GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 423, 22 November 1856, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

No. 11. '(From tho "Wellington Independent") [The place where the Assembly met — Difference between the character of Auckland and Southern Settlers — Description of If oases of Assembly- — The Cleric, Serjeant-at-Arms, and Messengers — The great " Gaff and Collar" Debate. When some eminent publisher wishes to secure, a ready sale for the work which he has undertaken to bring before the public, he not ■v,unusually prefixes to its title-page a portrait of the author. He is well aware that the gentle reader not only likes to be talked to, but likes to havf\ some notion as to what soi-t of a person it is who talks to him. Thus, Harrison Ainsworth, be-curled and be-breast-pinned, walks in : procession before " The Tower of London;" Alexander Dumas blows his pictorial trumpet and exhibits himself as " a coloured gentleman" in the company of "Monte Christo," and even Mr. Martin Farquhar Tupper, when he ushers into the reading world the twentieth thousand of his painful " Proverbial Philosophy," throws into the bargain (and no great bargain then) his own unphilosophical portrait. In like manner, when we determined to give to our reader's some insight into the proceedings of the General Assembly, we commenced by availing ourselves of the friendly aid of our correspondent, " The Stranger in the Gallery," whose hasty but characteristic sketches have already placed before our readers the personal peculiarities of the principal actors on the scene. We now propose to add to the stage effect by giving a slight sketch of the place where the Assembly met, and of a few of the incidental accessories which belong to it. It is one of the misfortunes of Auckland that .' it is so completely at the world's end, as regards the rest of New Zealand, that the rest of New Zealand hardly knows where it is, or, at all

events, has a most imperfect notion of what it is like. It's a very nice place when you are ' there ; but the difncuHry is how to get there ; l and if j-ou have to travel all the way from Can- '; terbury or Wellington in so vigorous a screw as ■ the Zingari, you will be pretty well tired before you have done it. With some five-and-twenty members—with a good many of their wives— with a fair sprinkling of their rising generation, ■ —with some five-and-twenty other passengers,— and with about a hundred and fifty sheep, put on board at Taranaki, no one was sorry when, early'on Sunday morning, she crossed the bar at Manukau, and glided into smooth water between the heads. Prom thence to the landingplace, at the head of the harbour, is some 15 or 17 miles—an intricate channel to be taken on the rising tide. Down rattles the anchor (a mile and a half from the pensioner village and landing-place of Onehunga), and the weary passengers wait an hour before the ghost of a boat appears. By slow relays, they get ashore _ towards the afternoon, —wading through mud- \ flat, or carried on boatmen's backs, —their bag- | gage to follow next morning. Gigs, buggies, | cars, and dog-carts, sent expressly by his Exeel--3 lency, await them at the landing-place; and five 1 miles of pretty good scoria road takes them to j the city of Auckland. It is, as we have said, I Sunday afternoon, and all the population is out I for tho usual promenade on the Onehunga road; | some give waves of recognition; some pass by ' incurious; and some stare open-eyed as saucers at the strange apparitions of Southern members, as if they were caravan loads of wild beasts, as they rattle along on their way to the city. On the first occasion of the meeting of tho Assembly at Auckland, three years ago, the greatest difficulty was experienced by the memers in getting accommodation. The hotels aro | none of the best, and some of them most expen- * sive—private lodgings were not to be bad, and i;| furnished bouses equally scarce. This year there ?i was a marked improvement—aud most of the "i members were provided for without difficulty,

some went as guests to private friends—some took furnished lodgiugs—some got lodgings in the town—three of the Wellington memb.ivs had the luck to get Mr. Blackett's charming house and garden in St. George's Bay—while a lot of the Nelson ones, less fortunate, had a sleeping den opposite the Masonic hotel, where they were said to imitate the Backwoods Senators at Washington by sleeping three in abed, or to be accomodated on the plan of the " two-penny rope," familiar to the inhabitants of certain lodging houses in London. One way or another. | however, they all got taken in, as it is right that strangers should, and we hear no great complaints of the way they were treated. i The site of the town of Auckland is both pic- I turesque and commanding, but not very easy to describe. _ You approach it from the sea on the east, passing a succession of largo islands and acute angled turnings overlapping each other, till at last yon are fairly land-locked, and safe from every wind. The western shore of this estuary on which Auckland lies, is indented with shallow bays, the headlands of which are ridges ! terminating seaward in low cliffs, and ascendinglandward by a gradual slope, to the general ' level of the country, some couple of hundred feet above the sea. On these sloping ridges and in the flat bays between,' lies'the city—the portion on the ridges loosely built and' straggling—that in the bays far too closely packed for either beauty, health, or safety. Some few features such as the Episcopal Church—the barracks on Britomart point—Government house— and the windmill—stand out conspicuous—and seen from some points of view,—the upper pari of Parnell for instance—especially in a glowing sunset—Auckland presents a very pleasing prospect. The country round about is dreary, entirely without timber, and, with the exception of one feature —the volcanic craters —affording little for the eye to rest on. Nor is the lonesome and moor-land-like character of the scene relieved by the scoria walls by which the cultivated portions of the country are divided into fields. The view from the summit of Mount Edin (one of the volcanic craters) on a line day is, however an exception; extending over a wide horizon, the outline of which is varied and broken by distant mountain ranges, by the numerous ■islands of the Sho'uraki Gulf, and the really beautiful peaks of Rangitoto—a crag-ay volcanic fragment of very peculiar and striking form, which makes a picture in itself from whatever point you see it. The colonists of Auckland are a very different class from those of the Southern provinces— different in then- habits—in their pursuits— and in the motives which brought them out to the colony. In the south by far the larger proportion of colonists came out direct from England, and most of the early settlers came imbued with enthusiastic notions of colonizing, with dreams of Pilgrim Fathers, and ambitious of being the founders of a Southern Britain. They came also under the guidance of some recognised leader, a Wakefield, a Cargill, or a G'odley, the representatives of the common principles round which they rallied. A large proportion of the wealthier of them have settled in the bush, devoting themselves to pastoral pursuits—and adopting costumes and modes of living in conformity with the character of their employment, at Auckland there are few if any openings for pastoral pursuits, and few inducements for men of capital to devote themselves to rural life—the occupations of which are chiefly left to the small farmer, the pensioner, and industrious agricultural labourer. The large native trade on the other hand (which is wanting in the south) has given an impetus to commerce, aud induced most of the leading settlers to engage in it, becoming "residents in the town or immediate neighbourhood. An illustration of this may be found in the fact that whereas nearly two thirds of the southern members of Assembly are engaged in rural pursuits and reside in the country, the whole K of the Auckland members aro either merchants, professional men. or officials, and all reside in the town of Auckland or within a mile of it. And Auckland differs from the South also in the fact that a large proportion of its population has come from the Australian colonies-—that they resorted to the colony united by no common object—following no special leader—and having no particular aim except each man the advancement of his own individual fortunes. In the first Session, we were told, the Auckland men did not understand the Southerners—costumed in broadcloth and ' bell toppers,' they stood aghast at the oeca-

sional blue shirt, or Jim Crow hat, which met their astonished gaze—and did not seem exactly easy in their company. That this originated in no want of hospitable feeling is proved by what we hear of their hospitality during the past Session—all the Southern members uniting in their praise in this particular. The latter were entertained with no fewer than three very splendid public balls, while the hospitality of private houses was exercised with no niggard hand. As far as that goes, the Southerners have no objection to the Assembly meeting at Auckland to the end of time—though no doubt they would be glad to have the opportunity of reciprocating the kindness of their friends, could -they be induced to visit the south. Well, having described the honorable members, conducted them to Auckland, lodged them, and introduced them to the inhabitants, we will proceed at once to the House of Assembly, where the business of the Session is about to be done.

The House of Assembly is ' a caution ' as the Americans say. Of all the ill designed, ill constructed, unsuitable buildings that ever were put up to keep the pelting of the pitiless storm from the heads of mankind, it is about the worst, A sort of cross between a barn, a bastille, and a union work house, it has not one quality which a legislative building ought to have. Unless it be the order of disorder, it belongs to no order of architecture that ever was seen. With a splendid level plateau to build it upon, it is built not upon it but just over the edge, so that to reach it you go down hill, and one side of it is several feet lower then the other. Its principal entrance is not in its principal front; but at the back, round a comer, down a slippery bank, and then up a step-ladder in an angle of the building to bring you up to the level of the plateau, on which its principal side and of course the floor is erected. Immediately at the top of this step-ladder, but on one side, not in front, you commence the ascent of a corkscrew stair, as nearly pei'pendicular as it is possible to be. Arrived at the top you stand on a platform just a yard square, with your nose against the narrow mean door of the House of Representatives : that is you stand there unless knocked backwards by some honourable member rushing' out to escape a division, or sideways by another who bolts out of the clerk's room, which also opens most conveniently for the purpose on the platform aforesaid. This little mean door is the only entrance into the house. Yon open it and enter a long narrow room some five and forty feet by 20, with a great staring window at one end, a row of other staring windows facing the sun, opposite to you, a bar across one end making an apology for a gallery, and an erection at the otjier end which is the speaker's chair, but so exactly like a French bedstead and canopy, that you expect to see the honourable'member's head in a nightcap peeping over the tester. Behind the chair is a triangular sort of chimney with two fire places close together—(there is another towards the gallery) and on each side oi the chimney a door: one leading to the speaker's room, a mere den of 10 feet by 8, less the chimney—the other to the onl}- committee room, another den of similar dimensions. The walls of the House are lined with weatherboard — but the roof is unceiled, unplaued, and in the early part of the session used to let |in the rain upon the devoted heads of the members —as the walls did the wind in their backs at all times .^ A small room, 6 feet by S, opposite the door of the l.ouse, contains the library of the Provincial Council, stowed there I'or mutual convenience : while a hole cut in the wall and backed with a glass casement like the lord of the manor's pew in a country church, affords what was called accommodation for the reporters. Below the House of Representatives on the ground floor is the Nominee Chamber, Speaker's room,_ and clerk's room—more commodious in proportion to the numbers than the house'of representatives. Along-side of these is the "Bellamy's" or refreshment room, very small ami venient, with a kitchen attached so diminutive that if you attempt to roast a fowl in it. you must leave out the liver and gizzard—-:it least we presume that was the reason why Bellamy's fowls have no gizzards or livers. Those who' have inspected the numerous cu-si^ns for houses of Assembly and all the public offices for General and Provincial Government under one roof, proposed to be erected in this province, at a cost of £5,000, will be astonished when th.\y learn that the great weatherboard shed iv which

the Assembly is cooped up, consisting literally of two good sized rooms and five or six cupboards, cost no less a sum than from £2500 to £-1000. Among the appendages of the house necessary to be described are the Clerk, the Serjeant-at-Arms, and the Messengers. The Clerk in suit of solemn black and scarlet stockings, sits immediately under the Speaker's chair, at the head of the long table which runs through the centre of the house for i a third of its length. Charged with the whole ; of the documentary business of the house, he 1 revels in red tape and piireon holes, and ought l to have (we have no doubt Mr. Campbell has) I the organs of order and memory most enormously j developed. His business in the House consists ! in taking accurate minutes of the proceedings, j recording divisions, reading documents, <&c., | hut independently of this he" has his hands full 1 of office work connected with reports of Com- i mittees. summoning committee men, printing j orders oi'- the day, and so forth. Nor do his j labours cease with the session. The preparation ! of blue books, the publication of the Acts, and j other multifarious business is his ; and very i well_ he earns his salary before he gets it. j During the session lie has an assistant clerk and | ■sever-lcommiUee clerks to help him. j The Serjeant-at-Arms is a sort of legislative j policeman—armed with a white staff, lie begins ! bis duties for the day by ushering the Speaker j from his room to the chair, amiounein_ Mistar j Speakar in aloud and triumphant voice which j we. presume is intended to strike terror into the ! groups of members who are irreverently chatting about the floor. He then seats himself in a special chair just inside the "door,.till perhaps a deputation from the other house knocks for admittance, when he peeps out but not without dignity^, announces them, and on getting the Speaker's^permission, introduces them to the House. His great field days, however, occur when some graceless member is guilty of contempt, when it becomes his duty to take him into custody. This is a pleasure which till Serjeants-at-Arms leak forward to with earnest longing—and it was most unfortunate for Mr. Deck thaf on the only occasion when his services were required during the late session (the reprimand of Mr. Curtis) he was absent on leave. "VVe have seldom seen a man look more sorrowful and downcast than he did, when on his return the following day he found he had missed jhe opportunity. 'The only other duty of tire Serjeant is one which lie performs admimirably—it is to provide a well-filled snuff box for the benefit of members, and this he gallantly persevered in doing, notwithstanding its repeated disappearance,"wisely at last screwing it down to the table. ° The Messengers are what their name expres- £^» *nd two in number. There was a great debate in the course of the session as to the kind of liveries in winch these officers were to be clothed. The house committee to whom the question had been referred, resoairnended one which exactly resembled that of a twopenny postman "in London, or perhaps what is more familiar to ! some of our readers, the same as Governor Fitz j Roy used to wear—a blue coat with scarlet cutis i and collars, and gilt buttons. Sjine of the 1 members took issue on this, denouncing liveries ! -as popinjay tr^ppin<rs, feudal badges and I d?g.Mding to the wearer. Mr. J. cWill <-x- ! pressed his belief that the recommendation of the committee was- a joke. Mr. Fox sadly f figured him it was no joke, and moved that the ! pittern puifbe 1 rid on the table, which was ! done amidst general laughter. Mr. Sewell and * M-- Fox ■>;-:-hnfi_-d witticisms upon it—{■]>-> ; .dtier r.'c.,:. J : l -i«udiiijr Uv-it for e-or.omv's sake ! tjii cast-on livens which would he ii'tle-the j worsa for w*r should at the end of the- session I o? phc-i ;-t ti.e disposal of the nominated ; bup-riute'-inents whom the former intended to ' ervv.c. An atnend.-jif'Tit. on tbr. livery was'then ' juow.-d in t te shape of a plain black dres- wiih : ■:. whit* ribbon in lb? button hole as a dist'-n- ■ ;;u;shiug badge. riiimaidy it wa.s refhnvd ; i.-'.'i.i to the bouse winmiiiee, who modified the : >:'A'pr aud culls, and, like v..cat who pursued a ! ----' -:*--?li; r.u:>".' ( K-i-isfed ndlher parfv. VVe i.tf:«e thhs (i»b:rU- rh« more pM-ficula.-Sv. -. b -ft•»« Mr. Cai-h^i in a ]atr- n' r t_]»]» in tJ.,I . V,:;?.V:\ ss!{hr";-« t-i"'t the part whir-!, the •: \y -!;:::^'t ,n : m -i,h- -,: -/>.-,k in it, and ihe oxhibi- ! =..'>:> Of "_-tj :,-,, n.; :.„..,.» w l__,.]_ } '_.. y j.,^],. on _ '-' lV o-clvinn, •-.. :, ■..-.•'■; mdi.'".-..!'!'■!;•. v.ii. him ; ■■■;. »:pr*n:tii>g from ">...- puvly. If it really were I .-v.hecour.-e he pu.-...--' ■;..• jltik- „ioreeVtdila- '

j bio to him than was the act of Dr. Campbell, when he left the party in a pet, and in so doing turned the balance of power, because bo was ■offended at something which Dr. Feathers!on was supposed to have said. Men who are actuated hy such petty motives, influenced by such childish ebuUations of temper, are not lit for public life—aud we suspect the Wellington men will for the future he very shy of any alliance which may be proffered- under such j leadership. The fact is. tho " Outf and Collar" j debate was one of those outbreaks which often j occur in tho gravest public assemblies, and in j which we have seen the gravest heads take part; ! if was a mixture of fun and seriousness such as 1 was becoming enough to the subject. The I house thought it amusing, and was in laughter j during its whole continuance; but there are j some men whose visages, as Shakespeare tells j us, " do cream and mantle, like a standing pool;" j who having no'wit or humour in themselves, and j no appreciation of them in others, are always j offended at those who indulge in either." Of | such a temperament apparently is Mr. Carlton ; | nor do we believe that another individual in the \ colony would have so misunderstood the ch.aracj tor of the debate as to describe it as an exhibi- ; tion of stump oratory, and take it in dudgeon, j as the Editor of the * Cross ' informs us he did. j The only thing that we regret in the rejection of i the original cutis and collars is, that they were I • rejected in spite of the support of the Speaker, j whose courteous, gentlemanly, and dignified j demeanour in the chair ought, we think, to, | have secured him the indulgence of bis fancy |on a _ question which had for its object the I " getting up "■■ of the bouse in which he so ably I presides. | The "Cuff and Collar" debate led to the < | suggestion by one of the wits of the house (certainly not Mr. Carlton), of a " Cuff and Collar " ministry. The point of the joke was this, —there was a certain member from Canterbury who had distinguished himself by the invention of anew shirt collar, a- work of art winch he exhibited in person, at the imminent risk of his life; for, should any sudden alarm have caused him to turn his bead quickly round, the collar, which exactly resembled the'knife of a guillotine, would certainly have taken it off. There was also Mr. Cuff (the member for Akaroa), who, though an excellent member, and very much esteemed by both sides of the house, was so unobtrusive and modest, and so little given to assume a leading position, that be did not^ generally enter into the ministerial combinations of the session. It was a good parliamentary joke, therefore, when, after the debate on the liveries, some one proposed a " Ouif and Collar" ministry to be formed by the two members referred to.