Friday, May 26.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 925, 14 June 1854, Page 3

Friday, May 26.

The House met at eleven o'clock for the election of a Speaker. On the motion of Mr. O'Neill* Mr. Carleton was called to act as Chairman. ELECTION OV SPBAKEIt. The Chairman read the Bth clause of the Constitution Act, which requires that the house at its first meeting shall proceed to elect a Speaker. Mr. Babtiey rose and said, he had much pleasure in proposing for the honourable office of Speaker of that house a gentleman who was known to each and to all the members ; or.c who, from his high standing and station, his possessing much property in the colony and, being strongly bound to it by every tie of honour and interest — who was not unaccustomed to the duties of the office — and possessing also that kindness of manner which — next to impar- ( tiality — was the highest qualification for the ; office, as tending to harmonise and promote j proper feeling among the members ; — one who, >in all other respects, he was sure the house would consider highly qualified for the responsible and honourable poßt. lie had therefore great pleasure in proposing Charles Clifford, Esquire to be their Speaker, being confident that, if elected, he would fulfil the duties of the ofiiee with impartially, grace, and dignity. Mr. FiTzoEBAtD felt that be could with much satisfaction second the motion which had just been proposed to the hou«e. He believed that the office would be honourably and impartially filled by Mr. Clifford. In the absence of precedent to guide gentlemen in the exercise of duties to which few may have turned their attention, it would be an advantage to the house to have one in the chair who had had some experience in conducting, in another Province, business of a similar character to that which would occupy the house. And besides, he believed that the love which Mr. Clifford entertained to the institutions under which they had met would influence him in conducting the deliberations of that house so as to reflect credit on the country to which he was so strongly attached. The motion was put fromthe Chair, and carried unanimously. Mr. Wakefibld said that, in the absence of a more ready means of communicating with the Officer Administering the Government so as to know His Excellency's pleasure as to confirming the election which they had just made, he believed it would be proper that a 'deputation consisting of the mover and seconder, and such other members as the house might think proper, should wait on his Excellency to acquaint him of the choice they had made. From what had come to his knowledge he thought the house would best consult the convenience of His Excellency by appointing the deputation, who would receive His Excellency's decision at 12 o'clock on the next day, which would not look so conspicuously inconsiderate as if it were given immediately — and afterwards, at two o'clock," His Excellency's opening Address would be delivered. Mr. Lbk thoughtjthat, as the Speaker had been duly elected by the house, it became now the duty of the proposer and seconder to conduct the Speaker to the Chair. Mr. Cottkn thought that until confirmed by the Governor, as provided by the Act under which they were assembled, the election of the Speaker was not complete, and therefore it would be out of order to proceed as suggested by the hon. member who spoke last. ' Dr. Monbo thought it desirable that as little time as possible should be lost before communicating with His Excellency as there had occurred two vacancies in the representation of Nelson, which required to be reported to the Officer Administering the Government, but must in the first instance be reported to the Speaker after his being duly appointed. It was desirable that the Writs should be issued in time to be sent down by the steamer, so as that Nelson might have its fall representation in that house as soon as practicable. Mr. Wakefield said he made the suggestion after a chance conversation with the AttorneyGeneral, who had stated that the course pointed out by him (Mr. Wakefield) was that which would best accord with the arrangements of his Excellency. He would regret that any de-

lay should take place with respect to the Nelson elections, and might say that he understood the Writs were quite ready to he signed as soon as the House had reported the vacancies. Mr. Lee maintained that enough had heen done to entitle the Speaker to take the chair, and quoted precedents taken from the proceedings of the Legislative Council of New South Wales and the House of Commons, in support of his views. Mr. M'Andeew and Mr. Fitzgerald thought that according to the Constitution Act, Mr. Clifford could not he properly considered the Speaker of that house until his appointment had been approved hy the Governor. Mr. Merriman concurred in this view, and observed that there was no real difficulty, inasmuch as they had a Chairman. Mr. Clifford said that whatever might be the order in which the house might carry out its decision he could no longer refrain from expressing his thanks for the very courteous manner in which he had been proposed, and for the unanimity with which the house had chosen him. He could assure the house that he felt deeply gratified in placing his services at the disposal of the house. Mr. Lee reiterated the expression of his views, and declared that the Governor had no theoretical right to reject anything that had passed that house. Major Greenwood F said he wa3 aware that His Excellency would be at his office at 12 o'clock to receive any deputation that might be appointed to wait on him. Mr. Re vans said he could see no reason why Air. Clifford, should not take the Chair, for if he was not indeed Speaker, he was at least Speaker elect, He would therefore move that the present Chairman do leave the Chair, and that Mr.Clifford be conducted to the Chair. The motion was carried, whereupon Mr. Cari/eton rose and said — Mr. Clifford, I have much pleasure in leaving the Chair, and in congratulating you, as well as this house, on your appointment. The Speaker then took the Chair. It was then proposed and agreed that Messrs. hartley and Fitzgerald should be the Deputation to wait on His Excellency to inform him that the choice of the house had fallen on Mr. Clifford. Mr. Forsaith said that if they desired to follow out the analogy of the House of Commons in their proceedings, the next step would be the appointment of a Serjeant-at-Arms. After some remarks by several members who considered the house not yet properly constituted, this subject was allowed to drop. On the motion of Mr. Revan's, seconded by Mr. Foh3Alth, a vote of thanks to Mr. Carleton for his manner in conducting the bu&iness as preliminary Chairman was passed unanimously. The House then adjourned until one o'clock.