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Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1830, 17 June 1874, Page 2

It would appear also that in stating their, intentions to the Council neither the Provincial Secretary nor the Provincial Solicitor exhibited an over amount of courtesy. After so much that has been said and written on the subject it was only fitting that the Provincial Secretary, in replying to Me Woolcock's question, should have given some explanations to the Council of the reasons that had

actuated his decision. He : might possibly have been able to infornvthe Council .(that such arrangements could be made as would; prevent any inconvenience to the public service through his absence ; and thus have prevented the no-confidence motion which was at once tabled. But he appears to have given simply a curt negative without attempting any explanation whatever. Our contemporary, the JRegister, in noticing the want of courtesy showed by Mr White and Mr Guinness, says :— " Assuredly it was due to the Council that the Provincial Secretary and Treasurer should have given some information concerning his grounds for holding that it would contribute in a higher degree to the benefit of those interests of which he has been elected on the one hand, and appointed by the Superintendent on the other, the guardian, that he should retain both positions. If this had been done, and done in a manner which showed that he recognised some right on the part of the Council to a voice in the matter, it is possible that the loss of time involved in the discussion which must ixow take place would have been saved. As it is, the Council cannot but feel, from the manner assumed by the gentlemen who have so recently come into power, that there is a disposition on their part to fide roughshod over its opinions and wishes— in fact, Councillors can only come to the conclusion that, unless the Executive is forced into obedience, Westland may find itself saddled, Sinbad-like, with a burden which it can neither confrol nor get rid of.

" With respect to the result of the vote there can be little doubt. As we have said before, five of those members who voted for an Executive intimated that they were averse to a member of the Executive being a member also of the Colonial Legislature. Since there i 3 no reason for supposing that any of these members will stultify themselves by voting now in favor of that which they then opposed, it may be calculated with certainty that their votes to-night will be recorded on the aide of the member for Greymouth."