THE ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1928, 10 July 1869, Page 2

THE ASSEMBLY.

(From the Press' Correspondence.) Wellington, July 6. Mr Cracroft Wilson made ids Ghoorka speech on Wednesday afternoon. After reviewing the well-known position of native aff. irs, and hinting at the daugt rs impending over the Northern Maud, Mr Wilson endeavored to show that the last hope of getting aid from England was perhaps not gone ; and said that there were large hem ts and long purses still in England, which would be opened to the col my iu its troubles. The habits of life of the Ghoorka race and their courage and endurance were dwelt upon, and correspondence of certain Indian magnates, speaking of the Ghoorka s -ldiersin hijh terms, were read. Mr Wilson said that they were singular free from religious prejudices, which interfered so much •with the usefulness of native troops iu the field, and he said that they were not averse to any food except beef. The subject did not appear to excite much interest, and when Mr Wilson had done, -Mr Fox moved the adjournment of the debate, as it contained points which were touched by the Ministerial plans, Tbe subject may perhaps be di-posed of in the general discussion of the native and defence schemes.

A quantity of business has been dealt with during the week, most of it local in its character.

Mr Gisborne goes into the Legislative Council for the present ; but it is supposed that he will got a seat in the House of Representatives before long He will be a great strength to the Ministry, and he will be the Colonial Secretary. He took his seat in the other House on Friday, and made a statement on behalf of the Government, which was of course the same in substance as that of Mr Fox on Tues ay There is no Postmastcr-General provided at present, but one would think that either Mr Fox or Mr Be'l might manage to do the work of that department without putting any more men in. A brisk bit of sparring recurred over the Ferries and Bridges Bill, in consequence of Mr Hail attacking Mr Robes on for introducing a Bill which he oppose! last year, when Mr Hall tried to get it passed as a Government measure. The objection wa« valueless, as the Bill of the late ' ■oyernment was not permissive, as the pr sent one is; but qui‘e a little Centralist and Provincialist row was got up on the strength of it, Mr Stafford and Mr Bell doing the scolding in chief for the two si !es.

It is reported that Mr O’Rorke, of Auckland, a very faithful supporter of provincialism, and an old but singularly silent member of the House, is to succeed Mr Gisborne as permanent secretary in the Colonial Secretary’s office. I hear a good many expressions of discontent at this, .as it seems to be thought that it savours rather of a political appo ntment. Reports are Hying about that McDonnell is to take command on the Fast Coast, also that he is to go to England to enlist soldiers for special colonial service. 'gain, Mr Dillon Bell is said to be designed for an English mission respecting troops, and perhaps, a loan. None of these rumo 1 s are confirmed, or should be treat* d as well-founded. There is some general belief that Ministers will not say much more about their intentions until after their financial proposals come down. Whether the Opposition wid be equally quiet is doubtfulThe section of the nouse which is called “The Middle Party,” the “Independents," or “The (’jive," according to fancy, is still generally understood to hojd the balance, and to be able to keep in or turn d t the Fox Ministry at plea ure. A little more time will show how these things will work out.

On Monday afternoon it became known that the Ministers intended to place in the hands of their supporters a series of resolutions, in which they intended to embody their plans. Thr-se were circulated late in the evening, and created no small surprise amongst members. They are two in number, the first declaring that the state of the

country will not admit of the present rate of defence expenditure being continued ; and the second that it should be kept within the appropriations of the year, which ought not to exceed L 150,000. It will be seen that the keeping within the appropriations does not imply by any means that it can be fixed at L15l),()00, payabl ■ out of revtnx*’, but the fact is that the resolutions are so worded that without explanation it is next to impossible to gather from them the intentions of the Government. So far as Ic tn learn they are looked upon as weak aud irrational, and as being a sort of temporary manceuvre to keep the Government s pportes from fallin ' to pieces, and to catch, if possible, some members of the middle section.

On Thursday ami Friday there was a long aud tiresome discussion over the expenditure which Mr Vogel’s statement showed had been made. The liabilities disclosed, al though probably not larger than was expected, are still large enough to be serious. (n the 2nd, Mr Fox announced that Messrs F. Dillon Bell and Gisborne had joined the Government. The announcement was rece ved with great anplause. Mr Stafford wished to know if these appointments were per manent, as rumois were afloat that none of the members of the new Ministry, with the exception of the Premier, had taken office for a longer period than the session. Mr Fox replied that ho did not consider he was called upon to answer such questions founded upon rumovs current in the lobbies, but he said that the Ministers would remain in office till the hon. member, or other gentlemen on that side of the House, could turn them out.