LATEST TELEGRAMS

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 404, 15 August 1868, Page 3

LATEST TELEGRAMS

(From the Christchurch Press) Wellington, Aug. Cth, 1.40 p.m. Yesterday, the Oatnaru petition, praying tlmt the district might be erected into a fiovmty, was presented. The Distillation Act wa» brought in and read a first time. Leave was given to Mr Yogel to bring in a Bill enablng Otago to guarantee an additional £15,000 to the Water works Company. Messrs J. O'Neill and Mprvyn strongly opposed, but yielded to Mr Stafford's argument, that it was unfair to refuse to look at the Bill. A Select Committee is to be appointed relative to the manner of issue of the Danedin Reserve Fund. In the adjourned debate on Mr Fox's resolution, Messrs Harrison, Bunny, Cox aud Clarke opposed. Messrs Borlase and (xraham supported. Mr Ormond moved the adjournment of the debate. The debate closes to-morrow (Friday) night. In the Legislative Council, the Hon. Colonel Kenny carried a resolution praying that the Governor will delay the embarkation of the troops now in the colony until after advices have been received in England^f the present native disturbmcis. 7.40 p.m. Major Heaphy moved the discontinuance pf Haiusard and only the Auckland members supported it. On the division there were 11 for and 45 against the motion. After considerable opposition leave was given to introduce a Bill enabling the Corporation to purchase a portion of the Punedin Belt for a cemetery. A squabble between the House and the Government as to delay in printing returns occupied the remainder of tiie afternoon. August 7The debate last nijrht was most exciting. Mr Ormond spoke for an hour and twenty minutes. His speech was the moat damaging, yet delivered ; but as a constant supporter of the Ministry he said he could not vote for Mr Fox's resolution. Mr Fox had dragged from the Government something as to its intentions, although very little, and that was more than the Ministerial supporters had been able to obtain. The reticence of the Government had weakened their party inside, and paralysed their supporters' §fforts in individual localities. The feeling had iv consequence grown up that the real design of Ministers was to absorb everything into one central power. The East Coast Friendly Natives had been so unjustly treated — promises had been so thoroughly broken— that they were now holding themselves aloof. Had the Government kept faith with Mr McLean and them, the prisoners would at once have been captured by their aid. He had heard with great re.ijret Ministers affirm that there was no crisis. It was a misleading of the House and of the country. The hon. member concluded his speech by expressing a hope that some hon. member would indicate a policy more suitable to the necessities of the times. Mr Dillon Bell followed, speaking upwards of two hours, He said that the speech of the hon. member (Mr Ormond) had created profound sympathy for the Government, in the humiliating position in which they had been placed. It was unnecessary to prolong the debata, after fruch a complete condemnation of the policy of the Government by on* 1 of their own supporters, and he considered it a complete justification of the resolution tabled by the hon. member for Rangitiki (Mr Fox) but the desire of the Government to continue the debate after the condemnation of their policy by their own supporters was a still greater condempation. A definite policy had never been wanting in any previous government, and it was to the shame of the House that the Government now had neither mind to conceive nor courage to propose one. The Ministry had perpetuated injustice to the outlying districts in the Road Boards Bill, and had refused to indicate any further principles of local self-government till after the financial statement was made ; while diutkig last session it hid excused itself from making a financial statement until the principles of local self-govern mant were settled. The system of consolidating the loans had been productive of much greater pecuniary loss than Dr. Featheraton had ever declared, as was shown by the artitle iv the London Momy Market Review, an extract f/om which he read. The Government had deceived the country into thinking that the counties cmld be endowed with 1 uge funds ; and great would be the dimppointment when the country found out the contrary, as it must do. Native matters occupied the remainder of the hon. member's speech, concluding by imploring Ministers not to govern by mere stratagem and leaps in the dark. During his speech, Mr Bell attempted to prove that Mr Stafford's statement that instructions for General Chute's march were not given during his tenure of office to be incorrect, affirming that those instructions were given after Mr Stafford took office. Mr Stafford was much excited, and denied the correctness of the quotations from the despatches, declaring the quotations to be garbled. Assertion and counter-assertion continued for some time, compelling the Speaker to interfere several times. At the close of Mr Bell's speech, Mr Carlaton moved an adjournment, to give an opportunity to deny Mr Fox's charge. Mr Stafford spoke strongly, reading other despatches in support of his denial, and appealing to Mr Weld's colleagues to confirm, his statement. Mr Richmond confirmed Mr Stafford, while Major Atkinson confirmed Mr Bell's statement. The House adjourned near midnight. 7.30 p.m. Messrs Wilson and Hepburn have spoken this afternoon against the resolution, and Messrs Macfarlane and MacAndrew for it. August 8. Messrs C. O'Neill, Barff, Patterson (Maori), Reid, Reynolds, Haughton, Gallagher, and Baigent, occupied the House last night (Friday) until midnight. Patterson said he was utterly at a loss on which side to vote, and that for fear of voting wrong he should walk out. On the motion for adjournment, Messrs Yogel and Haughton made angry personal explanations with reference to each other. The House is now wearied of the debate, and 6n Tuesday, Messrs Hall and fox will wind tip.