GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 749, 25 August 1876, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(From our Exchange?.) Wellington, August 15. A rumor has gained currency that the Government intend to abandon the Counties Bill, but it is not true. The principle of the Bill will he pressed, but the details will probably be greatly altered in Committee, In all likelihood the adaption of the County machinery will, fur the present, be left optional, the existing Road Boards machinery being rendered sufficient for the current year. At least wherever Counties are ot found, the Government in such cases will probably retain the control of the main roads. In any event, the Bill will be simplified and rendered rather permissive and skeleton than compulsory and complete. Sir George Grey has given notice that he will move that both the Counties and Financial Arrangements Bills he read a second time that day six months, and it is said that he intends to bring in a Bill to repeal the Abolition Act. The Argus says if he does that the Government would be justified in proroguing Parliament for a few days, so as to bring abolition into immediate effect. The debate this afternoon was very dry The discussion is not likely to end before to-morrow night. August 16. Mr Wakefield, after twice moving the adjournment, has not yet spoken. He informed the “ whips' 1 to-day that he would not speak till half-past 7, when the Premier would be present. The Government would have taken the division at once, and Sir George was actually on his legs to reply, when it was found that a number of Canterbury members, believing Mr Wakefield was going to speak, had absented themselves. Major Atkinson accordingly had to speak—decidedly the heat yet made from the Government benches, Mr Swanson occupied

tho rest of the afternoon, and spoke v or y well indeed. The debate last night was very dull, with the exception of Mr Pyke’s speech, which was one of the best of the debate, and which was brilliant and telling. The division is sure to take place to-night, as both parties are anxious for it. The Government do not intend to debate the second reading of County and Finance Arrangements Bill, considering tho principle has been sufficiently disou»sed already. Despatches received to-day from Home, state that the Imperial Government has drafted a Bill to give effect to the arrangement between Sir J. Vogel and the Bank of England about inscribing stock and thoroughly approves of it, but it is doubtful whether it can get through this Session. P Sir William Tyrone Power, the Acting Agent-General, is K.C.8., a son of Tyrone Power, the actor who was lost in the President. He served as Assistant Commissary General in New Zealand in 184fi, was Commissary General in Chief in the Crimea, and has since been attached to the War Office. Last night an Otago man, said to be from Caversham, found his way tight into the Strangers’ Gallery, and commenced to yell out for Mr Stout and Mr Macandrew, Superintendent of Otago, avowing himself a great friend of theirs. He had to be forcibly removed. Mr Howe was speaking at the time, and as the man went away quietly when once out of the House he was not given in charge. The division will be taken to night, The Honorable Major Atkinson spoke very well. Mr Swanson followed with a hard hitting racy speech showing up the central legislature, and stating that it performed its work worse than Provincial Councils. Mr Wakefield is now speaking. Possibly Mr Sheehan may follow. August 17. Mr Wakefield’s speech yesterday was excellently delivered, but very bitter in tone against the Ministry, Sir J. Vogel in particular. His reference to Wellington and the Vogel Reception Committee have excited the strongest indignation here. A public meeting is called, and the City Council has taken the matter up and appointed a committee to write to the Speaker denying Mr Wakefield’s statements. There was considerable excitement in the House over the division last night—every part of the House being crowded. Both sides cheered when the first resolution was unanimously agreed to. Mr J. C. Brown and Mr Wason objected to tho second resolution, but did not press for a division. The third resolution was, of course, the test, and it was lost by 15. On the fourth resolution, Messrs, Douglas, Rowe, and Williams voted with the minority. Mr Donald Reid left the House, aud did not vote at all; and Messrs Fisher and Seaton voted with the majority. Mr Wason did not vote at all. The sixth and seventh resolutions were negatived on the voices, On the eighth resolution there was another division, the Speaker declaring on the voices that the Noes had it. The division reversed this decision, the resolution being carried by a majority of 17 - Messrs Reid, Hodgkinson, Douglas, aud Williams voted with the majority, and Messrs Barff and Fisher with the minority. Mr Wason did not vote before tbe doors were unlocked. The Premier, sitting with his hat on, raised a point of order as to whether Sir George Grey couhl vote against the resolution proposed by himself. Th e Speaker said a member was bound to vote as he gave his voice when the question was put, but he knew of no Parliamentary rule to prevent a me tuber from speaking on one side and voting on the other. This ruling was received with cheers and laughter. Mr Stout then asked whether, three resolutions of a vote of want of confidence having been carried, Ministers intended to resign. This, of course, caused fresh laughter. To-day the business was private memberes. It is expected tbe County Bill will come on to-morrow, and that another long discussion will commence. August 18. There was a great scene in the House last night. Sir J. Vogel’s statement that he objected to the foul-mouthed abuse being heaped on the Canterbury members, and that tho style of debate this session made him almost ashamed to be a member of the House, was objected to by Sir George Grey, and the words were taken down. Mr Stafford said he entirely endorsed every word Sir J. Vogel had said. A regular row wai only avoided by the admirable tact of the Speaker, at whose suggestion the matter was subsequently allowed to drop. To-day, on the Counties Bill, Grey again repeated the charge of the Canterbury men having sold themselves to the Government for their runs, and raised a storm of indignant denials. There is a good deal of personal ill-feeling growing up out of the strong language used on both sides in the House. Messrs Lusk, Tonks, Hamlin, and a number of other Auckland members, are greatly dissatisfied with Sir George Grey’s leadership, and wish to form a moderate Opposition under Mr Whitaker, thinking Auckland will gain more by such a course. They have asked Sir George Grey to call an Op position meeting to consider the matter, hut he declines doing so, as any such action would be false to his political reputation. As 1 telegraphed a few days ago would be the case, the Premier has distinctly stated that tho adoption of the County machinery is to be optional, the Bill in this respect being made permissive. Probably the whole night will be taken up by the debate, but the second reading will be carried by a large majority. The feeling about Mr Wakefield is very strong in the city, and he is likely to get into trouble over it. He has written to one resident in the city disavowing any intention of insulting tbe people in general, and quoting a paragraph from the Post of the time of Sir Julius Vogel’s return as tho foundation and justification of his remarks. The greater part of his letter is fustian about tho dignity of labor, and his high respect for real working men, who are the backbone of the country, etc. The City Couucil have

forwarded their resolution, which is very temperately worded, to the Speaker. Mr Curtis resumed the debate on the Counties Bill. He supports the Bill, but thinks it needs considerable amendment. Ho would like to see larger powers given to the County Councils, so that they might attract a better class of men to sit in them. This might bo done in two ways -the first being the abolition of all Road Boards, and all roads (main and district) being handed over to the County Council. This plan would not, ho thought, find favor with the House. The other means was to give the County Councils control of the Police, gaols, lunatic asylums, and even education. For the latter, County Councils would be far preferable to the proposed Provincial Boards. Then the County Councils would attract men whose services would bo worth having. Ho objected to the Police being under the control of the Government, because of the political influence and voting power which it would give to the Government of the day, who already had quite enough power of the sort. Ho hoped it would emerge from Committee in a shape which would give general satisfaction to the country. Mr Rolleston is now (7.35 p.m.) speaking. He intends to vote against the Bill, but is glad the House has at last come face to face with the real work of the session, and the question whether Provincialism is really to be abolished, and whether the institutions proposed in place of those at present existing will meet with the requirements of the country. He thought the Government proposals wore more cumbrous and expensive than the existing machinery, and had all the faults of the present system of Government, there being no definition of function or division of finance. He should therefore vote against it. He is still speaking. August 19. Last night’s debate was very slow and uninteresting. Mr Reid spoke very sensibly, and so did Mr Montgomery, but there was very little spirit in the debate. It will, however, probably last till a late hour on Tuesday night, as a large number of members still wish to speak. There will be a very large majority, probably upwards of 20, on the second reading, but opinions seem so diverse on the details that it is impossible to even guess at the shape in which the Bill will emerge from Committee, or what the result of the division on the third reading may be. Probably very large counties will be insisted on. The Auckland Opposition members held a caucus to-day. Mr Tonks and others think they can make good terms for the Province now with the Government, but Sir G. Grey refuses to make any compromise, and insists on fighting principle. The others do not see the advantage of this, and are inclined to make terms. Nothing decisive was done to-day, the meeting being adjourned to Monday, when all the Auckland members are to be invited to attend, nominally to consider matters affecting the Province. It is understood that the Government have informed certain of the Auckland members what they' are prepared to do for Auckland if they are willing to accept terms. August 21. There was a meeting of the Auckland members this afternoon, but no decision as to their course of action was arrived at. Sir George Grey somewhat abruptly left the meeting. Mr O’Rorko was then asked to take the chair, but declined. The meeting was, it is said, a very stormy one. The Select Committee on the East Coast election report they consider Mr Reid’s election invalid, and that Mr Morris should be sitting member.