Provincial Council.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 17, 13 May 1867, Page 111

Provincial Council.

THURSDAY, 9th MAY. I The Council met at, . 3 p/m., pursuant to hdvCrtis'ein'ent by 1 tlie Returning Officer, Present: Messrs A’Deane, Buchanan; •DolbeT, Kennedy. Ormond, Parspns, Rhodes, Sutton, Tiffen, Weston, Whit« Ixnore, iand.Woqd: Absent.: Messrs Gar* lyon, Locke, Lambert, M'Lean, Newton, ■and Tanner. /_ ELECTION OP SPEAKER. • -Lieut. Col.- Whitmobe moved und jMr Obmond seconded that Mr A’Deane be " elected: Speaker.—Agreed to. : The Speaker read prayers. i ' ! -Mr‘Fannin was-again appointed Clerk ‘of Council. ELECTION of supeeintendent. Lieut.-Col. Whitmoee moved and Mr Tiffen seconded that Donald M‘Lean, Ppq., he elected Superintendent-of’the Province.

Before the motion was put, Mr BtrcHanan moved and Mr Kennedy seconded* “ That the Standing Orders of the late Couucil be in force for a week.” The Speaker thought the Council should proceed at once to elect the Superintendent.

Mr Buchanan thought that if the first dent, the Government should inform the Council as to the cause of Mr M’Lean 1 s absence.

Mr Rhodes said that a lengthened explanation would cause needless discussion, and the Council ( was not now in a position to consider ihe question of finance that would arise during the session. Tt was the intention of the Government, after the election of Superintendent, to adjourn tin Council until the business could be placed before it.

Mr Buchanan said that he objected to the Council proceeding blindfold to elect a Superintendent, without even the assurance that he would accept the office. He saw no reason why the election should not be deferred until -Mr M’Lean had given come statement —which he wouid be natu* rally anxious to do- -of the results of his four-and-a-lialf years’ government, Mr Rhodes said that Mr M’Lean would accept office if re-elected. Mr Buchanan moved as an amendment. *’ That the election of Superintendent be to this day week.” Mr Weston seconded the amendment. .Mr Buchanan added to his amendment, *’ That there be. a .call of the house for Thursday next,. 16th.inst.” The house divided on the amendment, with the following result:— Ayes (2). —Messrs. Buchanan and Weston. Noes (9).—Messrs. Dolbel, Kennedy, Ormond, Parsons, Bhodes, Sutton, Tiffen, "\A hitmore, and Wood. The original, motion was then agreed to. STANDING RULES AND OBDDBS. Mr Oemond, moved and Mr Rhodes seconded. “ That the Standing Rules and Orders of last Council be adopted by this Council.”—Agreed to. ADJOUENMENT.

Mr Rhodes ; moved that the Conncil do now adjourn to the 24th June. His Honor might return to Napier on the 15th. but most likely he would not return till the Ist June. Hi 9 absence was caused by financial business, and he (Mr R.) believed that he. would, succeed in his mission, and Jay a fa'isfactory financial statement before the Council,

Mr Buchanan aslmd whether the Superintendent had gone to float the loan, or to try to get the General Govenment to guarantee it, as the attempt, in either case, would be - futile. He objected to the Council being adjourned to. a time when the session of the General Assembly would most likely be commenced, In view ol the general apathy, however, he thought it would be as well to substitute the words -sine Hie. Provincial Governments are fast becoming a delusion and a snare, through not being worked creditably, and lie would warn the Government that they could not escape from the consequences of theiF acts.

Mr Oemond said that the Assembly was not likely to meet so early in June, but even if it did, his Honor would first attend to ,his duties in this Province. In reference to the .information from the member opposite, he w-ould remind him that the Superintendent of Wellington obtained a loan of £30,000 from the General Government.

Mr Buchanan; said that the member opposite was'simply throwing dust in the eyes' of members. The sum in~ question was advanced under the distinct Act of the General Assembly. The Conncil then adjourned.