THE PARLIAMENTS OF THE PAST.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5092, 19 July 1877, Page 2

THE PARLIAMENTS OF THE PAST.

The first Parliament of Xew Zealand met for the first time on 24th May, 1354, and the roll contained the following names :— T. J. W. Baoat, T. H. Bartley, John Cargill, Hugh Carleton, Charles Clifford. W. M. Crompton, W. H. Cutten, J. E. Fitz Gerald, T. S. Forsaitli, F. N. Gledhill, Major Gray, Major Greenwood, Robert Hart, James Kelham, Thoa. King, Walter Lee, A. Ludlam, James Maoandrew, James Mackay, F. W. Merriman, David Monro, L. O’Brien, James O’Xeill, A. 0. Picard. W. F. Porter, S. Bevans, W. B. Rhodes, Henry Sewell, C. J. Taylor, Edward Gibbon Wakefield, F. A. Weld, J. S. Worthey, E. J. Wakefield, W. O. Cautley, W. T. L. Travers, I. E. Featherston, and W. S. Moorhouse. It is a fact' indicative of the many changes of less than a quarter of a century, when we find that in the above long list we can only find three names which still remain on the roll of the House of Representatives. Mr, Macaudrew appears to be the veteran of the House, as he was elected a few days before either Mr. Moorhouse or Mr. Travers, and his claim to that honor is strengthened by the fact that his membership has been unbroken save on one solitary occasion of very short duration. Starting with Dunedin as his constituency, he moved to Olutha, to Bruce, and to Port Chalmers, till he has at last returned to his old love, and in this first session

of united New Zealand Parliament he represents Dunedin as he did on the occasion of the Hou=e first meeting. His career in the Parliament has been a remarkable one. Perhaps no member has exercised so much influence on politics as he has done, yet his name never once comes to the front as a colonial Minister. Mr. Moorhouse’s parliamentary career has been a chequered one. His entrances and exits to the arena may almost be numbered by tens. On each occasion he has sat for an exceedingly short time, and as a rule for a different constituency, yet he has always found a seat in Canterbury. Once he secured two seats, the second being in Westland; but he elected to sit for the Canterbury constituency. He was elected in 1858 or 1859 to represent Akaroa, and on this occasion a circumstance occurred which we believe to be unparalleled in the history of New Zealand. No opponent being nominated, the returning officer declared Mr. Moorhouss to be duly elected. He proceeded to Auckland and demanded admittance to the House ; but access was refused by the Speaker, as no return to the writ had been received. Mr. Moorhouse petitioning the House, a select committee was appointed to try his claim, and on the evidence of Mr. Crosbie Ward, who produced copies of the Lyttelton. Times, and related conversations he had heard, the committee decided there was sufficient evidence to warrant them awarding the seat to Mr. Moorhouse as claimed. Whether the missing writ ever turned up we are not aware. It will be observed that many of the most prominent men of the day did not appear in the first Parliament. But responsible government was introduced after some difficulty, and in the new Parliament, which met in 1856, we find the names of Messrs. Beckham, P. D. Bell, Domett, Fitzherbert, W. Pox. C. W. Richmond, Stafford, Whitaker, Dudley Ward, John Williamson, and John Hall. The first responsible Ministry was formed by Mr. Stafford-, the offices being thus allocated : Colonial Secretary, Mr. Richmond ; Colonial Treasurer. Mr. Sewell ; Attorney-General, Mr. Whitaker ; Mr. Stafford holding an unofficial seat in the Cabinet. In tihe succeeding year or two the new faces of Messrs. Crosbie Ward, Monro, Haultain, Brandon, C. B, Carter, T. B. Gillies, and J. C. Richmond appeared in the House, and the general election of 1861 brought in amongst others Thomas Russell, J. C. Pirth, Reader Wood, O’Rorke, J. D. Ormond, Cracroft Wilson, and Mantell; and during the session of 1861 Major Atkinson obtained his first seat. There were many changes before the next general election, and during this period there were introduced into the House men whose influence and ability have made their mark. Mr. C. W. Richmond and Mr. J. C. Firth quitted political life altogether, and there were resignations by Messrs. Moorhouse, Carter, Fox, Gillies, Reader Wood, and others. Mr. Vogel came in about this time, and Mr. Macandrew, who had been out of the House for two sessions, returned, and has remained in the house ever since. Messrs. Bunny and Creighton were new members at the same time. At the general election of 1866 Donald McLean, Curtis, Reynolds, Donald Reid, and E. C. J. Stevens found seats. From this time forward the old identities seemed to drop out. The names of Fitz Gerald, Mantell, Crosbie Ward, Waring Taylor, Rhodes, Domett, Weld, and others cease to figure in the records, and in 1871 we obtain Messrs. Andrew, Bathgate, Gisborne, Hunter, Walter Johnston, Thomas Kelly, George McLean, Murray, Pearce, Richardson, Rolleston, Swanson, Thompson, Tribe, Reader Wood, to the exclusion either by their own desire or by compulsion of Hugh Carleton, Colonel Haultain, Ludlam, Sir D. Monro, Moorhouse. J. C. Richmond, Travers, and others. The results of the election of 1876 are too well known to need comment.