THE VICTORIAN WOOLSACK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 17, 20 May 1871, Page 5

THE VICTORIAN WOOLSACK.

The Melbourne correspondent of the “ Otago Daily Times” furnishes the following particulars in reference to Sir Francis Murphy and Sir Jas. Palmer : “ The subject of the new Speaker brings to mind the fact that there was an old Speaker. The gentleman who held that office since the advent of responsible government, Sir Francis Murphy, lost his seat at the last election, and is understood to have retired from political life. It lias been considered by members of the Assembly that the length of time (fifteen years) during which Sir Francis had discharged the duties of the responsible office, had fairly entitled him to a retiring pension would be one of the first measures introduced. But the Upper House had also recently changed its Speaker, or President, as he is entitled. Sir James Palmer, who had held that office since the Legislative Council has been in existence, felt himself compelled some months ago, when the time for which he held his seat expired, to retire from public life, his growing infirmities making this course necessary. And so both Houses were in this respect in a similar situation. The expectation was that the Council would make its passing the bill giving a compensation to the ex-President, and some people looked on to a difference between the two Houses as a consequence of this position. All these anticipations, however, have been swept aside by an event which occurred last Sunday night. Sir James Palmer, who had for a long time been in a very precarious state of health, died at the time mentioned.

In connection with the decease of a public notability, it is worthy of remark that of the new Legislative Assembly, six only were members of the first Legislative Assembly created under the Constiution Act. The six are Sir James M'Culloch, Mr Fellowes, Mr Duffey, Mr Harker, Mr Grant, and Mr J. T. Smith. The complexion of the Legislative Council has altered in much the same way. Of the thirty members returned in 1856, only six now remain —namely, Mr Mitchell, Mr James Henty, Mr Williams, Dr Hope, Mr Highett.