HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XL, Issue 202, 17 August 1876, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Wednesday. Ths House met at 2-30. this afttrnoon. la reply to some questions asked by Me Murray, Mr Hichardsoa said the Gorernmeafc

had no o' jectioa to lay before tho Home a copy of the conditions relative to tlie appointment of Mr Carrut'nero as Engineer- in-Chief, Mr Blackett, Assistant Engineer-in-Chief, and Messrs Higgiubof ham, Koapp, Passmore and Clayton. As to the furnishing of th.ir certificates of qualifl-Atiou that wa. another mitts.. As to whether all &r any have a right to carry on private praatic-, the Eu?ineer-in-Chief wag permitted by the terms of his engag; moment to fake private practice, provided it eid not interfere with his duties, and Mr Hig«inbatham and one of tha superintending engineers were not allowed t-i d . to without the consent of the Government, though they had done so on one or two occasions, on tho applications of Provincial C.v _oiU As to the other two engineers, no permission had been given tlietn to undertake any private work. The position of the tlolonial Architect as regarded these matters, had been ao often discussed in the House as not to call lot remark. With regard to the question of dispensing with the services of thane g.ntlemen, Messra Carruthew, Knapp, Blackett, and Passmore would require to receive one year's notice; three months would suffice for the others.

On the separation debate coming on, l&r Wakefield not being present, and no one seeming inclined to speak, Sir George Gray was about to reply, when Major Atkinson rosa with a batch oi carefully prepared notes. The principal part of his speech was ia reply to the accusations and statements of Mr Rees respecting tho account* of the colony. The hon gentleman took the charges in detail as they arose in the hon. member's speech, and ia the course of his remark* he quoted a great m_ny figures from the public account*, and referred hon members to particulars, appendices and the Gazette, to verify his statement for themselves. The whole thing that looked so startling and dreadful when referred to by Mr Rees was neither more nor less than a simple matter ofi bookkeeping, and atthough it was pretty evident that Mr Rees had bestowed a great deal ot pains in examining the accounts of the colony, his want of the elementary knowledge ot the system upon which their accounts were kept led him into ridiculous errors. Had he approached the consideration of the accounts in a proper spirit, namely, not of finding the Government guilty before they were convicted, and havo asked for a little information, he would have been spared these mistakes. The hon. g-entlem in explained the apparent discrepancy of £4000 in the public works account, the balance of £2,000,000 said not to be in existence, and the want of any check in drawing colonial moneys at London aa was instanced in the case of Sir Julius Vo«el drawing more than the Home ever j authorised. The latter was not a fact because when Mr Yogel came back to the colony it was actually in hi* debt, and all he had done was to come to the House to recoup him for the extra expense he had gone to. The hon gentleman said the reiolutions were a pure sham as far as regarded separation. They meant nothing but the re-establishment of provincialism, because no one supposed that the southern portion of the North Island would ever submit to be governed irom Auckland- they had bitter experience of that twenty-one year- ago. What would bs the case if war broke out in the North Island, and Sir J Grey woreGovernor-in-Chie? He would simply use the moaey of .the South Island— and right'y so too— ior tlie benefit of the North. The hon. member analysed tha financial awangement upon which the partition was to be made, to shew that, after the cost of constabulary and native achoo's was defrayed the North Island wou'd only have £36 000 to carry on tbe work of government. ' Mr S wanson made a % ehement speech which was much applauded by tha Opp. sition It was mainly intended to show that the legislition at Wellington 83 far had been a great failure, and not to be compared with the Provincial Council of Auckland. He al*o defended tho people of Auckland very spiritedly against the charges that they were selfish and cold-blooded, and pointedly referred to the occasion ol the Poverty Bay massacre, when one Auckland gentlemaa guarranfed the cost of a steam.r; when food, fuel, and water were placed alongside; and when thirty armed men stepped forward a« voluntee-s to go to the aid of Poverty B.y. Ths aceech was interrupted by 6 30. tt „. rr Thursday. Upon the Hou.e resuming, Mr Wakefield supported tha resolutions in a long «nd eloquent apaech in denunciation of tne corruption ot the Government, but chiefly ot the Prf-mier ani Native Minister. He excepted Major Atkinson and Mr Bowen Sir Geo Grey then replied, and moved' the firss resolution. This was objected to, and after a discussion the Speaker was appealed to, who ruled that the resolutions could he pat separately. Tte Premier then announced' tbat the Government would support the first eecond, and last, namely-(i) That, in the opinion of this House, the state of the colony requires thit its financial and constitutional arrangements should be reconsidered. (2) The unity of the colony should be maintained The two first were carried on the voices, and on the third (for a Local Government in each island) being put, the House divided wuh the following result- Ayes^ 31; Noes, iff. Mr J. C.Brown (teller)Mr O'Rorke Mr B^irriß Mr Lee Mr De Laufcour Mr D. Reid Mr Dignan Mr Seaton Mr Fish.r Mr Sheehan Sir G Grey Mr Shrimski Mr Hamlin Mr Stout (taller. Mr Hislop Mr Swanson Mr Hodgkinson Mr Takamoana Mr Joyce Mr Thomson Mr Lumsden Mr Tole Mr Lusk Mr Tonks Mr M.candrew Mr Wakefield Mr Matfarlaae Mr Wason Mr Murray Mr Whitaker Mr Nahi Mr Reader Wood Noes. Major Atkinson Sir D. M'Leau Mr Baigent Mr G. M'Lean Mr B-nllance Mr Montgomery Mr Barff Mr Moorhouse Mr Bowen Mr Murray -Aynsley Mr Brandon Mr Ormond Mr Bryce Mr Pearco Mr Bunny; Mr Pyke Mr Button Mr G. E. Rsad Mr Camngton Mr RieharJson Mr Cox Mr Rolleston Mr Curtis Mr Rowe Sir R. Douglas Mr Rusßell Mr Fitzroy Mr Seymour . Mr Gibbs Mr Sharp (teller) Mr Harper Mr Stafford Dr Honry Mr Stevens Mr Hunter Mr Tawiti Mr llursthouss Mr T.sshtnaker Mr Johnston Mr Tribe Mr Kenne ty Sir J- Yogel Captain Kenny Mr Wi'liams Mr Mandtrs Mr Woo'cock Tho fourth re.o'ution (The Colonial Government being respi>n»ible for the colonial debt, for which tho annual charge for interest and einlang fund is £815,0.0, tho North Island Bhall be charged with £190,000 per annum aad the South Island with £625 000 per annum) was negatived by 46 to 82 'Sir R. Douglas voting for it, and Mr D Reid being absent. Tho sixth and seventh,' pro- !_ m ? ' _. at * he local te * of Government for the North Island be at Auckland and for the bouth at Chnstchurcii, were negatived on tho y °T;- %. UoU8 <" divlde-i on fche eighth resolution (The seat of Colonial Government to remain as at pr. S ent, in Wellington), rejecting (?) it by 44 to ao. &™»j> •ybe House adjourned about midn^ht,