HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 90, 21 September 1868, Page 227

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(From “ Notes from the Gallery,?’ln ■Wellington ••• „ .. Evening Post.) A. bather .Btormy sitting, daring which! some very hard words were used, and si considerable amount of bitterness exhibited, drew out the opinions of some of the “ small men,” as an honorable member has called those. who did not always' speak foremost in a debate. On the resumption of the consideration of Mr Pox’s want of confidence motion, a good deal of diffidence was shown by various speakers, in choosing their time to deliver the speeches they had prepared for the occasion. Before the discussion was the Government stated, in answer to a question from Mr Travers, that they had not received any despatches from Colonel McDonnell relating to the late disastrous affair at the “ Bird’s Beak.” Major Atkinson, who wanted to know whether it was true, as stated out of doors, that the Armed Constabulary of Hawke’s Bay, under, the command of Major Braser, was to be removed from that province for active service atPatea, was informed by Mr Stafford that such was the case ; the Premier stating that it was necessary to supplement the forces, on the West Coast since the late reverse sustained by our troops. JTke Ministerial question was then re-opened in" Committee, Me. Kerr, of Auckland^'liking the first part in the debate. The hbtp'eiy speech made by that stern looking - old gentleman, was mainly devoted to vindicating himself and Mr J. O’Keill from what had been said by Major Heaphy. Mr Kerr expressed his intention of supporting the Government; and. Mr Collins, the new and intelligent member for Collihgwood, who very quickly shook himself into harness when he first assumed his seat, followed him. Mr Collins spoke clearly and well; his remarks were practical, and as many young members are apt to do, he did not go out of his depth, bat stack to his text faithfully and with success. His views wei e similar to those of Mr Pox, and he stated it as his intention to-vote fdr'the-'lafcter/ Theactive member for the Wairarapa, and -the reputed leader of the formidable rurals, Mr Bunny jumped up in his turn, and, with his .usual earnestness of manner and expression, made one of his habitual speeches, characterised by the spirit of independence, which suits so well his energetic delivery and boldness of phraseology. He was proud, he said, of being a “ Too • ral-100-ral,” and the general drift of bis remarks went to show what is in reality not far from the fact, that the party he thus so freely .denominated was one which has the-greatest influence with either Government or the other side. Of the two proposals now under consideration, as a choice of evils, he declared himself to be in favor of those enunciated- by the Government.. Mr Kollestoh spoke with more vigor and facility, to-night, than he has done for some time. He agreed with the resolution of the Government, but totally dissented from their system of adjustment between the provinces and the colony. They were eminently unfair, he said, without possessing any finality. He declared he was not an .ultra-prQvincialist, but he wished to see the management of provincial affairs simplified. They were administered, he affirmed, much better-tlian those of the General Government.. He thought that trying to intercept the Chatham escapees had been an impolitic and injudicious stfp on the part of the Ministry. The members of the Government, in his opinion, were incompetent to hold their office, and they were not entitled to .any confidence. Another pause which again ensued was brokemby- a few taunts of Mr Vogel, who threw into the face of the Government the fact jthat they felt afraid to take their share-jin;, the. debate. At this period, Mr X). Bell, looking softly bent upon mischief rose and; made an ironical'allusion to,the-“very” satisfactory interviews, he said, the Government had had with.; their supporters.'" He dared the Ministers to say that ; they--had; any ; real policy which might Be called their own. He would ask ' one question of- the -Premier, if the latter would Bay-he waß ''prepared to give it ah answer. ; On \Mr Stafford giving' it to he i he wohld 'do the bon. ■ gehtlematt rfequeßted;,tp:kn6w ! ;;what''modii fica¥iohrTh?fhe- fihahciial ’ adjiistmeht the [ Government were prepared; to adopt ? Universal “howls” of derision greeted Mi

Stafford’s refuf§ai'to .carry, out,his .promise, at which;this gentleman became so “riled”

as to forget himself ,for a moment, and vindictively exclaim, referring to one of the most enthusiastic “howlers,” Mr M*Barlane, ‘‘l think I can hear the- Lyttelton bull howling.” Mr Box, who appeared to be in one of his happy mopds, speaking of the caucus of what he. called the “toorural, truly, rural,. and: too-ral-100-ral,” charged the,, Government.,.with having adopted some new arrangement , passed upon them- by those gentlemen bearing this euphonious name.- “Yes,” said the Premier, “I belong to that party myself, and the interviews we'have had with them have been of a very interesting nature.” Mr M‘Barlane, who, evidently, had been ruminating over the unpleasant bovine christening he had received at the hands of Mr Stafford, here rose to remark with Mr Bell that the Premier had broken his word by not replying to a question he had pledged himself to answer. It was far more creditable to remain silent,- said Mr M*Parlane, than to eat one’s words as the Colonial Secretary had. done. Mr Harrison, of ‘Wanganui, who prefaced a short speech by the remark that he also was a too-ral-100-ral, was followed by Mr Ludlam, who, for the second time this year, repeated the annual dose he so generously gives the House, and reviewed at length the constitution of New Zealand. A

\ clearing to Bellamy’s followed by i the emptying of Government benches, r greeted the remarks of that staunch sups porter of the Ministery. The only novel I idea which he may be said to have uttered ’ for some tigae, appears rather peculiar, i He said that, while desiring to see the ; police of the colony placed under the con i trol of the, General Government, he • thought that the members of that force t should be composed of a semi-military • element, in order that in times of war, like i the present, they might be taken out of • the .towns to repress the rebellion. The r honorable member, however, forgot to ' state, in the enunciation, of his scheme, • how ho would suggest, the towns should ibe protected. On .the motion of Mr Bell, ■ the debate ’ was adjourned until : Tuesday i next, when the question will, doubtless, be , finally decided.