PROVINCIAL MEMS.

Southland Times, Volume VII, Issue 523, 20 July 1866, Page 3

PROVINCIAL MEMS.

- — » . ■ - , %t) Advertise* (Wellington) of the 6th Mf says:-— "The Committee on the beet method of reporting the debates in the Assembly aw td bring up their report nest Thursday. Some hoii. members think that it would be altogether an un> neoessary expense to undertake nnything of the kind, and allege a9 an argument that if a member wants to see his speech in print lie ought to pay for it himself. We would remind them, however, - that the object of a record of the debates is not that hon members should read what they hare spoken, but that their constituents might have a record of what transpired, by which, they could judge of what their elected representatives had done in their interests. The necessity for such a record has been felt in almost every British colony except this one, and has been provided for at home during very many years. Mr Stafford, in moving for the appointment of the Committee, said that their -were two courses open to the House, if it saw the advisability of having the record. One was to take the whole matter into ts own hands, and the other to subsidize some journal to perform the work. Wo shall, of course, abstain from discussing the relative merits of the two processes, but we can, without hesitation, say that one of them ought to be adopted." The New Zealand Advertiser, of the 6th July, says : — " Owing to the remarkable arrangements which are now in force with resnect to the House of Representatives, every obstacle seems to be put in the way of the journals obtaining access to documents which are of great public importance, in time for their next issue, while the possibility of ingress to the reporters' gallery is exceedingly uncertain. For the notices of motion we have to apply at the Government printing office with the certainty of not being able to obtain them on. one day, at least, in the week, and the obtaining of other documents is equally precarious in practice whatever it may be in theory. Then for the reporting we may mention that a rule prevails that the reporters are not to be admitted until the prayers in the House are over, and a messenger condescends to open the door to them ; but as messengers are at that time very busy, it requires no little management and 'shepherding' to get the key of the gallery. Yesterday, this unfortunate key was somehow lost, and, as will be seen by our report of the proceedings, the first part of the business is also lost to the public. The history of the peregrinations of the key are amusing — it hangs usually on a hook by the side of the main entrance to the buildings, and was taken yesterday by the House Committee, who, havin inspected the gallery, put the key in one of their pockets, or gave it to a messenger, who again gave it, or rather did not give it to somebody else, and the conseqnence was, when the House opened the reporters had to stay outside while search was made for it. This search lasted for twenty minutes, at the end of which time the key was found lying on the table of the clerk of the House. As a still further inducement to journal to give good reports, or even summaries of the business, we may say that the House Committee have determined to remove the reporters from their present gallery to that immediately in front of the strangers' gallery, where they are much more likely to hear the whispered conversation of the gentlemen behind them, than the speeches of the hon. gentlemen before them. Seriously speaking, if this change Bhould be carried out, it will be utterly impossible to give anything like correct reports. We trust, however, that the Government will put a veto upon it. The reason given is that the members of the Legislative Council object to the gallery at present allotted to them, and the public must suffer for their convenience." In commenting upon Civil Service Examinations, the Wellington Independent, 25th June, has the following : — The New Zealand Herald says : — " During the course of the present month the employes in H.M. Customs will undergo, wo hear, a literary examination, and it is said that Mr. Gisborne and Mr. Seed will be sent up from. Wellington to conduct the affair. The subjects on which the examination will be held are not yet authoritatively made known, but is supposed that they will be of a very comprehensive nature, including a thorough knowledge of geography, three modern languages, mathematics, natural philosophy, and mechanics. We are not aware whether the system of holding such examinations is to be carried out in the case of officers holding appointments in other departments." The ITerald must have made a»very ludicrous blunder, or the Government apparently expect that the Custom-house officers are Admirable Crichtons. We think Mr. Gisborne and Mr. Seed would be puzzled to paBS an examination of a character so '•' comprehensive" as to include a " thorough knowledge of geography, three modern languages, mathematics, natural philosophy, and mechanics." In Eugland the examination of Custom-house officers includes spelling grammar, writing frora dictation, arithmetic, including decimal fractions, geography, English history and writing an article on a specified subject. In the case of several candidates competing for ono appointnie at, the examination includes one of the following aubjects viz. :— Latin, French, or any modern 7 anguage. ~" These were the rules observed by the Civil Service Commissioners in Great Br.'ain up to a recent period, and we have not h arc! of any " alteration having been made in then: In the House of Representatives, on Friday, July 6th, the following discussion took place on the affairs of Southland, having reference to the late Railway Investigation Petition. Mr Wood in calling attention to the affairs of Southland, gave a short history of its misfortunes, the result of which, was othe stoppage of the railway and the embarraiiment of the Provincial Government. Much blame was due to some persons, either through carelessness or something worse,"* for the manner in which, the public monies of the Province had been spent. In conclusion he moved, — " That an humble address be presented to his Excellency, praying that his Excellency will be pleased to appoint a Commission to enquire into and report upon the . allegations contained in the petition of certain inliabitants of Southland, in respect of the expenditure of public funds on the railway works in that Province." Mr D. Bell seconded the motion. Mr Borlase said that he would regret to see this I motion carried, as he thought the petition should. j be first considered, and the charges made known I and investigated, preliminari!? by the House, sd that they might consider whatiit-r.a Commissionshould be appointed. Mr Stafford hop»,J th»t the resolution would be withdrawn untii, at say * j rate, the petition wa? con^iderc-d in th« u^tiS^ j way. Moreover, he did hoc think- that the €S^i|p< j veriiiuenfc siiauld interfere in what was purely d^ ; Provincial matter. He did nor. --cc tfc.-"' a Com* i mission would be of any practical «.' < ■ .