, requesting him to table a copy of any despatch which the Governor may have addressed to the Secretary of State with reference to that opinion, and bearing on the abolition of the provinces. Considerable irregular debate ensued, in which Mr Bowen read a letter from the Chief Justice, in which he denied having ever given an opinion conflicting with that lately presented to the House.
Sir George Grey explained that he had not said conflicting or contrary, but only that in a former opinion he had described the words " abolish any province" as meaning altering its boundary. Mr Prendergast having then stated that when Westland was taken from Canterbury, the province of Canterbury was abolished, and a new Canterbury formed. Mr. Stafford confirmed, from "Hansard," Sir George Grey's explanation of the words, and was getting up to the chin in despatches and memoranda of the olden days when he was pulled up by the Speaker.
The resolution was carried. Various Bills Dealt With. Then followed a series of motions of Southern local interest, and Mr. O'Neill's motion respecting rifle representatives to Philadelphia Tir Universal, which was postponed. Two Wellington and Otago Bills were advanced, and the Auckland Institute and City Endowments Bills were brought down for second reading, and were postponed. The Deceased Wife's Sister. The second reading of the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill was moved in a lengthy and able speech by Mr Steward for the fifth time. He defended his persistency by showing that when he first introduced the measure in 1871 only one Australian colony (South Australia) had the law, but now every Colony of Australia, except New Zealand, had it. His speech went over the whole ground exhaustively. . Pyke Clears the Ladies' Gallery. _ i Mr Pyke, who last year voted for the bill, replied in a manner that cleared the gallery of ladies, who filed off one by one as he unfolded his repertoire of choice imagery. His opening words were that the bill should be called the bill to legalise incest in a second degree, and his reference to libidinous people was such an argumentation as might be expected from a mind with a sore lack for sensible reasons to support a foregone conclusion. His speech consisted of guldering ribaldry and smut. Old McGillivray next felt a call to lake up the cause of unblemished morality. He began at the fourth century and ended at the day of judgment, and what learned divines determined in the seventeenth century was conclusive. He laid down the law in his usual emphatic way, and felt that he had done his duty. Then came the division, and as only the second division of the session, and the question will, at least to posterity, be a curious, if not an interesting one, I transmit the lists. Before doing so I may relate a little incident that passed below, Sir Cracrof fc Wilson was proceeding to the lobby with the emancipatiats when Mr Sheehan intercepting him expostulated with him, "No," exclaimed the brave old warrior "When did I ever vote like a bigoted beasV' The second reading was earned. Ayes, 29.—Andrews Atkinson, balance. Brandon, Boyce, Carrington, Creighton, Cuthbertson, Gibbs, T. Kelly, Luckie, May McGlashan, Sir Doc aid McLean, Montgomery, Murraj, C. Parker, Reid, Richardson, J. Shephard, Steward, Swanson, Takaimoana, Yon der Heyde, Wales, Webb, Wilson, and Wood. , , I Noes, 25.—Bluett, Brown, Bowen, Bonny, Curtis, Dignan, Inglis, Johnston, Katene, Macandrew, McGillivray, Mervyn, Munro, O'Neil, O'Rorke, G. B. Parker, Pearce, Pyke, Eeeves, Reynolds, Stafford, Tairoa, Thomson, Ward, White, Williams. Some discussion occurred with hats en respecting Sir George Grey, and Mr Sheehan, and another having entered during the division, doors being understood to. be locked.' It was decided that they had not beea present when the question was put, and their votes need not be taken. Committee of Supply.
Several bills of local Southern interest were advanced stages to the House went^ formally into Committee of Supply merely to introduce the Stamp Act Amendment Bill, whereupon at 5.30 members adjourned from labor to refreshment, the Speaker: giving a dinner tonight. ■ -• ■ ■ _
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Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1706, 6 August 1875, Page 3
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820PARLIAMENTARY. Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1706, 6 August 1875, Page 3
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