The New Zealand Spectator. AND Saturday, January 7, 1851.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 680, 7 January 1854, Page 3

The New Zealand Spectator. AND Saturday, January 7, 1851.

The proceedings in Council were varied on Thursday by a reference by the .Speaker to some personal allusions to himself" which were made by the Provincial Secretary on a former discussion, and by the Provincial Secretary's explanations. Reference was also made by the Speaker to 1 the report of the discussion published in the Spectator, the accuracy of which the Provincial Secretary impugned. The words of the report, according to the hbn. member, do not convey his meaning, though he is not very certain he expressed his meaning-, or had any meaning to express. We need not further enter into the Secretary's explanations which will be found fully and faithfully reported in our report of the proceedings in Council ; but we feel bound to maintain the accuracy of our report. We made no remark at the time, we drew no reference, we imputed no meaning, we simply reported what was said. Mr. Bell, it will be remembered, proposed to substitute Mr. Clifford^ name for his own on the Committee ; and but for the Secretary's objection, it is- probable the proposed alteration would have been immediately assented to y but his objection led io ~an earnest and warm discussion, and those who were present on the oc-

casion, we doubt not, must have a distinct recollection lhat the expressions used by the Secretary called forth some strong" observations from the Speaker. We are quite ready to admit that the hon. member talks too often and too long-* that he vefy often fails in conveying his meaning to others, and not seldom appears to have no meaning 1 to convey. As far as Mr. Clifford is concerned, we feel bound to

state we should have been better pleased if his name had been added to the Hospital Committee, and to express our conviction, that he would never allow his religious opinions for one moment to interfere with the conscientious discharge of his duty.

The report of the proceedings in Council will shew how business is carried on by those who now represent the Government. On Wednesday four important motions were successively postponed, because, from the Provincial Secretary's continued absence, it was impossible to proceed with them. He \vas engaged in hi 9 own private affairs, he had to look after his sheep, so the Council and country members must wait. To make amends, however, on Thursday, on his re-appearance in Council, the appearance of unusual assiduity was manifested, and an evening meeting was arranged, the Council having adjourned to eight o'clock. At 25 minutes past 8, the Speaker having taken the chair, there were but six members present, among whom was not included the Provincial Secretary, consequently the House was adjourned. To make amends another evening was attempted last night, and Aye believe it is contemplated to sit five days during the week, and commence at 2 instead of 3 o'clock. Thus the public business alternates between needless delays, and reckless precipitancy, at one time the Council after sitting an hour is adjourned from having no business before it, at another measures are Urged on with an unseemly haste that argues ill for their future efficiency. In the mean time several important measures, among others the Road Bill, which was to have been brought in three tfeeks ago, has not yet been heard of, and according to the present rate of progress, mismanagement, and want of method, it is impossible to say how long the present session may continue.

Anniversary Fete. — We have been requested to call attention to an advertisement which appears in our advertising columns to-day, calling a public meeting at Barrett's Hotel, on Wednesday evening next, for the purpose of arranging the spol'ts and making other necesssary preliminaries.

We would direct the attention of our readers to the analysis in our present number, of the Fencing Act, now before the Council. Clauses 4, 5, 7, 13 and 17, are printed at length.