The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5217, 11 December 1877, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1877.

When the Speaker of the House of Representatives yesterday had finished reading the list of measures that had received the vice-regal assent, he addressed a short homily to the House on the necessity for securing all the privilege of the House, and providing that none of them should be infringed by means of the Appropriation Act. A good many members wondered what this sudden ex cathedra utterance apropos of nothing might mean, and it was nbt until after the prorogation had taken place that it leaked out that some very extraordinary and unconstitutional proceedings had occurred. It seems that when the Speaker of the House, the Sergeant-at-Arms, the Hon. Mr. Macandrew, and Mr. Carrington had gone up to his Excellency to receive his assent to the different measures, it was found that tlio Land Bill had not been included amongst them. It then turned out that Sir Georoe Grey had distinctly requested his Excellency to veto this Bill. The Governor refused point blank to take such a course, which would be unconstitutional in the extreme, the Government of Sir George Grey having carried the Bill through both Houses of Parliament themselves, without a hint, whilst Parliament was assembled, that they intended to prevent the Bill becoming law. It is asserted that Sir George Grey at this conjuncture made a fool of himself by losing his temper, and inferring that the Governor was trampling upon and rending a poor suffering lamb, in his person; and in the stumping progress which he was about to make throughout the colony he would appeal for justice to the people. However, this is beside the main issue, which was that the Speaker and those with him found themselves in a peculiar position. Considerable delay ensued, which caused the meeting of the House of Representatives that was to have taken place at halfpast two o’clock to be delayed until three. Ultimately Mr. Macandrew pledged himself that the consent of Sir George Grey to the final step foxmaking the Land Bill law should be given; but the Governor, who has evidently had experience of the groat pro-Consul, required that such consent should be given in writing. Mr. Macandrew left, and he and Mr. Sheehan had a brief, but, it is pretty well known, strong interview with Sir George Grey, after which the latter yielded, and all became smooth again. This last business ought to settle Sir George Grey in the estimation of the people of the colony. The vetoing of such a Bill as the Land Bill in connection with the passing the Act enabling the Government to sell the waste lands of the Crown by auction would have simply enabled a number of landsbarks to swallow up the national estate, and deprived the people of their right. We always said that this was the policy of Sir George Grey and Mr. Larnach ;—now we are sure of it.