GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Kumara Times, Issue 2491, 13 June 1884, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. [From our own Correspondent.] Wellington, June 12. The debate on Mr Steward’s amendment last night was rather animated. After the dinner hour, Mr Hursthouse led of with a rollicking speceh in favour of Government. Mr Moss spoke against the amend-

ment, and signified his constituents by not voting. The Minister of Justice followed and excelled Maccabe in an “ after dinner speech anything that was intelligible was damaging to Government. He accused the Christchurch people of cowardice, and termed the patriots who had changed with being traitors. Mr Wakefield followed, and, in one of the most invective and scathing speeches ever delivered in the House, tore the Ministry limb from limb until nought but the Ministers’ hats were to be seen on the Treasury benches.

Mr Trimble followed with a speech most suitable for an agricultural society’s dinner, but out of place altogether on a no-confidence motion.

The Premier, at twelve o’clock, moved the adjournment of the debate, as he desired to speak. Mr Seddon opposed the motion. The Government had refused to debate the question till the last moment, when the Premier probably found himself compelled by the speech of the member for Selwyn to prepare a reply. He had known a Government and its supporters to go on speaking for a fortnight, and then win over some votes from the Opposition. The same thing might now happen again ; they would get a better speech from the honourable gentleman now than on the next day. Mr Hurst expressed a hope that the motion of the honourable gentleman would be accepted. He pointed out that the Premier was suffering from indisposition. The Hon: Mr Bryce briefly stated that the Premier wished to explain his meaning in reference to the mover of the amendment. A division on the adjournment resulted as follows: Ayes, 33. Allwright Atkinson Beetham Brown, J. E. Bryce Buchanan, W. 0. Conolly, 0. O. Dick Dodson Fitz Gerald Fulton Green, J. Green, M. W. Hobbs Hurst Hursthouse Johnston, 0. J. Johnston, W. \V. Kelly Mason MTlwraith Mitchelson Newman Peacock Postlethwaithe Rolleston Shaw Sutter Swanson Tawhaio Thomson, H. Trimble Watt. Noes, 37. Barron Bathgate Bracken Buchanan Cadman J. Daniel Dargaville De Lautour Duncan Feldwick Fish George Grey Harris Holmes Hutchison Ivess Levestam Macandrew M‘Kenzie Montgomery O’Callaghan Pearson Petrie Richardson Seddon Sheehan Shrimiski Shepherd Steward Smith Tole Thomson, J, W. Turnbull Tomoana Whitaker Wakefield. On resuming, there were loud cries of “ Divide!” Two other members showing an intention to speak, the motion for the amendment was put, [the division resulting as published yesterday]. June 13. The presentation of the Address which was carried on the voices will take place at half-past two. The House will then adjourn until half-past seven on Tuesday next, when the Government will announce their intentions. The general impression is that the Government will resign. There was an informal meeting of the Government supporters this morning, and the majority was in favor of the casting upon the Opposition the responsibility of forming a Government, The Opposition are well prepared to take charge of the insolvent estate on behalf of the public creditor. Grey is considered the most likely to be sent for, and, if it be the wish of the united Opposition, will undertake to form a Government, Montgomery to be Secretary and Treasurer, and holding an equal position with Grey in the Ministry ; and, like Service and Berry in Victoria, each will nominate an equal number of colleagues. The forming of the new Ministry will he granted on the condition that his Excellency promises a dissolution should they not be able to carry on.