EVENING SITTING.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 79, 2 December 1864, Page 2

EVENING SITTING.

On the House resuming, Mr. MACDONALD said Jhat as there tm same confusion., or misunderstanding .regarding the ruling of the Speaker on the question of the election of Mir. Heale as Superintendent, h* would now ask, — " What the ruling was ?" , ■ The Speaker said in answer, that the motion was carried, but he gave it as his opinion, that his decision did not decide the election. .There „ were considerable differences of opinion on the question of the phrase " absolute majority," and he would therefore leave ifc an open question. According to the voting there were nine for and eight against the motion. ~ ~ Dr. MENZIES then said'that as he understood the motion was not decided, there was no election. t t The SPEAKER again said ho did no r t fe«l qualified to decide the point raised. Dr. MENZIES said the ruling of the Speaker is final, and by the New Provinces' Act, if nayshould object their courae is clear. Mr. STUART also asked- for a definite under-' *"' standing of the Speaker's ruling^ ; „'-*.- Mr. M'NAB said he had first " declared- th*-*-' "nSotion^was carried, and afterwards that it was not. The SPEAKER now said that liii meaning may not have been clear, but he had hoped that it might be so. • -' _, • _, ' After further remarks from various members, Mr. CUTHBERTSON said he , -would refer to ' . the standing orders, "wherein it would bo found that the Speaker should- decide in all ■ cases ,not already decided. Mr. M'NAB then said if his decision is final, he would move that the minute be read. Mr. M'KELLAR seconded the motion. The SPEAKER again made a few remarks* during which he informed the House that ho did not feel competent to act, as a .'judge in ;fche, matter. < ,1-, The minutes of the proceedings of Council in the forenoon, were now read, when a discussion ensued on their alteration or correction. It was decided that the proper time to mtkt^ - any alteration on the minutea would be when tixvf came on for confirmation,

Mr.^STUJLET'lib^^ of the resolution of the House , be , -forwarded to Mr.Heale. - :- : -'- ■ /— ' --':■.. I-/ • .-■. Dr. nS.QD&KHNSON seconded the motion. Mr. OUTHBEBTSON moved as an amendment, that prior to the election of Superintendent the House should enter into * discussion of the relative' powers of the Superintendent and the Council. x --"j; c, •■ |'• i;.-' i-^ ■: '- "••. } \ ■ .. - ■ Mr. CAIiDER reminded the hon. member for the Waiau, that no.. motion; could be introduced without previ6uß ; nbtice being given. Dr. MENZEES "characterised the objection as iltogether. hypercritical. ; There had been some motions of more importance made in. , the earlier part of the day-r—such as for the election of Speaker and ■ Superintendent— -and - for which no previous.npticei could possibly be given.; . : Mr. O BJERAE -now seconded Mr. Outhbertson's wriendmenti; ; „; : ; , ; , -" ; .:-.■_/■ -'■•.-.;■:. '■_:• : Mr. 3MEA,GDONAIiD, though an hon. member ; who had ju»t spoken, had ►done so rather hastily on the matter of ■"• notica of .motion." ; With reference to ;; the election, of a Speaker and a Superintendent, this mm proceeded; with by the House in purßuanceofaspeciaiprovisiofloftheAct.Therewar one thing .which he. (Mr.rMacdonaldj noticed at thej opening sitting pf the Council, ; and that was that when the present Superintendent was proposed for the office, not a word ha^i .been said of the settlement of the relative powers, 'but when another was proposed and elected, the thought seemed to suddenly strike ithose voting against him. (hear hear) The Kule;lfo. 27- of the standing orders being ■•uspended/bpth'motion and amendment were put with the foTLJwinfe^sult:-^ ; ;/ • r ; For the jamendmenti ijhe.Ypting was :■— Ayes 9 j Koes — 8/J "It wai therefore lost. „... For the 'origm»l= motion there where Ayes 9 ; Ifoes8.. ;; ";----! - ' '•■> •>•• "•■.".•■'•■ ':'■<■■ -Vru'L.;-;- '-„:. The motion ;wa8 r therefore- declared carried. : .- During^ the division some strategy was; displayed by the' leaders'iof the -opposing parties, and one honorable member- .wentveo^ iar as to forget: he was not Speaker,- and -invoke .the aid of a constable to take another hon. member in charge. The SPEAEER ruled that' while; the division was bemg''tat^'-nq'inem^er''was.at:libeTtjr.'t6 pass from one Bide. r t6 .the other. - : : - ; Mr. MACDONAI/D supported this by quoting parliamentary 'authority^ on ; the subject, which stated that eyiaa if a member were by .mistake on the Bide* opposed to 'hiß - views his- vote was to -he recorded' on: that side. ' : Dr. 'MENZEES ffieh said— lf the law is on the • other side, this side cannot claim the vote. This he thought xo very fair and reasonable. „ ,pim;xnoes op the peovxnch. ■„... Mr. CALDER, Jjy a majority; of; eleven to. six, obtained leave, to suspend rule 27 of the Standing Orders to enable him. to, move "That a select eominittee be ' appointed 1 "to inquire into the financialcondition of the Province, and report on Wednesday, -the' 7tliins<;." '■•■ • • - : — : - j i~Dr. HODEEN9ON seconded the motion. Mr. GUTHBEBTSON* moved another aniend--ment as* before, which was seconded by Mr. Ceeeab;j-"^£^ ■ <'-■-• ■-' < ' . " ■ Dr. MENZTES'andreised the Council at considerable length, and entered upon an elaborate disquisition as to the concurrent and delegated powers possessed by the Superintendent of the Province. . '_ Dr. ttOJD&KENSON said the question before before the House was^ not one of Constitutional Government, but one' for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the financial condition of the Province. A division took place on the amendment, when there voted— aye 3, 8 1; noes, 9. The original motion was then put, and passed. The House then adjourned at 10 minutes past 10 o'clock, to 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday next.