General Assembly.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 799, 27 June 1870, Page 2

General Assembly.

By the Storm Bird we have received the first number of the authorized Parliamentary Reports, comprising the period from the opening of the Assembly (as already reported) on the 14th inst. s to the 17th, the report of the proceedings of which day, however, is not completed in this number. We have already given hie Exeellency's opening speech, and we proceed to note a few of the more important incidents pf the first three days pf the session. ! In the House of Representatives 0 n Thursday, the 16th inst., after the appointment of the several working committees of the session, the address in reply to the opening speech was moved by Mr Carrington (he being the most recently-elected member), add secoud,ed by Mr Rich. Mr

Stafford made a few remarks on the motion, specially inquiring what Mr Ormoud had done to entitle him to special mention, amounting virtually to a vote of thanks of the house." He also asked what were the "exceptional difficulties" under which Government has labored. He alluded to the Premier's late tour through the Southern provinces, and criticised his addresses at Dunedin and Ghristchurch. He however repudiated any wish to provoke discussion; and said if it should prove that the subjects referred to in the latter portion of the speech were of a comprehensive and universal character, calculated to benefit the whole colony and not merely certain portions already more advanced, they would receive the most thorough support from himself and friends. Mr Fox having replied, Mr Hall made a few remarks on that portion of the speech which regretted the action of the Home Government; in refusing the use of Imperial troops. He said he was glad that the Commissioners iiad been as unsuccessful as he had always believed they would be. Mr Rich, the seconder of the reply, agreed with the hon. member, though he blamed the Home Government. Mr Ha.} continued by alluding to the depressed state of he colony, and complained that Ministers had not indir cated any intention of affording protection to the agricultural interest. The address in reply was then passed. Iu the Legislative Council on Friday the 17th, Mr Grisborne obtained leave to bring in a bill for the extension of the time under which the award relative to the apportionment of the Wellington and Hawke's Bay public debt might be given. He said that the peisons appointed as arbitrators were the Superintendent of Nelson and Mr Onnond ; but the time of the litter gentleman had been so much occupied by urgent matters of publio importance, that he had not been able to meet the Superintendent of Nelson in order to make the award. The address in reply moved by the hon. gentleman was more concise than that of the lower house. It did not echo the names of persons, but simply recognised the services of those engaged in civil and military capacities, and approved of the promised encouragement ot Immigration and the promotion of the public works. The hon. Mr Waterhouse seconded the motion, and in reference to the proposed electric communication between Europe and Australia, and the latter and New Zealand, said such a scheme was desirable, but he feared beyond our means. He was glad that the transfer of property wa3 to be simplified, and also that the b dlot was to be adoptedHe noticed an omission, which was that no general scheme of education was shadowed forth —a matter which was left too much in the hands of local legislaturesThe Hon. Mr O'Neill approved of the introduction of new blood and new capital, but not by means of borrowed money. He said there was a large central fund-r-the territurial revenue —which should be applied to this purpose. He also believed it to be the duty of the Government to bring down a scheme of primary education. The police also should he under General Government control, as was the case with the Supreme Court. He protested against further borrowing, and said if the Government took the territorial fund, and with it introduced population and constructed public works, New Zealand would soon be a great and happy country. The Hon. Colonel Kenny thought the thanks of the House were due to the committee for the concise manner in which the address was prepared. The Hon. Mr Gisborne said there was a law relating to the territorial revenues which provided that they should be handed over to the provinces for appropriation, and the Government had no discretion in the matter. He was glad the Council approved of the GoYernment scheme of immigration and public works, both of which must go together. The Hon. Mr O'Neill said that the law referred to was no law, it never having been ratified by an Act of the Imperial Parliament, which was necessary to make it legal. Mr Gisborne said that an Act of the Imperial Parliament had made it legal for the Colonial Legislature to alter the Constitu* tion Act, except in certain, specific cases, oi which that in question was not one, so that the General Assembly had full power to make the said alteration. After a few more words from the Hon, Dr. Grace the address was agreed to.