GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW ZEALAND. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. [From the New Zealander, AugU8t 19.] Thursday, August 17.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 958, 7 October 1854, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW ZEALAND. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. [From the New Zealander, AugUBt 19.] Thursday, August 17.

The House met at noon. Minutes of Tuesday and Wednesday were read and confirmed. j A Message was immediately afterwards announced from His Excellency the Officer administering the Government, and Mr. Richmond, the Assistant Private Secretary, was introduced, who delivered two Messages iqto the Speaker's hands. f* '-, The Speaker proceeded Yo read Message No. * 31. enclosing returns of Electoral Rolls. After which he read Message No. 32, being His Excellency's reply to the address adopted by the House on Tuesday, and which will be found in extenso in another column. ■< Mr. Sewell rose to address the house, when' the Sergeant-at-arms announced another Message from His Excellency. Mr. Richmond was again introduced, and delivered a Message into the hands of the Speaker. Mr. Sewell again rose to speak. He would move that His Excellency's Message No. 32, be at once taken into consideration. Mr. Travers said, It appears to me that the! course proposed by the hon. member for Christchurch, is not only contrary to the Standing orders, but insulting towards His Excellency. Nor do I see how the hon. member, will be gainer by his proceedings. The very motion which he has made, is " business before the house" within the Standing orders, and must be at once suspended when His Excellency's Message is received ; the course pursued by the bon. member appears to me to be not only highly improper, but very undignified, and utterly unworthy of a member of this house. (Cheers.) Mr. J. Wakefield also rose to order. The Message just delivered to the Speaker had not been read. The bon. member had forgotten the Standing Orders which required the suspension of all business until the Message had been read. Mr. Fitzgerald requested the Speaker to specify the number of the Standing Rules that related to the subject. The Speaker said Nos. 82 and 83, and read them. Mr. Fitzgerald rose to move that Standing Orders No. 82 and 83, be suspended. The Speaker was of opinion that the house could not adopt that course. Mr. Fitzgerald apprehended that the subject of the last Message was a prorogation of the bouse. He contended the business of the country was of paramount importance, and that before the prorogation took place the house should proceed to transact the business that was necessary to be done. He earnestly hoped that .he should be supported by the house. (Great cheering.) Mr. Monro said the Standing Rules provided that a time should be fixed for the consideration of a Message, and he thought it would be proper and respectful to proceed to fix a time for the consideration of the former Message before the last was read. Mr. F.ITZ6BRALD was about to speak — Mr. Forsaith rose to order. He said the hon. gentleman who proposed to suspend the Standing Orders was by that very act committing a breach of those orders, for a motion of such kind was business, whereas the Standing Orders require that as soon as a Message from His Excellency is announced, all business shall be suspended. Mr, Sewell — said he would second the motion. They were quite right in the course they * were about to take. A Message has been received from his Excellency ; the rules require that it should be read ; that bas been done ; and now it was competent for them to fix a time for its con■sideTation. Mr. Forsaith rose to order. (Cries of order, •order, order.) Mr. Sewell continued defending the propriety of the proposal. Mr. Lee thought that all business was suspended whenever a Message was announced. It 'had always been so. Why should it be otherwise now ? (Cries of hear, hear.) Mr. Travels insisted on the irregularity of the discussion, and could not understand why the contents of the Message should be prejudged. It had not beeu read ; they could not tell what it contained. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Carleton said, the ultimate authority ?must>t "all times rest with the house, and that the house was unable by any form of words to denude itself of that authority. (Hear, hear.) Mr. J. Wakefield suggested that great care -should be taken in any decision on this very important question, whether by the Speaker or the house (bear). Although the Speaker had decided. (Loud cries of order.) Mr. Revans said this was disrespect to the •Speaker. (Loud cheers.) Mr J. Wakeeikld : I am the last to be disrespectful to the Speaker. I speak as has been my practice, with a wish to shew respect to the -Speake/, to this house, and to myself. (Hear, hear.) But it is very important that both the Speaker and the house should consider this matter very carefully. I imagine it is the Speaker's duty to read the Message immediately to the house before all other business. Mr. Revans . Boo ! 800 ! (Loud cries of order from both sides of the house.) The Speaker called Mr. Revans to order. Mr. J. WAkebield : Those noises are not Tery respectful (hear). If, as the hon. member {Mr. Fitzgerald) bat suggested, there is a prorogation in that message. 'I know no more than any other member what is in it. Mr. Sewell and Mr. "Weld: Shame I Shame! Mr. J. Wakkkeld ; I do not know that I have said anything to be ashamed of. The hon. member (Mr. Fitzgerald) said he thought the Message might contain a prorogation (hear, hear). If so, I respectfully submit that there may be a Gazette, proroguing the General Assembly, and that the publication of that Gazette may be the act of prorogation. Any acts of this house, after the prorogation! will be null and void. , Other-

wise, the house might, by refusing to have the Message read, sit on for a twelvemonth even after it was prorogued. (Hear, bear.) Mr. O'Neill rose to protest against the proceedings ; they were clearly irregular and out of order. If a few hon. members of warm temper have by their conduct thrown the bouse into disorder (great* cheering and cries of hear from the ex-Ministers,) the blame must rest with them ; the house could not help it} that was no reason why the house should be guilty of deliberate disrespect to his Excellency's Message. (Cheers and counter cheers.) Mr. Hart : The occasion required the gravest consideration, and the most determined action. Whether or not there be anything on the Standing Oriers to necessitate the reading of a Message, which might be a prorogation, and which would consequently prevent all future proceedings, be thought that the house had the power to avert such an event by suspending those Standing Rule». The Standing Orders as soon as they received his Excellency's sanction took the force of law ; but contained within themselves a power to enable the house itself, without reference to other authority, to suspend their operation, protided two thirds of the members were present. This he conceived was all that the Speaker had to assure himself of, and then the motion would be regular. (Hear, bear.) The Speaker said that the bouse bad the power, if it chose to exercise it* of overruling an opinion given by the Sppaker;;l^o'f course was in the bands of the bouse. Mr. Me Andrew thought ,the', whole case was disgraceful. (Gieat confusion.) Suppose his Excellency had thought proper to come down to the house in person, would he have been kept waiting at the door while the house considered a previons Message 1 (Cheers.) The principle was the same, for bis-Excellency was now present by his Message if not in person, and the Standing Rults made proper provision for the respectful reception of Messages from the Governor. (Hear, hear.) The course proposed was insulting to his Excellency, but it would be no insult to read the last message without taking the first into consideration. The house has received a Message, and it should be read before anything else be done. (Cheers — Great confusion and uproar.) Mr. Merrihan deprecated the use of the word insult, as it bad been employed on that and on former occasions. He thought the use of the word was an insult to the house itself. At the same time he must object to the course proposed — and would feel bound to vote against the suspension of the Standing Orders. Mr. Porter, as soon as be could be beard, was understood to say, at auy rate the house would be but dealing fairly with his Excellency to read the Message that had been sent down, whatever it might be — a contrary course would be at least an insult. (Cheers.) Mr. Revans : Oh, o-o-h ! bo-o-o 1 Oh, boo-o-ho! (Great confusion.) He would move as an amendment that the Standing Orders be suspended. He detested the word insult, it had been used too often in that house. (Great disorder.) The Speaker endeavoured to restore order. Mr. Se well denied that any insult was intended to his Excellency ; they were dealing not with him but with his advisers, who wished to take the house by a coup d'etat. (Great cheering.) Mr. Forsaith rose, but was interrupted by loud cries ol order, order, spoke, spoke. The Speaker ruled that the hon. member was out of order. ! Mr. Forsaith said he rose to move an amendment upon the motion ; he had spoken on the motion — be now wished to speak on the amendment. The Speaker signified assent* Mr. Forsaith would move " that the whole of the discussion, together with the motion for suspending the Standing Orders-, was irregular and unprecedented, and was in itself a breach of the Standing Orders," He thought the matter hardly admitted of an argument. If all the bnsiness was to be suspended, it followed necessarily that the present proceedings were contrary to rule. He appealed to the common sense of hon. members, and waa satisfied that every impartial man would decide that their proceedings were irregular and unprecedented. (Chesrs and confusion.) Mr. Fitzgerald rote to second the amendment. Mr. Fobsaith rose to order. Mr. Fitzgerald : I am perfectly in order. Mr. Forsaith : How can you second my amendment after proposing your motion. Mr. Fitzgerald : Could do so very well. Mr. Forsaith : You withdraw your motion then. Mr. Fitzgerald : Certainly not. He wished to second the amendment because the hon. member in proposing it had stultified himself. He had by this amendment committed himself to action. Mr. Forsaith rose to explain. (Cries of order, order.) The Speaker said, the hon. member was out of order ; he would be allowed to explain after the hon. member had done speaking. Mr. Fitzgerald : He hoped, however, that the House would agree to the original proposition, as by that course he was convinced they should be acting in accordance with the interests of the country, and the wishe^df their constituents, in proceeding with the Iffaflsaction of such business as was necessary for the country before reading a Message which they had reason to believe contained a prorogation of the House. With respect to the word insult used by the hon. member for Otago, he was not going to bandy words with him, but be would say that no insult was intended. If there were, his Excellency knew how to defend himself. Had his Excellency taken the course referred to by the hon. member,which he was glad he had not done — but be wouldsay had his ! Excellency taken that course, and came down to the House for the purpose of stopping the discussions of the Representatives of the people, he would have followed the example once sbown'by a similar Assembly, and have cried " Privilege, Privilege." The present state of affairs imperatively called upon that House to adopt prompt measures for guarding the Country against the evils that might arise, in the event of a prorogation ; and he was therefore determined to press for a division, to ascertain the sense of the House upon this question as to whether his motion for the suspension of the Standing Orders should be entertained. (Cheers, and cries of divide, divide). Mr. Forsaith rose to explain. (Renewed uproar, and cries of divide, divide.) He appealed to the Speaker for the fulfilment of his 'promise. The hon. member for Lyttelton'had misled the

House as to the character of the amendment by a , sophism. (Great tonfusion, and cries of- divide,; divide, amidst which the hon. member continued 1 speaking, but was wholly inaudible.) , Mr. For- 1 saith appealed to the Speaker, who, he said, had 1 promised him an opportunity to explain. The Speaker ruled that the btuse had called' for a division before the hon. member rose. (Cries of oh, oh ! and chair, chair ; — great confusion.) Several members offered to leave the' house, when cries of "Lock the doors" were raised by Mr. Sewell and others. Mr. McAndrew said, these- proceedings were 1 most disgraceful. He never Witnessed so dreadful, a scene, and would withdraw. (The hon. mem- < ber made to the door, but th« Sergeant-at-arms had locked it.) Mr. Sewell : Hon. members must not leave the bouse 1 — (Great confusion during which Mr., Sewell jumped over the gallery rail, and locked' the stranger's gallery door). The Speaker rose to put tht -question, calling, for order. Several members demanded egress, but both doors were locked »nd guarded. Most; of the dissentient members then clambered over' the rail, and took their stand in the strangers' gallery. The Speaker said, all members who were in; the house when the question was put are obliged *to vote. (Cries of oh, oh 1 ' from member/ in the gallery.) , The house then divided on the question whether the bouse do go to a division : — Ayes, 20. Noes, 2. The Speaker being about to put the question on the suspension of the Standing Orders, Mr. Mbrriman said, that before • division took place, the doors ought to be unlocked, and ; the division bell rung. Mr. J. Wakefield also called the attention , of the Speaker to the fact of the doors being locked, observing that he and other hon. members ; voting under such circumstances would vote under; compulsion. The Speaker ordered the doors to be unlocked, when the dissentient members -left the bouse, Mr. Forsaith and Mr. McAndrew as they passed the Speaker protesting agaiDSt the proceedings. The house then divided, when their appeared For suspending Standing Orders No. 82&83...20 Against -. ••••• 1 The Speaker stated that the motion roust fall to the ground, as it was necessary that two-thirds of the bouse should be present on a vote for the suspension of Standing Orders. Mr. Hart argued that the spirit of the Rule had been complied with, there' having been the requisite number present when the motion was made. Mr. Sewell raised the point that the prorogation contained in the Message could not take effect, because it had not nor: could not be delivered simultaneously to both houses of th,e Assembly, the Legislative council not being then sitting. It was true that a prorogation might be effected by a proclamation in the Government Gazette. He concurred in Mr. Hart's view that it was sufficient to have the required proportion of the house present when the motion was made; The Speaker repeated that the Standing Orders could not be suspended unless two-thirds of the number were present, and that fact could be ascertained by him only by the numbers on the division. Mr. Fitzgerald referred to the Speaker's previous admission that all his decisions might be over-ruled by the bouse. He askfid the Speaker to put to the house the question whether they should proceed to the consideration of Message No. 32 before the reading of Message 83. Mr. Sewell concurred in the request. He thought the grammatical construction of the Rules clearly suggested a provision for the consideration of one Message before another was read. Dr. Monro said, that if there were any irregularity it was to be charged not on the house but on his Excellency's messenger. The Message, which had been read contained highly important matter, squiring immediate and earnest consideration ; and he thought the conrse proposed for considering it was perfectly legitimate. It would be disrespectful if a day were not fixed for the consideration of his Excellency's Message. It might be this or a future day. But, whether regular or irregular, this was no time to be squeamish on such matters. He concurred in the opinion of the hon. member for Lyttslton that his Excellency had been open to pernicious advice, which, he believed, was injurious to the best interests of the Country. (Cheers.) During this speech Dr. Featherston and Mr. Moorhouse came in, snd were received with loud cheers. Mr. Re vans then moved that the house be counted. It was announced that twenty-five (including the Speaker) were present. The announcement was received with loud cheers. Mr. Fitzgerald then begged to move that the doors of the house be locked. (Hear, hear). Mr. Merriman would decidedly object to that proceeding. The Speaker thought that was a question which he should not put. Mr. Fitzgerald then withdrew this motion, and moved the suspension of the Standing' Orders which was carried, Mr. Merriman alone voting against it. Mr Sewell moved that his Excellency's 1 Message No. 32 be taken into consideration forthwith, and then read the following Resolutions :■==- That any prorogation or dissolution of the General Assembly under present circumstances, without asking for supplies, is a practical denial of th'e rights' of the People of New Zealand represented in this house, to control the public expenditure. That the expenditure of public revenue without the authority of this house, except under the authority of the Provincial Council, is, contrary to law. That this house pledges itself by all the means in its power, to sustain the rights of the people ,of New Zea- ' land by enforcing in the strictest way the penalties of i the law against all receivers of public revenue, with j their sureties, who shall expend the same, otherwise ( than according 4 to law, and under the sanction of Acts of the General Assembly or of the Provincial Councils. That the Speaker of this house do forthwith cause notice to the above effect to be given to all receivers of ( Public Revenues and their sureties, and do cause the I same to be published and circulated throughout the co- < lony. • | That this house do present a respectful address to us Excellency, praying him to remove Mr. E. G. Wakefield from his councils. That the house do further address her Majesty, pray- 1 ing her forthwith to -remove the present Executive < Officers, being members of the Executive Council, from their offices. That the house do reipectfully addceis her Majesty, praying her forthwith to .establish the' 'Executive Go- <

t vernmeat of the colony on n basis of ministerial rei* ponsibilitj. That during the threatened suspension of the General Assembly, it is the incumbent duty of the Executive Government, as far as possible; without prejudice to the unity of the colony, to conform in all its acts to the wishes of the Provincial GoTernments, especially, in all matterrrelating to the administration of the waste lands. ' That the Speaker with the following gentlemen be a committee during, the expected recess, to prepare addresses embodying the 'foregoing resolutions, viz., Dr Featherston, Messrs'. Fitzgerald, Brown, Picard, Gotten . King, and Sewell. These Resolutions, Mr. Sewell said, appeared to him, Hastily' to be sure, to be such as that | house should come to. Perhaps they would be more complete if one were added praying Her to remote the Officer Administering the Government from bis office. But this was a step which, though it might be agreeable to some members vho might think that he was likely to be confirmed in the office, he (Mr. S.) would hesitate to recommend. He thought, however, that the Resolutions should be passed without discussion, and that the house would see the propriety of coming to a decision upon them without delay. <ChWs.) Mr. Revans thought that tbe resolutions were highly important, but would, notwithstanding, wish that they should be deliberated upon ; that one especially respecting-tbat man — that convicted felon. {Loud cries of order, order.)" Tbe Speaker called the ban." member to order, stating that such language was improper. Mr. Revans would ,not repeat the objection- ] able w^ordot; but, from the first day tbe House I met, he had felt strongly as to the proceedings of tbtr hon; member for the Hutt. He thought tbe i houqe should go, into Committee on the' Resold- J tipns. He exonerated His Excellency entirely } from blame in the unfortunate circumstances I which bad occurred, butwith one limitation only, j If he (Mr, R.) tookupon him the office of a general and declared he was no soldier, be should also feel himself bound to take no pay. His Excellency had declared he was no politician, and according to that view of the case, blame could not rest on him. But he should not have taken the hon. member for the Hutt to his councils; he could not conceive how Hit Excellency, consistently with the honour of a soldier, could take a coward felon to bis breast. (Order, order.) He had watched that hon. member's proceedings since bis arrival 1 at Canterbury, and saw that they were fraught with injury to, the colony ; but this Usteffo.tt was the worst of all. He would move that the House go into Committee on the Resolutions, for they were still-legally in Session. Mr. Fitzgejrald would second* the motion, but lie was sorry for the expressions that had been used. (Hear.) He believed that the House should enter on the consideration of tbe resolutions as became its dignity, and with calmness befitting the occasion. On relinquishing his seat in bis Excellency's Councils, he (Mr. F.) told his Excellency that 'he would support any Government he might form ; that if he were to send for tbe hon. member of the Northern Division (Mr. Forsaith) to form a Government, he (Mr. Fitzgerald) would support it. But he told him that be could not support a Government of which the hon. member for the Hutt formed a part, for he solemnly believed that no man, or body of men, was ever connected with that hon. I gentleman in public life without being thoroughly ' damaged in character, in reputation, and in other respects. This had been the case ever since that hon. gentleman had been engaged in public life, and it was a matter of bitter regret to him, (Mr. F.) that bis Excellency should have taken such an 1 adviser into bis Councils. He did not wish to say more, and hoped that other hon. members would abstain frorr making long speeches on that occasion. (Cheers.) The motion was then put and carried, and tbe house went into committee. Mr. Sewell then earnestly prayed that the committee would agree to the resolutions without ; discussion. Dr. Monro thought that the resolutions should be considered seriatim. He had doubts on bis own mind relating to some of them, which he should like to bear reasons to clear away. Mr. Sswell had not come there prepared to argue the resolutions one by one. It was determined to proceed with the resolutions seriatim, and they were adopted after brief discussions, in the course of which Mr. Sewell, Mr. Carleton, Mr. Hart, and other members stated that their intention had been, in case his Excellency had been unable to form a Government, to vote supplies before they separated sufficient to carry on the Government. The resolutions were supported (in addition to the members already named) by Messrs. .Gledhilj, Picard, Cutten, Weld, Carletonj &c. Objections to some !of them wete made by Mr. Monro, Mr, Hart, Mr. OBrien, and (after the house had resumed) by Mr. Merriman. Mr. Fitzgerald moved tbe following additional resolution : — That the prorogation of this house, at the present period of the session,' and it* convocation again at any short time, should such course be adopted, will have the practical effect of depriving fire Provinces of the Colony of almost' the whole of- their Representatives in the General Assembly.

Extraordinary Scene. During the proceedings of the Committee the following scene occurred : — Mr. Mackay entered the house, and went to take his umbrella from near the chair where he bad sate.; .when there was a pause, and loud cries of "order." The Chairman requested Mr. Mackay to take off bis hat. Mr. Mackay went up to the Chairman, took his hat off to. him, and put it on again as if to. take tome papers out of bis pocket (loud cries of take off your hat.) Mr. Mackay said he meant no disrespect ; but here were' Gazettes which be bad got in the street, proclaiming the prorogation of the Assembly. Oh his handing these to the Chairman, several members' snatched them out of bis band; and crumpled them up. He then threw one on to the table towards the Chairman, and, said, read that for their information. '(Loud cries of turn him out.) Mr. Mackay said he had as much right, to be there as any of them. Mr. Seweel then rushed upon Mr. Mackay, laid bold of him by the back of the neck with his left hand, and struck him repeatedly in the ribs with the other. ~ Mr. Hart, keeping a respectful distance, cried out,— Oh! Mr. Sewell! Mr. Sewell! Mr. Sewell I — Ob, do not, do not—

Mr. Carleton r»n up,, laid hold of Mr. Mackay by tbe arms, and finally forced Mr. .Sewell away ; But several other members continued to hustle Mr. Mackay. He broke loose from them, and, standing in the middle of tlie room, flourished his umbrella over his head, and defied any of them to turn him out. The Chairman, at the top of his roice, endeavoured to restore order, but with no avail. A cry was then raised for the Chairman to report progress. \ that, Mr. Mackay^ coolly climbed over the rail into the gallery, and went out at the gallery-door. ' ' The Speaker having taken the Chair, Mr. Merriman, as Chairman of Committees, reported a contempt for the -house on the part of hon. member for Nelson. Mr.JFixzGERALD said he hardly knew what their privileges were, but he rose to move that tbe hon. member for Nelson be expelled the house for insulting the house while in Session. Mri Sewell rather doubted the power of the house to expel, although he would be glad to see the heaviest penalties inflicted on the member for bis conduct ou that occasion. He referred to the case of Mr. Wilkes, arid one or two others, to show that even the British Parliament found difficulty in expelling members. Mr. Re vans rose to second the motion, although he had doubts a3 to the power of expelling, but he did so if it were only for the purpose of placing it on record in the proceedings of the house. He thought that the hon. member ought to be called to the bar of the house and made to answer for His conduct, for it was plain that he came there to insult the house. He was a willing tool in the hands of others* and bad' been gnilty of great disrespect to the Chairman. (Cheers.) Mr. Merriman looked upon it as a direct, deliberate, and intentional insult to the house, and wished that it should be viewed in that light, rather than as an insult to him as the Chairman. In that view he thought that such conduct ought to be censured in the strongest possible manner. He did not think the house possessed the power to expel, but he was prepared to move an amendment with the intention of moving a subsequent resolution. He would therefore move, " That Lhis house do adjudge that Mr. James Mackay has been guilty of contempt." Mr. Revans suggested that the wording should be "gross coutempt." Mr. Merriman was willing to put it as "gross and premeditated coutempt." Mr. Carletok thought that Mr. James Macandrew's name should be coupled with Mr. Mackays in tbe resolution. Mr. Merriman thought that Mr. Mackay'* case should be dealt with separately. Mr. Carleton rose to make a specific motion respecting Mr. Macaridrew, but after a brief consultation with Mr. Sewell, which was not audible, he did not press the motion. Eventually, the resolution was amended and carried as follows :—: — That this house do adjudge, that Mr. James Mtekar, the member for Nelson, has, by his conduct, been guilty of a gross and premeditated contempt of the house. Mr. Merriman observed that as the Report of tbe Committee of Privileges had not yet been approved l»y the Governor, he found he was not able to bring forward the resolution which he had intended to move. After these proceedings the Committee resumed, and, as we have stated, the resolutions were agreed to. The Speaker having resumed the Chair, the resolutions were reported and adopted by the house. Mr. Sewell then rose and said, that as that was probably tbe last opportunity that wonld be afforded him, he would address some observations to tbe bouse on a matter which, though it related to him personally, affected in some degree every member of that bouse. He had himself to ccmplain of the colonial press being open to attacks upon him personally. It had been imputed to i him that be, bad accused the members of tbe old Executive Council of malpractices in relation to the finances of the country. This he disclaimed entirely. He believed he had never accused those gentlemen of anything that would be dishonorable to them individually. He regarded them as the instruments of an iniquitous system. He had been assailed with the imputation of similar practices to himself, which he could not but describe as a false, foul, malicious, and scandalous libel. (Cheering.) Some months ago, in consequence of attacks like these, he had found' it necessary to publish a detailed statement in the LytteltonTimes of the affairs of the Canterbury Association so far as be had been connected with them. He could appeal to the hon. member for Lyttelton (Mr* Fitzgerald) whether the arrangements were notfair and reasonable on bis part, for .laying this statement before tbe Provincial Council, and whether he had aot placed all tbe information he could before tbe Committee, relating to 1 the management of the finances of the Association. Indeed he believed at that time he was a creditor of the Association to the amount of 500/ or 600/. He was perfectly ashamed to be obliged to bring his personal matters before the house in this way, but he was obliged to do so io order to defend himself from the attacks, which he had been exposed to, and .all. of which be must denounce as, base, false, foul, .malicious, and' scandalous libels. (Great cheering from several' benches). Mr. Fitzgerald then gave notice that he should on a future day move tbe-foflowing address to the Officer Administering jthe Government:— May it please your Excellency, — We, the Commons of New Zealand in their House of Representatives assembled, beg leave with deep respect to acknowledge .tlie receipt of your" Excellency's message No. 30, on the subject of the. address presented to your Excellency by this House on the 9th instant. We regret to be compelled to represent to your Excellency that the house was led to tha adoption of their address of the 9th 'instant by statements made in his place in this House, by 3^lr. E. G. W.atefield representing himself to be your sole adviser in the-present crisis of affairs, vrhich statements, we' lire r glad to 'find from, your Excellency's meisage are without foundation. _Mr. Sewbll then moved" that Message-No. 4J3 be read. % Tfte SpEAKE.R.read the message, together with the Proclamation enclosed, proroguing the Assembly to the 31st instt The members who had remained for the .final proceedings, dispersed about 4r o'clock, p.m.