General Summary.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 393, 12 July 1866, Page 5

General Summary.

Since the date of our last Summary the Hawke’s Bay Provincial Council' has’held its tenth, and what we expected would prove to he its final session, though, in this matter, for reasons to he afterwards explained, we were mistaken. The session, which had been looked forward to as likely to prove one of importance, for the same reasons proved of but small moment, and only extended over a period of nine days, from the 19th to the 27th of June, and comprising sittings on seven of those days. The reasons referred to as given by his Honor himself for the deferring of important business can best be understood by referring to his opening address, and was chiefly the proximate sitting of the General Assembly, during which it was likely changes of an important character might be made in the relations existing between the General and Provincial Governments on financial questions. This was given as a reason why no estimates should be brought forward, and no business of importance transacted, further than that the house should pledge itself to indemnify his Honor for the expenditure of such monies as might be necessary for carrying on the public service during the four months next ensuing, for which no appropriation had been made. The course proposed was characterized as unprecedented and illegal by the opposition, who, however, were not powerful enough to prevent it, although they were able to bring several matters before the house besides the one of suppiy* One single Act was passed during the session. It was an act to enable the Government to re-lease certain pieces of land which had been leased from certain persons of the native race. It was subjected to certain modifications while undergoing the ordeal of Committee, and it was the passing of this Act which compelled the prolongation of the sitting for several days ; it having been the intention of the Government to pass it at an earlier date by suspending the standing rules and orders for that purpose, hut upon the House going into Committee of Supply on that day, the opposition left it in a body, in order to enter their protest against what they believed an illegal and unconstitutional course, thus leaving too few in number to suspend the rules as required, and necessitating two more sittings. A question of privilege brought forward at the first of these additional sittings involved the right of one of the members to the seat he held, a Governmeat contract having been been taken by a partner of the firm of which the said member was principal. It was, however,,decided that he did not forfeit his seat in consequence of his partner’s act, and the opposition was once more defeated. At length, after the disposal of the supply question, and the passing of the releasing Act, the Council was prorogued on the 27th ult. In our last summary we noted the recent return of Mr Colenso and of Mr Newton to fill two vacancies that had existed in the representation for the Town, and mentioned that a vacancy still existed for Waimarama, one of the Country districts. The election had actually taken place, though the result was not at that time known in town. Two candidates were in the‘field, but one only came forward on the nomination day—-Mr Weston, of the firm pf Buchanan & Weston —who was therefore the, elected member for the district. The acquisition of this member by the opposition served to restore their ranks to their original strength, which had been disturbed by the return of Mr Newton for the town, yet even so, as we have shown above, they were altogether unable to cope with the dominant party, and it seems that the whole sitting has been on their part a constant fighting against the wind. Labor of this kind has a most disheartening effect, on most people, and in consequence of - this Mr Buchanan took the earliest possible opportunity of resigning bis trust. His address

to the electors appeared in our advertising columns of the day. There is therefore now once more a vacancy in the Council for the Town of Napier, The writs have not yet been issued, and we have not heard of any candidate, but we believe that Mr Robjohns will be found willing to eater the field, and this time with success. . The General Assembly has met and is in session, and we have received at Napier a meagre account of the first day’s proceedings, consisting simply of the election of a Speaker. The gentleman chosen to -fill that office (Sir David Miitiro) is the same who filled it during the last five years with the greatest credit to himself and satisfaction to the Assembly. Nothing farther has transpired as to the policy of the ministry, but it seems ! to be generally understood that the. proposal of an Income Tax will not be made at present, but that the necessities of the General Government will he supplied from that portion of the Customs revenue hitherto considered as surplus, and which has been handed over to the Provinces. It is probable that the Provincial Governments for the future will have to obtain their own revenues in a direct : way, the whole or nearly so of the ordinary revenue being required for general purposes. On other , questions of colonial policy it is impossible to speak with any degree of certainty until we shall have perused his Excellency’s opening speech. Native affairs remain much as they were. The new superstition, which has to a great extent superseded hau-hauism, seems to be spreading among the disaffected natives. Their numerous defeats have not so disheartened them as to prevent their still believing in ultimate success in their desperate idea of driving the pakeha into the sea_ They look with great satisfaction on the departure of the troops, and only await their entire withdrawal to re-commence their outrages. Even now they cannot entirely rest, but we hear of frequent and treacherous ambushes, though happily with but little success on their part. On the West Cohst in the neighborhood of Patea a party under Major M'Donneli had a very narrow escape from a three-fold ambuscade, which had been most cunningly laid for their destruction, and there is ample evidence that both on the East and West Coasts the rebels are maturing their plans, recruiting their ranks, and replenishing their stores, with the manifest intention of a renewal of open rebellion. This being the case we cannot hut regard with some apprehension the recent removal of the Forest Rangers and Military Settlers from Opotiki, the scene of the murder of the Rev. Mr Volkner, and the reported intention of the Government to abandon the Miranda Redoubt in the Waikato country. It would - seem that the Government have some anxiety respecting the West Coast, where we are informed a force is to be raised, which it is intended shall include the before-mentioned men. It seems quite evident that on the withdrawal of the troops ample employment will be ready for a ;much stronger body of Colonial Forces than the Government now possess or had any intention of raising. There, is at length good reason to believe that the extended period of drought from which the district of Hawke’s Bay has suffered has at length given place to more seasonable weather. During the latter portion of Tuesday last the heavens gave striking tokens of an approaching change, which increased as the night advanced, and finally gave place to a steady and continuous though not heavy rain. From the appearance of the heavens at the time of our wirting, we should say that the rain is general over a large extent of country, and will be welcomed as a blessing by all, especially those whose flocks and herds halve been sufferers from the need of grass.

Since the above was in type we have received by express from Wellington our files to the 4th inst., and are therefore enabled to lay before our readers the . address deliv-

ered by his Excellency on the occasion of his opening the General Assembly. We must confess to a certain degree of disappointment on the perusal of that ad’ dress, in that it does not it does not shed one ray of light on the question now of most prominent interest— the palmy of the Ministry . As we have opined, the much-agitated question of an Income Tax has been abandoned, as there is not the slightest allusion to it throughout the address,'but a proposal for the revision of the tariff and the imposition of stamp duties are alone indicated as measures for, providing additional revenue. That which we regard (with, as we believe most of our contemporaries} as the great question of the day, that of Constitutional revision, is passed over in absolute silence, from; which we infer that the Government have no intention of disturbing or altering the existing state of affairs, unless we are to gather from the hint respecting the consolidation of existing provincial debts, that the power of the ultra-centralists is in the ascendant. The consideration of his Excellency’s speech was ordered for Wednesday, the 4th, when Mr K. Campbell, the junior member, would move the reply, which, as usual, is an echo of the speech itself. We observe that an important item stands on the list of notices of motion for that day by the Hon. Mr Paterson, for a Committee to enquire into the Postal Service of the Colony, and report on the best mode of adapting it to existing circumstances and necessities.