GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 747, 11 August 1876, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(From our Exchanges.) Wellington, August 1. The whole of the Auckland members, except perhaps Mr Cox, will vote for Mr Whitaker’s resolutions. An organised assault is intended in Committee on the Native Estimates. Both sides of the house seem to think these should be rendered down. Mr Whitaker is moving his resolutions. He commenced bypointingout that, whether Abolition took place or not, the question of the land fund must crop up. He thou proceeded to trace the position of the waste lands prior to 1852, when they were entirely at the disposal of the crown. Ho is still speaking on this subject. Karaitiana has taken his seat for the Eastern Maori District, the Government facilitating the adoption of the Committee’s report. The Government intend making a searching inquiry into the cause of the accident at the Brunner Railway Bridge. It is admitted by the department, either that the cables were faulty or that there was an error in the calculations for the bridge, which will cost LIOOO to repair. There are no other bridges in the Colony build on the same plan. The Premier promises that on Thursday he will answer Mr Stout’s question re the Museum at Dunedin. August 2. The debate last night was dreadfully tame. Except Mr Macandrew, no one seemed really in earnest. Between Mr Whitaker and Sir J. Vogel a very good understanding seemed to exist; and neither of them spoke well. The whole affair looked cut and dried. Sir J. Vogel’s warning as to the proposal of two Provinces being an abandonment of the Compact is regarded as significant. To day, all parties are busy organising, and the telegraphs have been very busy in all directions. Sir Geoige Grey's resolutions are regarded as very bald and meagre. The debate is sure to be a very long one. Nearly every member will speak. Both sides say they are certain of a majority. Mr Wakefield voting for Mr Whitaker’s resolution and Mr Cox against, caused some astonishment. Mr Wakefield will, it is said, vote for Separation, and allow his resolutions to lapse. August 3. The Separation debate is expected to take ten days at least. In the lobbies to-day it is stated that Mr Whitaker will second them, and that Messrs Rolleston, Reynolds, Wason, and Fisher, will votes with the ayes, bringing the number up to 38 or 39. In the course of his speech to-night Sir G. Grey will intimate that under no circumstances will he take office. This is regarded as but a preliminary to the assumption of the leadership by Mr Whitaker. All the Auckland members, except Captain Read. Messrs Cox, Douglas, and Williams, will support Sir George. Aug 4. The great Separation debate has progressed favourably. Sir George Grey’s speech of last night was a very fine one, and produced a most favorable impression upon all parties. The impression was rather heightened by Sir Julius Vogel’s speech, which was remarkably futile. His attempt to sneer at Sir George and to exalt Dr Pollen fell absolutely dead upon the House. Ho evidently felt how awkward his position was on the Separation question, and hesitated more than usual at some points. On one occasion ho was loudly cheered by the Opposition, when by a slip he made one of

his ojil Pr6viiicialist statements without meaning it. His speech create !no enthusiasm, oven amongst his friends, and is regarded as miserable by the Opposition. It certainly failed to supply any answer to the arguments used by Sir George Grey in favor of Separation, and was merely an attempt to foment discussion amongst members opposed to the Government. This will not succeed. It is even doubtful whether some will not vote against the Government, who are looked upon as their supporters at present. A representation to Messrs Pyko and Manders from their constituents, might not even now be wholly ineffectual. Mr Reynolds went South to day for a fortnight. He leaves his pair for Sir George Grey’s resolutions, and another for the Government on every other question. The Government did all they could to prevent his going against them on this question, but in vain. His speech last n'ght was very short, but manly and decided, while that of Mr Tribe produced much laughter from its unaccountable incoherence—the gaps in the argument or sequence being filled up by a succession of beaming smiles of a most benevolent but not convincing character. Mr Rees is making a very fine speech to day. It was begun at a little after three, and was not nearly finished at the adjournment. He goes on again at half-past seven,. and will make many very sevefb'hits, as indeed he has done throughout, at the Government, who sit evidently uncomfortable, but trying to look contemptuous.

Aug. 5. At last evening’s sitting Mr Roes kept the floor for two hours, repeating the wildest assertions, and saying all sorts of nasty things to a bare House. He said Mr Prendergast’s elevation to the Chief Justiceship was the result of personal feeling, as had i; not been for ill-feeling between the wife of a Minister and the wife of a Supreme Court Judge another gentleman— who from long service had a right to expect the office—would have been appointed. While Lady Vogel and her family were in the gallery, he went on to say that Ministers were not only retained in office by bribing districts, but private hospitality was brought in as a means to an end.' Sir J. Vogel’s dinner party and his wife’s entertainments bein'* given with the sole object of purchasing political support. This statement was received with hisses, mingled with some cheers from the Opposition. As a proof of his assertions, he was about to refer to a paragraph in the Wakatip Mail, which brought Mr Manders to his feet with an explanation that the paragraph in question had been taken from a private letter of his. He was sorry it had been printed, and it was bad taste to make it public ; still he endorsed what it said in it. All the speeches which followed were very commonplace, and were made to a thin house. Ministers seem determined to observe silence, and when an adjournment was moved Mr Stout showed how much the Opposition felt it. He said they considered themselves insulted, and lie warned Ministers that the action would be bitterly resented. He referred to Mr Rees speech as one of the best he had ever heard, while the K.Z. Times characterises it as incomparable for all that was low and unbecoming. Aug. 7.

The most of the members to day went to see the Lowry Bay Estate per Luna, and agreed unanimously that it would be very dear at a thousand pounds. It seems that it cost i.9000 eleven years ago, and that L7OOO have been since spent on it, and no one can imagine where the money has gone. Of course, being spent at Wellington makes it all right. Great indignation is expressed in the city at Mr Bees’ speech, and were the member for City West not an athlete, someone might be tempted to take the suggestion of the Argus, and try a little physical force. Mr Lusk’s speech, also, has given much offence, because he stated that the place and the people were melancholy examples ot raising an artificial prosperity at the expense of the rest of the Colony.

The Government whips now boast they will get a majority of from 12 to 15. but this is not reliable. The detection of Messrs Pyke, Manders, and M‘Lean, from Otago, and of Messrs Cox, Williams, Douglas, and Read, which is anticipated from tho ranks of the Auckland men, weakens the Separation party by votes enough to make a majority ; but, in spite of this, from 38 to 40 votes are reckoned on as certain for the resolutions.