SCENE IN THE OTAGO PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1495, 20 May 1873, Page 2

SCENE IN THE OTAGO PRO VINCIAL COUNCIL.

Dunedin, May 19. In the Provincial Council this afternoon, Mr Tolmie explained that the negotions for the formation of a coalition Government had failed, and the Government advised the Superinteriderit to prorogue the Council, with a view to an application being made to the Governor to dissolve the Council. . „ " : A violent scene followed th ! e reading of the Superintendent's message. Mr Reid was about to move an adjournment to enable him to reply to Mr Tolmie,' when the Speaker announced the receipt of a second message, but at once corrected himself, saying " Not a message^ simply a letter." Mr Reid spoke a few words when Mr Reynolds spoke from the table, and insisted that there was no Council. He was ruled out of order, but he declined to be put down, whereupon Mr Mervyn called attention to the presence of strangers, but on being pressed on all sides not to insist upon it he withdrew the notice. Several members (amid loud cries of " chair) called attention to his Honor's message, but the Speaker refused to acknowledge it, saying it had not reached him as a message. Mr Bastings afterwards refused to recognise the, Speaker, or his authority, saying that the Jatter was at an end, as the Council was : prorogued. He was ordered by the Speaker to resume his seat, but refused; to do so. Loud cries of . " Chair, chair," came from the Opposition side, completely drowning Mr Bastings's voice, but . the Secretary for the Gold Fields stood on hia feet with the Superintendent's proclamation in his hand, and above the din was heard Duncan's voice cvying — "Send for the Sergeant-at-Arms. " When silence was restored, the Speaker said he could not take notice of the prorogation unless he was informed of it by r message, and Reid proceeded to explain his own action since the Council last met. He was interrupted: by questions of order. Fish and Cutten rose to move that proper steps be taken to. enforce order, Duncan again demanding the presence of the Sergeant-at-Arms. When Reid finished, a third message announcing the Gazette notice of proroga- . tion of the Council was read ; and, amid loud cheering from the Government side, in which the galleries joined, and a storm of hisses from the Opposition, the Speaker retreated from the chair, and the thirtysecond session ended. " Three cheers for the Superintendent," at the call of Mr M'Glashan, wesre given as a general uprising took place. 1 Reid's supporters meet to-night to consider their future action. Sailed — The City of Bombay, for London, with 1100 bales of wool, 3500 cases of preserved meats, and 7393 bags wheat.

Notion of Nobility.— A man of birth is commonly one whose remote ancestor did something, and his intermediate predecessors, for many centuries, nothing at all ....