The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 119, 20 May 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1874.

Mr Donne, who appears to have assumed the position of chief oppositionist, last night deemed it his " sacred duty " to have another shot at the Government. The expression "sacred duty" had an imposing effect in the early part of the session, but is losing much of its solemnity from too. frequent repetition. But this by the Way. The- resolution of last night embraced two complaints, one that tbe Government had not brought in a Bill to repeal the Executive Ordinance when the Council had decided that repeal was desirable, the other that no official notice had been taken by tbe Superintendent of the resolution anent the Estimates agreed to on Thursday last. The reply to both was .'simple and satisfactory. Tbe Government had "not introduced a Bill because the, Council bad not intimated in any way what were itd wishes with regard to the. formation of the Executive. They had agreed to repeal the existing Act, but were-all at sixes and sevens as to what should be substituted for it. With regard to the Estimates, the Superintendent had not considered it necessary to make any alterations in them because . the Council, although invited by tbe member for Charleston to send them back to his Honor, had positively refused to do so, consequently it was clear that they did not wish them to be re-framed, but were content to exercise the usual privilege of alteriog in Committee any items with which tbey were dissatisfied. The resolution went to a division, and sixteen out of the twenty members regarded it as a sacred duty to vote against it. Is Mr Donne the recognised head of an organised Opposition, or is he not? If he is, why does he not muster his forces, arrange his plan of attack, fight the matter out with the Government, and agree td accept the consequences, whether victory or defeat? If he is not, if he stands alone, piping when he knows tbat others will not dance, he would be conferring nn inestimable boon on the Council and the public if j tie would refrain from these incessant m .sham fights. The reproof he met with from, Mi' Kelling last night was not altogether undeserved. That gentleman said:-— "Mr Donne will not make his real object plain. He should come boldly* fdrward and say what he means. |Ie has not the pluck to table a motion of no-confidence, but is always making side attacks on the Executive. He never says 'I can manage the affairs of the province better than you, let^prae in and I will do it,' .yet, after ,all,-'tQat is what be means." :