The Standard. (PULISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY, AND SATURDAY.) TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1874.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 136, 17 February 1874, Page 2

The Standard. (PULISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY, AND SATURDAY.)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1874.

“ We shall sell to no man justice or right: We shall deny to no man justice or right: We shall defer to no man justice or right.”

The Superintendent’s meeting held last Friday evening in the. Court House is fully reported in our columns this morning, and cannot but be regarded as satisfactory. We are however, precluded from remarking on it in this issue. The principle item of interest from the South, to hand by the Pretty Jane yesterday morning, is the General Assembly chaos. The telegrams from Wellington do not extend beyond the llth, at which date the Governor had not arrived at the Seat of Government.

The houses had met in small numbers, and. Mr. Vogel, who happened to be present, did the best he could under the circumstances. The following is the latest telegraphic intelligence published in the Hawke’s Bay papers on the subject:— “ The House of Representatives met at 5 o’clock, on the 11th. The Clerksaid that, in consequence of the absence of the Speaker and the Chairman of Committees, it would be necessary, according to the rules of the House, to adjourn till the following day. “ Mr. Vogel then made the following statement: — The meeting of members of both Houses yesterday arose through the non-appearance of an expected proclamation of prorogation. Some weeks ago it was intended to further prorogue Parliament. His Excellency was advised to that effect, and he signified his willingness to comply with the advice. It is probable that a proclamation of a prorogation has been signed, but, if such be the case, it has miscarried. As a few members of Parliament attended yesterday, some members of the Government also attended the meeting which took place. Since then, the Attornev-Gencral’s opinion had been taken, Jand I attach it for your information. It is clear that the present meetings do not constitute a session, and, as soon as a prorogation can be proclaimed, it will be. In the meanwhile, if the members in Wellington meet daily, such meetings will not constitute a session, and members will probably, after to-day, not meet; at least, the Government will so advise. To-day they will probably meet, as yesterday they agreed to do so. There seems no reason why you should put yourselves to the trouble of coming to Wellington at present. “ A telegraphic circular of the above was sent by the Government to each member of Parliament not in Wellington. “ The Attorney-General says: I think that, as the Governor has not met and addressed the two other elements of the General Assembly, neither of those elements can proceed to any business but adjourn till met by the Governor, and addressed by him; consequently, neither House can sit. Each may meet, but cannot sit and proceed to business. It is held that a complete Act must be passed, otherwise there is no session. To constitute an Act there must be a Bill passed by each House, and assented to by the Governor. Therefore, there will be no session within the meaning of the fifteenth section of the Constitution Act, and the Governor may safely and properly prorogue to a later date. The time elapsed between the date to which the Assembly was prorogued by the last instrument of prorogation, namely the 10th February, and the date of the next instrument of prorogation will not have been a session, although members of each House of Assembly may have met and adjourned.”