N.Z. POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1928, Page 3

N.Z. POLITICS

IN THK UEOINXIXO. Tlic House of Representatives that assembled for the first time on .May 21. 1854. the thirty-seventh birthday of the reionino sovereign. Queen \ iftoria. contained many pioneers whose names endure in the history of the | v Dominion. Kir Charles Clillortl, elected by the unanimous vote of t lie Mouse, was the first Speaker; Mr .]. K. Fitzgerald, nominated by the Administrator. was the first Premier; Air Fdward Oibbon Wakefield, a great Imperialist, was practically tin' founder of the colony; Alt' .John (at gill was a son of Air William Cargill, the -- leader of the Otago settlement, who [ sat in the House himself between 1855 and 18(10: Air .lames AfacAndrew, ,|, thrice superintendent of Otago, was _ a member of the Urey .Ministry. and ,|. for a day or two a member of the ( Stout-Vogel Alinistry; Or Featherstem was :t member of the second and third Fox Al in ist.ries and the colony’s representative in London from 18.1 y to 187(5: Kir David Alunro was Speaker of the House from 1801 to 1800; f Air AVilliam Sefton Aloorhotfse sat in six Parliaments between 1853 end 1881. and was a conspicuous figure in the settlement of Canterbury. end y Sir Frederick Weld was a member of ( the Stafford Alinistry between 1850 and 1801 and Premier between 1801 and 1805. The Legislative Conned. consisting of sixteen members, nominated by the Administrator, had on its roll such prominent figures as the Don. Francis Dillon Bell, the Hon. Henry Petre. the lion. .John Charles AVatts Bussell, and the Hon. I'redeiick Whitaker. Tl.e Fitzgerald Afin.stry, consisting of the H<>n. *T. Fitzgerald, the Hon. M. Sewell, the Hon. F. A. AYeld, and the Hon. T. H. Bartley, which had been aimomt- j ed hv the Administrator on .Inne 11 for the purpose of facilitating the establishment of Responsible fiovernment. at the end of July advised IBs Excellency that the time for this step had arrived, and on the representative of the Crown declining to accept its advice promptly resigned, and was succeeded by a AHnistry consisting of tl.e Hon. T. S. Forsiuth. the Hon. James AlacAmlrew. the Hon. I AV. T. L. Travers and tl.e Hon. L. J- | Wakefield, which carried on till th • dissolution of the first Parliament m i September of