GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW ZEALAND. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. [From the New Zealander, August 23.] Wednesday, August 9.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 954, 23 September 1854, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW ZEALAND. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. [From the New Zealander, August 23.] Wednesday, August 9.

The House met at 5 o'clock.. After the preliminary business, Dr. Monro moved that the House do go into committee of the whole House to consider the Address to his Excellency the Officer administering the Government, of which he had given notice* - Carried. The Clerk read the proposed address. Dr. Monro then proceeded, in a speech of considerable length, to move the adoption of the address. He felt warranted in saying that no member ever addressed that house under circumstances of greatei gravity, or calling more for firmness and deliberation. If the committee should reject the motion, he should neither be disappointed nor offended — and, if any other member could propose a course better fitted to extricate the house from its present embarrassments he should be most happy. The hon. member here entered upon a review of the past.' A week ago there was a Ministry possessing the confidence and commanding majorities of the bouse. They were occasionally cavilled at, but that instead of being a matter of regret was rather to be regarded as an advantage to the public service. That Ministry had resigned because in their opinion the time had arrived when it had become nedessary that Responsible Government should be carried into full effect. In this they had been frustrated because members of the old Executive bad declined to vacate office, and the consequence was the' resignation of< the gentlemen who had occupied the Ministerial Bench with so much credit to themselves. The steps subsequently taken by the house bad Leen very important. The house bad sustained the late Ministry in their course of action, and I had declared that the time had arrived when Responsible Government should be carried into full effect. These steps must render it very difficult, indeed almost impossible, for any other set of gentlemen to conduct the Ministerial business of the house. He did not wish to treat this question as a personal matter. Personal matters of a very delicate description had arisen, but he did not think it was for this house to decide upon such points — (hear, hear.) Nothing, in his opinion, bad occurred to sully the honor of Ministers. He considered that these gentlemen were warranted by the agreement with the official members of the Executive Council to expect them to resign. It was not the first time that gentlemen of unimpeachable honour had differed in their readings and inj teipretations, and he could only wish that the agreement had been drawn up in more anmistakeable terms. When a Message was received from his Excellency the Officer administering the Government, the house resolved that any explanations should be offered by a member of that bouse having the confidence of his Excellency. He did not think it bad been asserted that his Excellency might not fall back on the lettet or spirit of the Constitution, but that it was most desirable that he should communicate with the house through one of its members. Then came Message No. - 26, for which the hon. member for the Hutt .had declared himself to be responsible. To whom' was he responsible? Not to his Excellency — be had told them be was not. To that house? Here he was in precisely the same position as any other' hon. member. The address that had been submitted had raised this question. First that they could not recognise the position of the hon. member (or the Hutt as a constitutional position ; but that his Excellency should take the advice, of his sworn constitutional advisers. They had been informed that his Excellency's Message was prepared upon the advice of the hon. member for the Hutt alone, and that he had repudiated all other advice relating to the present crisis; That was a most anomalous position. The affairs of the colony were virtually managed by. a dictator. Still worse — he was not an open and avowed dictator ; as such, even in-the most despotic of Governments, he would be under some responsibility ; as it wat , he screened himself behind the high and sacred office of the Representative of the Crown. It was no light thing, in such a sta'e of affairs, that the business of the Government should be managed by one who was not known to the constitution. The addreis now proposed did not profess to be a complete answer to bis Excellency's Message — it dealt chiefly with that one point. , He (Dr. Monro) could not contemplate without jealousy and alarm that affairs should be managed by an irresponsible persoo, one who bad but a very feeble party in that house, and whose first object, therefore, must be to gather a party around him. (Hear, hear.) He would anticipate one objection of the honorabls gentleman. He (Mr. Wakefield) would say that his position was constitutional; and that it was perfectly competent for the Governor to send for any o ne in or out of this house. In that he would agree. But the 'Message of his Excellency went o r. to indicate a line of policy, aud when the

member for the Hutt in his irresponsible position throDgb the mouth of the Governor did so, he took an unwarrantable coarse which that bonse would not sanction. One of the first dangers which he (Dr. Monro) apprehended when Responsible Government was introduced was the introduction of personal considerations. He disavowed all such considerations — and if the house were actuated by such motives it would fall into a direlictiofc of its duty to the country. If the hon. member for the Hutt would tell the bouse that he bad been sworn a member of the Executive Council, hi would listen to him with all the attention and reapect due to one in that position ; but until he occupied such position he bad no right to speak in that manner to the house. It would not be right for him (Dr. Monro) to go into general questions, but every step was a link, and he might say that the address was not intended to convey to his Excellency 'anything like discon tent or defiance, but to point out the objection to the present course of action, anJ also to express a desire to co-operate with any Ministry possessing the confidence of the house, should his Excellency induce one or more gentlemen to undertake its fermation. He would give his best attention to whatever measures they might propose. There woald be nothing inconsistent in that. Had the Ministers still occupied that bench, they would still have had bis confidence. He had not expected from-Responsible Government all - tba benefits which others had anticipated; but in the crisis at which they had arrived, it was the only chance of good government If any one could point out a course by which they could at once secure Responsible Government, he would support it — but he could see no reason why the bouse might not enter on a certain amount of legislation to meet the reasonable demands of the country. (Cheers.)

Mr. Wakefield's first impression on bearing the address read was that be might perhaps be able to vote for it ; but on reading it himself be at once perceived that he could not possibly assent to it as a whole. It contained some good constitutional doctrine, but it took no notice of the most important exception which goes to prove the rule. He would beg the bon. member (Dr. Monro) to go back to his own position when he was called on by his Excellency to advise about forming a Government. Did he not undertake to assist in forming a Government without being himself a sworn adviser of the Crown ? When the hon. member for Lyttelton was engaged in forming a Government, and before, he was sworn in, did his Excellency go by the advice of the old members of the Executive Council ? Mr. Fitzgerald — Yes. Mr. Wakefie£d — Well, it might be so, though the house had never heard of it before, but had always been told by the hon. gentleman th&t bis advice guided the Officer administering the Government. If the old members of the Executive Council could be examined by the house, they would probably disclaim all instrumentality in forming the late Government, though of course they would admit their approval. Whether they approved or not, whether or not they also advised, the advice acted upon was that of the bon. gentleman ; and he was not a sworn adviser. Let the case be supposed in which all the Ministers resign, and there is no sworn adviser. Is it not absurd to suppose that-responsi-ble advice is necessary, when the cases may be frequent in which there are no responsible advisers ? Could the hon. member (Dr. Monro) who is versed in the history of England, tell the ; house of one example in which an adviser about forming a Government was sworn into the Privy Council in order to be qualified for giving advice ? No principle was better established and understood than that, with regard to the choice of' its ministers, the Crown is absolutely free to do what it pleases, and therefore of course to take advice from anybody. (Cheers, and a singular groan from behind the Speaker's chtir.) That discretion bad no limit or qualification. The object of his amendment was only to affirm that indisputable constitutional doctrine. The mover of the address was totally at variance with the late ministers on one important point ; for he acknowledged that the opposition which they had experienced in that house, was such as to be of service to the public. He asserted, indeed, that, such opposition hafl not 'been formidable, and that to carry on the Government by any other set of men was all but impossible. He (Mr. W.) could not nnderstand what the hon. ger.tleman meant by calling him "a dictator." Was he himself a dictator when his Excellency had sent for him (Dr. Monro) to ask his advice. Very big words had been used in speaking of his (Mr. W's) position. The hon. member for Christchurch had warned him of the consequences of h s advice — he had enlarged upon difficulties and dangers, and declared that " the blood would be upon his head." (Cheers and laughter.) The arguments advanced in support of this address were so hollow that be did not know how to take hold ot them. It was like beating the wind. Did not the hon. member for Lyttelton tell his . Excellency before his appointment that he intended to raise £500,000 to buy Native lands ? He was very wrong if he did not mention that great ' :piece of policy. If he did, was not this an mdi- ' cation of a policy while he was yet unsworn ? He (Mr.' W.) went minutely into the question of policy with his Excellency. The choice of the men always depends on the policy to be carried out. The true constitutional doctrine is that affirmed by his resolution. For every act but one cabinet ministers are responsible ; but with regard to whatever pertains to the selection of ministers, the Crown exercises a perfectly unfettered discretion. It is an admitted interregnum as to responsibility. He would tell the house what the remedy was if the interregnum were unduly prolonged. The House of Commons would starve it out. What would his Excellency have done if all had resigned ? If a member announces that he has been sent for to give advice, it it an act of discretion and courtesy to the house. Nothing more. He was sure the hon. member for Wairaea was not one of those who would support this motion because it was directed against a particular man. He did not mean what others will mean — "if we can get rid of this man we shall be able to coerce the Governor" — (cheers). This is a party moye — to put the man,outthe way — (loud cheers). The address is not that of the bon. member for the Wairaea. It is more that of the honorable member for Cbristcburch than any other person's. I know the fine Roman hand. They want to get back again and to secure -*" the places. Perhaps »hey want the post of General for a friend of theirs expected from Wei-

Jington. (Laughter.) The hon. member for Lyttelton, by giving precedence to this motion, liad disrespectfully put the Message of the Governor under (be table. That, however, would not deter him (Mr. W) from going through with the duly he bad undertaken. Mr. Wakefield concluded by proposing as an amendment the following :—: — " That in the opinion of this Committee, according to the usages of the British Constitution, than which none are more firmly established or "better understood, every Act of the Crown with a single exception must be performed by and with the advice of Cabinet Ministers, being sworn members of the Privy Council ; and that the one only exception tothis rule ia the absolutely free and independent discretion to the , Sovereign alone, in doing whatever pertains to the choice and appointment of Cabinet Ministers," Mr Sewell, in rising to answer the speech of tlie honorable member for the Hutt, declared his intention to do so in a tone of great moderation. If on former occasions the beat of debate had carried him beyond moderation, he extremely regretted it. The hon. gentleman's' (Mr. Wakefield) own remarks tended to produce it. And that had been the case even that evening. He had" referred to him (Mr. Sewell) personally — taunted him with being' a "constitutional lawyer" — he (Mr. W) first gave him the title in a letter which he earnestly begged him not to publish. It was true that that address was the production of joint minds. If they were schoolboys, he wished they had been taught by a better master. Tne doctrine of the amendment by the honorable member for the Hutt, though thoroughly correct in itself, was inapplicable to thepresent case. Tbeir complaint was that an Excutive act of the highest importance had been done under the advice of tliat hon. gentleman. No one could have complained if, in conversation between him and his Excellency, every topic had been discussed. But the Message indicated a policy and one particular measure — the Executive Government Bill was particularly referred to. The mere act of sending • any Message — the most trivial — would be an act which ought to be advised upon by sworn advisers, When they considered the character of this message — ihe manner apart from the matter — it pioved that a serious responsiblity had been assumed. If it had been iv a different tone the house might have taken it differently. How great was the responsibility of the person who advised, the manner and language of the Message for the consequences, the irreparable consequences, ; of that unhappy Message. It was not an object with them to remove the honourable member for the Hutt. If they wished to do him an injury, they could do' him none more serious than to permit him to occupy his present position. They were all an*ious to extricate the colony from tbe most serious impediments that this act done under the advice of the honourable member for the Hutt bad occasioned. He would not answer his taunts about place. They had no notion of sending to Wellington for an Attorney-General. Their doing so would be but a bad compliment to Mr. Bartley. They bad always desired to keep the present Attorney-General in connection with the ■Government. The address was not dictated by any sprit of personal antagonism. Its object was an earnest desire to secure the proper position of the house, aud to throw upon every one his proper responsibility. • 'Mr Travers said, if he understood the address; ics objfect was to call upon his Excellency to take advice of sworn advisers in supplying the places of the Ministry. Yet the very ground of -the preseut difficulties was because his Excellency did take the advice of his sworn advisers. Tbe opinion of the Attorney General instead of opposing tbe introduction of Responsible Government cordially approved of tbe proposal. Mr. Fitzgekald rose to order. The question that evening was not his Excellency's Message, but the consideration of the address that had been , moved. He wished the point to be ruled one way or other.* Mr. Wakefield said the Message had been irregularly discussed by Ministers. Mr, Fitzgerald and Mr. Sewell both made •observations. Mr. Forsaith affirmed that the honorable member for Wairaea had said the address was a leply to the message, and the member for Christchurch went on to give the house an idea of what the Message ought to have been, Mr. Tba'vers would proceed to review the conduct 'of Ministers. (Cries of "Question, question," from the ex-Ministers.) The Chairman ruled that the simple question to be considered was whether the address should be adopted, Mr. Travers maintained that it was not right that speeches' should go forth expressing unlimited confidence in the Ministry,, without those who were of a different opinion Being allowed an opportunity of reply. The Ministers began with an-efror and they had ended with an error. (Interruption.) He would confine himself to the address. The ex-Ministers bad repeatedly declared that their difference was not with his Excellency but with his irresponsible advisers. Yet now we found them promoting an address in which his Excellency was referred to the advice of those .ye. yer y gentlemen. A personal attack had been made on ; tbe hon. member for the Hutt because be. had given advice which was distasteful. • Mr. Wakefield said whatever his Excellency communicates must be by Message. The message pertained to the Ministerial crisis. Was nor that a question on which his Excellency bad a fight to take advics when and how he pleased? Tbe Message had been disrespectfully thrown under the ' table by the honorable member for Lyttelton, and be(Mr. Wakefield) would be glad to' know whether be intended to take it up again, Mr. Fitzserald replied — why should he take up the Message Mr. Wakefield— You gave notice of taking it into consideration. Mr. Fitzgerald — He, a disgraced minister? He had been responsible so far as to be turned out. The house, had been granted one great step by the grace of his Excellency. That position was endangered." ' He hoped the house would not fair into" the trap which he feared the honorable member for the' Hutt was laying for the house, and for himself and his colleagues — to excite angry passions and lead the house into a course which would diminish the respect of the country for ir. If the honorable member, judging from former passages in his , life, thought he would suVefed' ridw he was mistaken. He (Mr. Fitzgerald): did not express regret for any of his former expressions, for he believed they would be" understood as they were meant. His Excellency's Message would have been instantly

treated with the utmost respect if it had snot been , accompanied by some statements on tbe part of . the honorable member for the Hutt which the t bouse could not and should not pass over. Tbe s only question he (Mr. Wakefield) should have . answered was whetbei he would take office or . not. He had made but one answ.er to that here — tv qudque. What would he have said ilUhey had ■ in the interval, whilst forming a Ministry, advised 1 his Excellency to send down a Message on Re- [ sponsible Government. He called himself a ' " mediator," as if that house needed one. He i spoke of cruelty— hereafter it will be seen who it ■ vras, that , touched his Excellency with cruelty. ; He. said that he had met bis Excellency " alone." f In that word lay the secret of his whole policy. Was that a position inwbich the bouse ought to be f pliced ? Passing by unfortunate differences of a > persona] character, which he hoped would not be . named again, he asked tbe house to warn his Exi cellency that the course now taken was not' constitutional. It was one that never occurred be* • fore. Mr. Wakefield — Yes, in Canada, f Mr. Fitzgerald — The address might tend to - put that house on a better footing with his Ex1 cellency. He was willing to regard this as a new ' state of things. t Mr. Wakefield cited as a precedent, and as f a perfect parallel, the course adopted by Lord I Metcalfe in Canada upon the resignation of Mm)- ) isters there. As much stress bad been laid upon i sworn advisers, he would have no objection, i/ it would gratify the house, to be sworn in for a week. Mr. Hbvans would wish to ask tbe hon. member for the Hutt whether he was about to become a sworn member of tbe Executive. (Mr. Wakefield had gone out). Since he had fj.rst entered the harbour of Lyttelton he had been consistently inconsistent. He (Mr. Revans) had been twitted with being an adviser of Ministers. He would afterwards show it was more unwise to take his (Mr. Wakefield's) advice. Mr. Jerningham Wakefield rose amid loud cries of "Divide" from. the ex-Ministers and their supporters. Pie said, if the spirit still prevailed of hearing only one side, he could of course hold his tongue, and think over the justice of the party who would force him to silence just after the digression of the hon. member for Wairarapa into a personal attack on himself and his hon. relative. (Cries of "go on.") He had but a few remarks to make on what had fallen from the bon. members (Messrs. Fitzgerald and Sewell). The latter complained that a Message proposing a policy had been sent to the house on the advice of an unsworn adviser. Whenever any, one shonld be practically endeavouring to carry that or any other policy through tbe house, it would be time enough to complain if such a promoter of a policy should be unsworn. It is then that responsibility would properly commence. He complained too of the language of the Message — (hear, from Mr. Sewell). If there .was one characteristic of that language more than any other, it was, that it was unmistakeable — (hear, bear) — that no quibbles or misinterpretations could be founded upon it. It was plain, but courteous. If a Message had been sent instead, j not relating with equal plainness and candour circumstances necessarily known to his Excellency alone, no doubt there would have been very different consequences, which might have been more agreeable to the honorable gentlemen — (hear, hear). The honorable and learned gentleman was very anxious that the case of Canada should not be quoted any more, and suggested- a belief that the Governor and Parliament of Canada, and his (Mr. W.s) honorable relative were all very wrong in what they did. (Laughter). But "that case did, in fact, bear a very close likeness to this case. This was, another* little specimen of the presumption of the hon. gentlemen and their supporters. There was the hon. member for Lyttelton who could make the greatest Governors in the British Empire, if they would only take his advice ; now we had tbe bou. and learned member for Christcburch acting as a nurse to the poor Parliament of Canada and teaching it bow to walk ; and there was the honorable member for Wairarapa anxious to show his (Mr, W.s) honorable relative how to play a successful card — (laughter). The honorable member for Lyttelton said he bad no obligation to take up the bantling, as he called it, of the bon. member for the Hutt. Then why did he take it up ? He first put it on one arm, by giving notice of a replyto the Message No. 25 on Thursday ; then he shifted it over to Tuesday ; and at length he did'nt like, the bantling at all, and quietly slipped it under the table. He had also accused bis (Mr. W.s) hon. relative of bringing the house I into disrespect by exciting the angry passions of members. But the fact is that, when hard truths are told on either side, it becomes all to bear argument with good temper, and those only are , responsible for the disrespect who can not restrain their angry passions. (Hear). He (Mr. W.) differed entirely from the proposed address, simply because it proposed to fetter the Governor in the exercise of his discretion on the subject ; on which, above all others, he ought to be unfettered, if a thoroughly Constitutional practice be observed — (hear, bear). The honourable member for Lyttelton accused his (Mr. W.s) honorable relative of pride, because he bad dwelt on the fact that'he had been alone with his Excellency during his several interviews. The bon. gentleman (Mr. F.) seemed to think that the hon. member for the Hutt had no other object but that '. one, aimed at by himself, of making great Go- i vernors — (hear and laughter). But he (Mr. W.) : believed that his bon. relative had other objects in view — those of promoting the welfare of the i colony and the interests of its people j and that he had dwelt on the word "alone" simply that i there might be no mistake about it — that it might ] not be supposed that others shared in the advice j which he offered to his Excellency — (hear). H» < would remind the hon. member (Dr. Monro) ' that this was not a conflict between the respon- < sible and irresponsible Executive Councillors, but : between bis Excellency and the ex-Councillors — < that tbe agreement of tbe i'Oth June was made, < not with the official members of Council, but j with his Excellency ; and that that is the agree- 1 ment of which there has been a misunderstanding < or misconstruction on the part of the Ex-Minis- i ters — (hear, hear). He agreed with the bon. 1 member that it would have been better if that 1 agreement bad been made in more explicit terms t — (Hear, from Mr. Sewell) — but the hon. mem- t ber for Lyttelton was as much in fault as any one t on that account, If his (Mr. W.s) honourable t relative was a dictator, then the two honourable 1 members (Mr. Fitzgerald and Dr. Monro) had i I

been duumvirs, until one retired, and the r hori. jnem-~ ' ber for Lyttelton became himself a dictatofof'tttf' same kind for several Says. ■ He, could "hot un- > derstand what the lion, member (Dr. Mpnro) i meant by asserting that his (Mr. WV's) honorable relative's conduct was all the worse'for havingV : . feeble party at his. back. Surely it' would be . more blameable to do- an- unconstitutional -acf,, if i at the head of a majority to praise you and hold you 1 harmless,- than to do so with' only a few' sup- 1 i porteis/who could not avert cenjsure or reproach' s from the majority if the act were really, wrong; — ; (hear, hear). The hon. member (Dr. Monro) , baJ'said the only remedy" was a complete system ' of Responsible Government, and that that \r*s the only solution of our difficulties. No doubt > that was the only solution to get the ex-Minister« i and their supporters out of their difficulties — buti it would" not get the Officer ! administering tfaei ■ Gore/umeut out of his. His Excellency's, diffi-*' ■ culties ought to be considered in, some .degree : ■ as it was clear that he could not grannfbe'iemea'jp 6pok'en of ■•without failing in his duty! to ihe Crovrn* —(hear, hear). i Mr. Forsaith spoke at some length in -favor of the amendment, and in doing so disclaimed all ' motives ef a personal kind. He said-he would vote' for measures thrit appeared to[bim ,to be right,' i whoever might originate ttheym v The , hon member ■ for Christchurch (Mr. Sew r ell) in reference to the > supporters of the ambndraent bad expressed hia i regret 1 they were not following* a better .master,' : but it was not very long since that hon. member , had informed them that he himself had been a disciple of the hon. member for the Hutt— and had i not been ashamed to avow him as his , political , leader and master. (Hear.) He (Mr. F.) coxr; ; tended that as long as the Constitution remained i unaltered, the' responsibility of every Executive act rested solely in the Officer- administering) trie Government, and therefore admitting 1 this, it was i absurd to vote for an address which ostensibly denied the right of his Excellency td choose' his advisers. He would not go to Canada for his example, as that seemed to be forbidden ground, but to the Cape of Good Hope. It was an incident that occurred during the administration of £>ir Harry Smith. He, from a desire to' conciliate and please, wished to consult the people of that colony with reference to certain appointments be was about to make, and what was' the result? Why he was informed in a snubbing despatch from the Secretary of' State (bat her Majesty bad vested the responsibility of such acts in him as her representative, and that he had no business to divest himself of any portion of it; or 'seek* 'to share it with others. His -Excellency the Officer administering the Government,, as' an act of grace, had conceded a certain ( measure of Responsible' Government. He had dbne'so because,,the bouse had almost/ unanimously dedeclared tbat it was necessary — but ■ with whom did the responsibility of the proceeding rest ? , With ; the house that required it, 6'r'with his Excellency that granted it? Most 'certainly with his Excellency, and it was yet ,to be ascertained whether or not the Crown would approve of the concession. The Queen's instructions, which were part of the Constitution, clearly proved, if proof were necessary, the fact of the Governor's sole responsibility. Allusion bad been frequently made to the tone and wording of the Message as leingoffeusive and irritating, but if those members would compare the tone and temper of some of the passages oF the Confidential Memorandum with th«" Message of h^s Excellency in reply to it, he felt sure that by such a comparison his Excellency's Message would be pronounced by far the most temperate, and conciliatory document. For his own part he hesitated Dot to say that the statements in the memorandum were highly exaggerated. He had been positively thunderstruck when he read such an assertion as that of a general feeling of insecurity having been created in the public mind. He was not aware that any of the circumstances referred to warranted the assertion, and he was quite sure that their retirement from office was not calculated to produce this general feeling of insecurity. The hon. 1 members lately in office had represented to his Excellency that unless be discarded certain persons from his Councils they must retire. His Excellency had not thought proper to accede to their wishes, and they retired accordingly — bnrnow they, together with others,the supporters of the Address, entreat his Excellency to adhere to those counsellors rather than take the advice of the hon. member for the Hutt. If his Excellency had, in defiance of the statement contained in the Memorandum, immediately resorted to his old advisers, would not the hon. members now supporting this address have been the first to cry Out against him for doing so. It was perfectly natural for his Excellency, in such a position,, to turn to' the individual who had been* prominently put forward as the instrument in bringing about the change which led to the preserit crisis.- His Excellency had a perfect right to choose his adviser;, and although a question might perhaps be raised as to the judiciousness of the choice, we are not justified in presuming to dictate in the matter. But tbe address does more than this. It positively falsifies his Excellency's word. If hon. members would refer to Message No. 26, they would find that his Excellency declared himself to be not only willing to continue the measure of Ministeiial Responsibility that had been conceded, but that he was anxious to co-operate in giving the principle full arid permanent effect by every legitimate means at his disposal, but this address implies that we do not believe these asseverations, inasmuch as we fear he is about to establish an irresponsible dictatorship* Would hon members vote for an address.which evidently declares his Excellency's Message to be .unworthy of credit? — (Gre«t sensation). The hon. member in conclusion expressed the gratification he felt at the calm apologetic tone of the remarks ofthe hon. member for Christchurch, as compared with the intemperate warmth of his remarks (confusion) on a former occasion, but this feeling had,, been' entirely dissipated by the succeeding speech of the honourable member for Lyttelton who had that evening roundly asserted that ho neither regretted nor recalled a single expression he had formerly used. The hon. member for Christchurch (Mr. Sewell) had displayed a better feeling, and seemed to admit that he had been too hasty. He (Mr. F.) congratulated the hon. member on the change in his demeanour,' as' but for this he should have been forced to conclude tbat^ the opinion he once jocularly expressed was-too true. That the hon. gentleman was, constitutionally a fast mnn — that he had commenced! his political career in this colony in a "hurry," — tHat his first expression of opinion in that' h&use"was

'avowedly a "hasty" one, apd. that, bet had accordingly in this instance attempted-to hurry the house into a position which both ' reason and prudence condemned. (Cheers' and.'laughtefr.) ' After a few Words of 'comment from Mr. Sewell upon the Instructions quoted by Mr. For.saitb, the bouse, divided upon -the amendment : — Ayes . . . . t 10Niieff -;..-..'..'."..•.'.. 23 (> Majority 13,, ' A second division ensued,, in which the Ad* dresswas adopted 'by 1 the same'numbers.