OPENING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 221, 20 July 1866, Page 2

OPENING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(From the "New Zealand Advertiser.") LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The first session of the Fourth Parliament of New Zealand was opened in the General Government buildings on Saturday last at 12 o'clock noon. The Commission appointed to open Parliament—consisting of the Hon the Speaker of the Legislative Council, the Hon. John Johnston, and the Hon. J. Prendergast entered the Legislative Council a few minutes after 12 o'clock. The proclamation calling the Par'iament having been read, a message was sent to the Lower House, requesting the attendance of the representatives. On the arrival of the members of the Lower House The Speaker read the Commission from His Excellency the Governor. The Speaker thon informed the members of the Lower House that it would be their duty, on retiring, to take the oath of allegiance, and to elect a Speaker for the present Parliament. The members of the House of Representatives then retired from the Legislative Council Chamber. The Speaker then read the letter from the Colonial Secretary, co^jfcsiCg' the Governor's acceptance of the resignation of certain members of the Legislative Council and the appointment of others in their places. The Speaker and members of the Council then took the oath of allegiance, after which the Council adjourned to Tuesday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. On returning to the House of Representatives, the Clerk read the proclamation from the "Gazette," calling the House together, also the order that members should take the oath of allegiance, after which they should proceed to the election of a Speaker who should present himself to nis Exce.lency on Monday at 1 o'clock, for the confirmation of his appointment. His Honor Mr Justice Johnston was ushered in, having been commissioned by His Exce lency the Governor to administer the oath to members. The following members took the oath of allegiance : —G. Armstrong, A. S. Atkinson, T. Ball, A. Beauchamp, F. D. Bell, C. B. Borlase, J. B. Hradshaw, J. Brycc, J. Bunny, A. J. Bums, R. Campbell, jun., J. Cargill, H. Carlton, A. Clark, A. Cox, 0. Curtis, J. E. FitzGerald, G. Graham, D. Hankinson, E. A. Hargreaves, T. M. Haultain, F. H. Hull, F. Jollie, A. Ludlam, D. M'Lean, D. Monro, J. n ewman, A. R. Olliver, Charles < 'Neill, J. O'Neill, J. D. Onnond, G. M. O'Rourke, Chas. Parker, J. Paterson, Donald Reid, H. W, Reynolds, J. L. C. Richardson, A. J. Richmond, J. C. Richmond, E. W. Staflord, E. C. J. Stephens, W. \V. Taylor, C. Ward, W. Wells, L. Walker, F. Whitaker, J. Williamson, J. C. Wilson, W. Wood. Mr Bell and Mr Carleton, as proposer and seconder, then led the Speaker eleet to the chair. The Speaker elect then formally returned thanks for the honor that had been conferred upon him. Mr Stafford then moved the adjournment of the House. WEDNESDAY, JULY 4 1866. The Speaker took the chair at five o'clock. DISTILLATION. Major lUCHARDSON asked the honorable gentleman at the head of the Government, —"Whether it is the intention of Government to introduce a Bill this session to continue ' The Distillation Prohibition Ordinance Amendment Act, 1865.'" The Act passed last session was to determine at the end of this session, and many of the inhabitants of the Southern Island were anxious to know the intentions of the Government. Mr STAFFORi) replied that in order to carry out the Act a great deal of supervising machinery would be required. He objected himself to the Act, because it placed unnecessarily an arbitrary power in the hands of the Executive of the day. The question was under consideration, and the Government hoped to be able to bring in a more definite Act, if it should seem desirable to permit distillation. THURSDAY, JULY 5. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS. Mr CROSBIE WARD asked the Colonial Secretary—"Whether in the case of the inhabitants of any considerable town or district in the Colony petitioning to be constituted a municipal corporation, the Government would be prepared to advise His Excellency to grant such a town or district a charter of incorporation." He wished more particularly to ask the question with regard to the City of Christchurch. Mr STAFFORD thought that the hon. member should have given a more particular direction to the question, as he

appeared to desire to obtain information With regard to one particular place. He might answer to tbe general question that the Government could not advise Ilia Excellency to exercise the powers given to him under the Constitution Act jn this respect; but there might be particular cases in which no such objection would be made. SALE OF POSTAGE STAMPS. Mr CROSBIE WARD moved—"That there be laid on the table of this House a return showing the expense incurred the Postal Department, in allowances to Sub-Postmasters and licensed vendors on the sale of postage stamps for the financial year ended 30th June, 1866." It was a matter of great inconvenience that the allowance to vendors of stamps should have been stopped, and he would like to know what measure of economy would balance this great public inconvenience. Mr. STAFFORD in the absence of the Postmaster General, said that it was Voluntary on the part of some vendors to sell postage stamps, but it was the duty of the country postmasters to do so, and it was, therefore, merely a question of salary with regard to them. He had ascertained that tbe Postmaster General was at pre* sent taking steps to remunerate the latter, in lieu of the commission that they had previously received. With regard to the ■others, he believed that they would still sell stamps without commission, as it was not for that small amount, which would not cover the interest on the first outlay, that they did so, but to draw custom. There might be some hardship with, regard to the country postmasters, but there was none with regard to the latter, and no public inconvenience arose from it. FRIDAY JULY, 6. NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr REYNOLDS to ask the Honorable the Postmaster General—" Whether there is any intention on the part of the Government to sign the contract for the Panama Mail Service before an opportunity iB given this House to consider the terms of such contract." Major RICHARD-ON to ask the Hon. the Postmaster General—-'Whether the Government will have any objection to "extend the period at which tenders will be received for leasing the General Government telegraphs now in operation and about to be established, from the 31st July, the day fixed by the advertisement •of the 28th June to the 31st August next." Panama contractMr. REYNOLDS after making a few preliminary remarks, moved—" That the proposed cantract with the P.N.Z. & A.R. M. Company for the Panama Service be referred to the Postal Committee, to consider and report as to the provisions contained in the contract, and whether any provisions are necessary or desirable, and can be made consistently with the existing arrangement." Mr DILLON" BELL in seconding- ihe motion, said that his motives for wishing it to be agreed to was, probably, different from that of the mover. He wished the contract to be finally settled by the House, while the mover, no doubt, wished the port of call to be changed. It would be better to have a preliminary skirmish in the Postal Committee room, after which, the members would come to the House well biassed, and the matter would be more quickly settled. Mr hTAFFORD said that the Government would certainly assent to the resolution, as the New Wales Government had not yet clearly stated what it wanted. It was likely that Victoria would •also join in the Panama fervice, because the Government there had sent a mail-box to go by the Kaikoura, requesting to know what they sliould pay. he (Mr Stafford) had, of couse, forwarded it a* a matter of courtesy, but had not yet written any reply to the Victorian Government. For these, and other reasons, he would assent to the res lution. Major RICHARD OV suggested as an amendment, that the words "between the Government and Company," be omitted, aud " existing arrangement" be put in the plural. i he resolution as amended, was passed. AFFAIRS OF SOUTHLAND. Mr WOOD, in calling attention to the affairs of f-outhland, gave a short histoiy of its misfortunes, the result of which was the stoppage of the railway and the embarrassment of the Provincial Government. Much blame was due to somepersons, either through carelessness or something worse, for the manner in which the public moneys of the Province had been spent. In conclusion he moved— " That an humble address be presented to His Excellency, praying that His Excellency will be pleased to appoint a Commission to enquire into and report upon the allegations contained in the petition of certain inhabitants of Southland, in respect of the expenditure of public funds on the railway works in that Province." Mr. D. BELL seconded the montion. Mr BORLABE said that he would regret to see the motion carried, as he thought the petition should be first considered and the charges made known and investigated preliminarily by the House, so that they might consider whether a Commission should be appointed. Mr STAFFORD hoped that the resolution would be withdrawn until, at any rate, the petition was considered in the usual way. Moreover, he did not think that the Government should interfere in what was a purely a Provincial matter. He did not see that a Commission would

be of any practical service. The motion was withdrawn. SATURDAY JULY 7. The Speaker took the chair at 3 p.m. ORDER OF THE DAY. Mr BRADSH \W to ask the Hon. the Colonial t-ecrctary—"At whose recommendation clerks of the Magistrate's and Warden's Courts on the goldfields, have been appointed Justices of the Peace, and whether such appointments are not contrary to rule in such cases; and why honorary Justices of the Peace have not been appointed on the goldfields." NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr BRADSHAW to move—" That there be laid on the Table of tlds House a Return showing the number of ounces oi gold that have passed through the various Custom Houses for the year beginning from the Ist April, 1865, ending the 31st March, 1866." Mr to move-"That leave be given to bring in a Bill to reduce the export on gold." »■— *•— The other day Mr J. C. Stevens, oi King-street, Covent-garden, submitted to public competition one of the aborigines oi Australia in a petrified or mummy state. This remarkable specimen of a native Australian was found in a limestone cave on Mosquito Plains, South Australia. It is the only specimen of the kind known to the scientific world. It is believed to be of great antiquity and is almost perfect in every detail. The biddings commenced at 10 guineas, and the lot ultimately realised 18 guineas. Plain straightforward advertising, in the true sense of the word, is perfectly justifiable nay, in the present way in which business is carried on, it is absolutely necessary. A tradesman has certain articles to dispose of, and he knows very well that he cannot hide their light under a bushel. He therefore gives notice to the world of his business through the newspapers, and these carry his name all over the world. A man who merely sets up a shop, and believes that because he has excellent wares all the world will come and buy, is mistaken. While the grass is growing the steed is starving. " Everyone," says Hazlitt, " sets himself off to the best advantage he can, and tries to steal a march on pnblic opinion. Life is itself a piece of harmless quackery. A great house over your head is of no use but to announce the great business within. Dress, equipage, title, livery, servants, are only so many advertisements and assumptions of the question of merit.''—Family Herald. A locksmith died inWhitechapel Workhouse, London, of "decay." His age, as stated in the register, was one hundred and five y«'ars. lloW a Frenchman Drinks Pale Ale \ correspondent from Paris described a Frenchman at a cafe taking his rale ale de Bass:—Firs', he drank s >u»e of the bee 1 flit nhe screwed up his f ■"■'--■ • ;f - jjd not ike it, tl.en Bddtd some another fa<e at the mixture, then put it tour lumps of sugar and stirred ail up. and having finally added a *pi tit verre' of cognac, imbibed the horrible mesa with gusto, evidently thinking Ivmself 'plus Anglais que L s Anglais.' The pro] osal to draw up a creed for the Independents is causing much discussion ii the orpans of that body. It is tuggested that the woik shall be entrusted to the professors of the nine Independant theological collrgps. or to a committee of them, who shall take into their councils, a few learned awytrs well acquainted with Church history —' Weekly Review.'