PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 200, 29 August 1874, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

THE ABOLITION RESOLUTIONS.

MAJORITY TWENTY FIVE FOR THE GOVERNMENT. SURPRISE AT THE DIVISION. Wellington, August 20. Mb. Fitzherbert shirked speaking last night, although he had requested the whip to announce he would speak. He had arranged again to speak to-night, and again drew back. He probably feared being followed by Mr. Vogel, whose knowledge of Wellington’s wonderful finance is too keen for their comfort. Mr. Stafford arrived to-day. On the question being put the votes were —for the Government, 41 ; against, 16. Pa rs, 6, making 47 to 22.

The following is the division list: —Ayes, 41 : Atkinson, Andrews, Bluett, Bradshaw, T. E. Brown, Bryce, Buckland, Creighton, Cuthbertson, Fox, Gibbet 7 , Jackson, Katene, Reynolds, Richmond, J. Shephard, Steward, Tairoa, Vogel, Wilson, Tribe, T. Kelly, W. Kelly, Kenny, Luckie M’Giliivray, M’Glashan, M’Lean, Mervyn, Munro, O’Connor, O’Neill, Ormond, G. B. Parker, Richardson, Seymour, Stafford, Studhohme, Toltnie, Webb, Wood. Noes, 16: Brown, Curtis, T. B. Gillies, Maeandrew, Montgomery, Reid, Sheehan, Williams, J. C. Bunny, Fitzherbert, Hunter, May, Reeves, Rolleston, Swanson, Williamson. Pairs.—Ayes: Parata, T. L. Shepherd, C. Parker, Ingles, Carrington, Takamoana, Murray, Gillies, Brandon, Thomson. The following members were absent from the division : —Harrison, O’Rorke, Pearce, Pyke, Wakefield, Wales, Webster, Von der Heyde.

Mr. Vogel said this was a great event in the history of New Zealand, and the House was not quite in the temper to go on with the ordinary business.

Mr. Maeandrew said they had better go on, as he was not afraid, and was not fluttered. It was the beginning of a fight.

August 21. There never was a more complete surprise than last night.

The House, reporters, and gallery were taken all aback, and you could not possibly have had the particulars if Mr. Vogel had not goodnaturedly kept the office open half-an-hour beyond official time. There had been 22 speakers in favor of the resolutions, and only 17 against, and though Messrs. Stafford and Fitzherbert were in the Chamber it was felt that the Opposition could not come to time. The sponge was thrown up and a division called, the result of which you know.

A number of members were shut out in the lobbies who did not vote.

Some say that next session Mr. Vogel will come down with a measure to abolish the provinces in the South Island, and if the House turns up its gorge at that then he will appeal to the country.

Messrs. Stafford and Fitzherbert were in the House when the division was called, but the latter saw no chance, and any appeal to palaver was given up.

It is understood that Mr. Fitzherbert will give notice to-day to ask for leave to introduce a new Constitution Bill.

MR. VON DER HEYDE’S ELECTION VOID. The Waft em ata Election Committee has decided the seat vacant. August 22. A most exciting scene continued for two hours in the House last night. . There was a slashing encounter between Mr. Fitzherbert and the Premier. The personalities and retorts were of the most vigorous character. Mr. Fox made it a triangular duel by coming to the aid of his old colleague, and was frightfully severe on the Superintendent, politically speaking. The Premier has establised a row on Fitzherbert, who is ready at a word to run a-muck at anything from the Premier. The Premier succeeded in carrying his point. The £15,000 for Manawatu land claim will remain in the Colonial Treasury. The wording of Mr Fitzherbert’s motion for dissolution is considered by his friends to be injudicious and calculated to destroy a chance of its acceptance by the House. It is said he has been primed and loaded with an annoying speech all the week, and must unbottle or burst.

It was admitted in the House last night that some of the evidence in the Ward-Chapman case could nof decently be laid on the table. Messrs. Stafford, Wood, and Inglis walked out of the House upon division on the Manawatu claim.

Mr. Fitzherbert gave notice that on the House going into committee of supply he would move that before giving effect to the resolutions for the abolition of the North Island provinces the wishes of the constituents throughout the colony be ascertained, and that an address be presented to his Excellency praying him to dissolve the present Parliament.

In the House yesterday Mr. O’Rorke explained that his absence from the House during the division on Mr. Vogel’s resolutions was because he had not. expected that the debate would close so early. He would have voted for tho previous question.

Messrs White and Harrison made similar statements.

Mr. Wales said he intended to have voted for the Government, but was shut out. Sir Donald M’Lean moved the second reading of the Volunteer Amendment Bill. It enabled the various corps to acquire land for volunteer companies, to be vested in the commanders of corps and their successors. It also provided t hat licenses may be granted to members of volunteer corps for the purpose of rifle or artillery practices. The Act also applied to land heretofore purchased.