The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1867.

Southland Times, Issue 706, 7 August 1867, Page 2

The Southland Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1867.

The Victorian news by the last mail presents a far less favorable political complexion than any that has been received for a considerable period. There is another hitch between the Legislative Council and the Government, which may result in a " dead lock " equally as determined as the previous disagreement between the two houses of Parliament, that ended by the recall of the Governor, Sir Cbables Dabli^g by the Imperial Government. At that time the M'Culloch Ministry, who had induced His Excellency to a line of action that the Imperial authorities were please to view as unconstitutional, was extremely popular, and numerous demonstrations were made by the people to express their indignation at the course taken by. the English Government, in the recall, under severe censure, of Sir Chables Dabldtg. The Ministry at once brought the question before the Assembly, and proposed a vote of £20,000 as a girt to Lady Dabling, in recognition of the independent stand made, and' valuable service His Excellency had rendered to the colony. The vote was passed almost unanimously, but the gift was declined, on the ground that as an offlcei of the Imperial Government, no such testimony of the approbation of his conduct by the colonists could be accepted, until the censure~that had been passed was withdrawn, or further colonial employment refused. The question has again cropped up, and is likely to lead to another breach of the two branches of the Colonial Parliament. The Argus, 29th July says : " The last mail brought a communication from the Secretary for the Colonies to His Excellency, to the effect that Sib Charles Dabltng — disappointed, probably, with the results of his appeals to successive Ministers in Downing-street — had chosen to retire from the colonial service, and to forfeit any claims he might have for a pension. The same mail conveyed a cornmuuication to the Government from Sir Chables Dabllsg, which intimated that his pecuniary position was one of increasing embarrassment. The Ministry ou Wednesday last, brought down Supplementary Estimates, amounting in all to some £200,000. One at. least of the amounts — the payment to New South Wales agreed upon in lieu of the Border Customs — was unobjectionable ; but among the proposed votes was one of £20,000 for Sib Chablel Da.blt.itg. Whatever sympathy may be felt privately for our late Governor, who fell a victim to the advice of his Ministers and his own weak judgment, it was obvious that the Opposition could not be expected to agree to such an appropriation of the public money." During the period that has elapsed since the first vote was given, the opposition in the Assembly has been gaining strength, and taken this opportunity to test it. The general opinion is — that they are too weak to carry their views by a legitimate vote, " but strong enough and resolved enough, not to permit the Ministry to have their own way," and are determined to fight a hard battle to prevent the passing of the Appropriation Act — at least until the steamer with the mails for England has sailed. The novel way in which the opposition carried out their determination is thus described : — " Resorting to the tactics permitted by the standing orders while the House was in Committee of Supply, the adjournment of the debate and motions to report progress were moved alternately ; and the better to sustain the struggle the Opposition was told off into regular watches, which succeeded each other in due order, and by this means made its limited numbers a match for the majority which sat behind Ministers. In this struggle — while strangers were mercifully excluded — the whole of the night of Wednesday was passed, and, with the interval of- an hour, all through Thursday, till it became * necessary that progress should be reported, that the Speaker might be enabled to take the chair at the usual hour. Sir Fbancts Mubphy having duly commenced the business of another day, the business of the nigh^ before was speedily resumed in committee, and the same round of motions and divisions was proceeded with, varied with an occasional vote and repeated attempts to compromise the differences between the two side 3of the House — the opposition expressing a determination to maintain the struggle till the mail should leave, and Ministers being as determined apparently to force the weaker side to give way and accept the obnoxious vote. Thus passed Thursday until eleven p.m./ when" Ministers gave way; and the House adjourned till Tuesday next, after a continuous sitting of thirtyone and a half hours.' ? In addition to this opposition, the Council will in all probability, as this amount has been placed upon the Supplimentary Estimates, if passed by the

' Assembly, again raise the question of "tacking," and refuse to pass the Appropriation Act until the Government consent to withdraw this £20,000 item, and bring it forward as a special Act ; and thus create another " dead lock." It will be recollected that the Legislative Council, after its protracted dispute with the Assembly, proposed to reform its own constitution, and a Bill was drawn up of a liberal character — lowering the qualification for members and the franchise, and re-adjusting the electoral districts, which passed its first reading. It was generally received with favor, but on the second reading, was thrown out, upon an amendment, to the effect that it was desirable that a Select Committee should be elected, composed of members of both Houses of Parliament, to consider the questions of the registration of electors, the boundaries of the provinces, the distribution of seats, and the subject of representation of minorities, and to report what alterations, additions, or improvements may be desirable to secure the. efficiency, and harmony of the two branches of the Legislature. Official information was announced as being received of the intended visit of the Duke of Edinburgh, (Pblstce Alfbed), and suggested that liberal provisions should be made to ensure him a befitting and loyal reception. Another subject that perhaps more particularly intei'ests the colonists of New Zealand has also been discussed. The united Australian and New Zealand Postal Service, of which we have heard so much, is likely to come to grief. It is affirmed by the Victorian Ministers that the resolutions passed at the Federal Postal Conference, laid it down that, upon the completion of the "Victorian graving dock, Melbourne was to be the terminus of the Suez line, Sydney being the terminus of the Panama line. Mr Paekes, Chief Secretary of New South Wales, denies that any such understanding was arrived at, and in a Federal Council Bill, has provided that the project may be carried out, though one or more of the consenting colonies should withdraw. This has given umbrage to Victoria, aud its Ministry intimates that they must be prepared to take into their own hands the arrangement of the Suez service, and maintain it single handed. This is tantamouut to an avowal of withdrawal from the conference agreement. Thus it would appear the postal system, to which His Excellency Sib Geobge Obey, in his opening speech on the meeting of the General Assembly, congratulated the members as being satisfactorily perfected, is likely to become a difficulty. 2J£\v South Wales cannot afford to supply the Victorian contribution to the Panama line, and will look to New Zealand to share the extra cost, while Victoria will also claim from this colony increased assistance, if it participates in the benefits arising from the Suez line. Thus we may be placed in a worse position than we were before the Postal Conference entered upon its duties, which duties appear to have been but indifferently performed. It is most essential to the South Island that the Suez line should be maintained intact.