ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN.— DEFENCE OF THE COLONY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 177, 26 August 1878, Page 4

ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN.— DEFENCE OF THE COLONY.

[Neio Zealander .] Pr-r!)9pg tha most interesting, certainly the most lengthy — discussion thp.fc f'cs {filc^-n place in the Legislative Council this sppsion, was that of yesterday afternoon, re tb.fi address to the Qoren on Ihe Peace Settlement Captain Fraper having moved its arloption, Mr MilW wns beginning to pnirt out its had phraseology, when Sir F. D. Bell, Trlth a presentiment of what was 10 come, suggested that they should go info Committer, otherwise tho discussion would ho put in " Hansard." This was agreed to, and the amendment and rp-amendment of the address took, with tho exfppfirn of a few minutes, tho whole of 'the sitting. Mr Miller started by pointing ont faults in the title, As it stood, no ono would know to whom it was addressed. It was too diffuse. The Council should put in the name " Victoria," Sir John Richardson said they might follow tho dedication of the Bible. That was very respectful and dignified. He was sure Mr Miller, who was a great supporter of the Church, would epprove of that. Other members said the address wa3 giving all the credit to the Queen, while it should be so worded that it coald seen tho Ministers were also meant. Colonel Wbittnore said it was always understood that the Ministers were alluded to. If they attributed anything to tbe Queen, they of course meant the Ministers. Hnro ~D? Pollen asked if this rule applied nearer heme. Certain etsleraen'a hi3 liquor s!p friend had previously made, led him to believe that they did not always hold to that role. Mr Waterhouse — "Why should wo split hairs?, and take up valuable time ? Not ten people will read it when it sets Home. [Cheers and laughter.] Even those to whom it ia snnt will skim through it v^ry cursorily." Colonel Whitmore — "Yes ; but it will go in the "London G-zetfe," and smnnsst its ten readers will be sarcastic writers in such journals as i£ Truth," and the "World," who will make rare fun of us if they can find the least flaw." The Speaker — "Tha wording should bo looked after. Cobbett, in his 'English Grammar,' takes a Rcynl Speech as the woret example of bad grammar he could find, and picks it to pieces moßfc mercilessly. Let us be careful." The Hon. Mr Mantell — " I don't so much care for the sarcastic writers. It ia the future historian we must think of. The Speaker has quoted Cobbett. He must not pay too much re^ct to Cobbett. In the very same book he calls Parliament a den of thieves. The Spanker would be the last to agree with Cobbett there." Mr Miller pointed out more objections, several boo. msmbera said he was too particular, when Mr Miller Baid — " All tho sarcasm aimed at me is wasted. Whenever I can improve English I will ; whatever ia said I will try to mend it, and those who try to ridicule me waste their breath." The Hon. Mr Hall thought "your majesty " was sprinkled in too thickly. Could they not prevent tho tautology. Colonel Brett — " Ono part of the address is untruthful. Let us be too modest to send Home what is, to put it mildly, not true. It says we showed great alaority to help if there had been war. What alacrity did we show ?" Captain Fr»ser — " Are we not going to have a lot of big guns, for which we are going to spend £40,000?" Several members said this was merely looking after number one, and not at all showing the readiness to go Home and fight. We could not claim much credit for that. The Speaker said we could not claim much credit for what wo had done for ourselves, and went on to show that the Colony was not put in a state of defence; that there was no arms of precision here; no ammunition; that when they might have had scientific officers to give them advice, and show them what to do, the opportunity was neglected, and that no enthusiasm had been shown in the matter at all. Colonel Whitmore said he could not but regard this as an attack on the Government, and proceeded to show that all Sir John Eichardaoa's statements were wrong. He took Sir John's assertions, and disposed of them one by one. He showed that we had as many first-class rifles as there was men in the Colony; that there was plenty of ammunition; that if they had not availed themselves of Sir William Jervoiee'a services it was because they were wholly unnecessary, as tho Government were in possession of his plans for the defence of tha Colony, made several years previously, and that it was of no use to have them repeated. There was plenty of good scientific officers io the Colony, aud aa for lack 0/ enthusiasm, he had received aa immense number of letters which would show that great enthusiasm had* been felt, and that many had been prepared to have gone home to assist if England had been engaged in war. (Cheers.) Even a member of tho Council had offered hisserviees. The Government had done their very utmost with the funds at their disposal. It they had not heavy ordnance before, it was because the Home Government were so busy supplying their own wants that they could not send them the very guns they recommended them to buy. The Colonial Secretary gava statistics to show that Sir John Eichardson must have made all his assertions in complete ignorance of facts. The Speaker said it was ungenerous of Colonel Whitmore to twit him with not knowing wbat he could not possibly know. He read 'some figures to Bhow that at one time there was just enough ammunition in ihe Colony for half a day's good firing

with one cannon, provided the gun did not get heated. He was aware that Colonel Whitmore had done an immense denl since te had been in office. The debate on the Address was then resumed, there being a division on one word, and many amendments and reamendments having been made. Mr Hall said it was impossible to know where they were, it was so mixed. They had better have it reprinted, so thnt they might sea how they itood. Some members said it should be done in immense type. This was agreed to, and the Address being reprinted will come up for further amendment and discussion to day. Colonel Whitmore said as so much time had been spent, and there were several private Bills on the paper which ought to have a show, they would want a short evening sitting. Besides it would be n slight foretaste of what they were no doubt fated to have a great deal of, and would break them in gradually. The debate on the Address was so far remarkable, that several new members spolcs for the first time, but their maiden utterances were confined to a monosyllable in giving their votes.