THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Evening Star, Issue 3016, 18 October 1872, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[By Electric Telegraph.] (From the Were Zealand Press Association.) October 17.

In reply to a question by Sir David Monro, Mr Ormond said that it was the intention of the Government to fiarry out during the recess the survey of the line frotp Moeraki to Waikouaiti, and to have the working plans prepared. As it was part of the main trunk line, it was intended to extend the survey to Dunedin. In reply to a question by Mr Reeves, Mr Ormond" stated that the Government intended, after satisfying any claims Messrs Brogden may have under their present agreement, to execute all further public works on the principle of the submission of the contracts to public competition. Mr Stafford moved “That the Colonial Treasurer having stated that the Ministry is formed by him and not by the Prime Minister, this House desires to be informed whether, in the event of the death or resignation of the Prime Minister, the Ministry would, according to constitutional usage, be ipso facto dissolved.” He said that as Mr Vogel had already answered the question, he did not desire to press it, He quoted precedents to show the practice, and raid be would have preferred to see Mr Vogel Premier in name as well as in fact. He was perfectly entitled to the position, and from the position he had achieved in politics, it would have been a proper and fitting position f r him to occupy. It would have been both more seemly and more satisfactory to have ha I at the head of art airs a gentleman holding an acknowledged political position, than one whose extraordinary vacillation in having taken office a few days after his positive declaration that he would never do so, had ■weakened his position in the public estimation, Mr Waterhouse had never done anything to entitle him to the position of Premier, nor had he ever submitted himself to the test of public approval in the Colony. He (Mr Stafford) had been anxious to secure Mr Waterhouse as a colleague, but he would have thought it an insult to the people of the Colony to offer him the Premiership, He bore high testimony to the character and position ©f Mr Fox, and contrasted Mr Waterhouse unfavorably with him. Mr Vogel briefly replied, repeating that Mr Waterhouse was to the full extent Premier, and the existence of the Ministry constitutionally depended, on him. Ho maintained that the appointment was quite in accordance with precedent. Mr Fox defended Mr Waterhouse’s appointment, and referred in eulogistic terms to his South Australian career. He declared for himself that though out of office he had no intention of retiring from the House, His chief object in not taking office was to allow of the introduction of new blood. After a few remarks by Mr Luckie and Mr Shepherd, t ie motion was dropped. The Legislative C ouncil’s amendments in the Highway Boards Empowering Bill, were agreed to by the House on a division, by 30 to 16. The House disagreed to the Council’s amendments on the Maori Representation Bill. A conference has been appointed. The Hawke’s Bay Native Land Alienation Bill, and several other private measures have passed. The Miners’ Franchise Extension ■dll was thrown out by 24 to 22. The Northern Otago Public Works Bill passed, L24.0U) being allotted for Oamaru, and L30.0U0 for Moeraki Harbor Works. The Nelson Boundaries and Roads Bill was discharged. Mr Vogel intimated that although the Government refused to answer Mr Rolleston’s motion on the previous day, they intended before the session ended, to indicate as far as possible what wqrks would be more immediately pushed on, and intended also to limit thepowersof section eight of the Railway Bill, by introducing a schedule limiting the amount authorised to be expended on each ( line.