A LONG DEBATE.

Southland Times, Issue 709, 14 August 1867, Page 3

A LONG DEBATE.

(From the " Argus " 26th July.) After the longest sitting on record, exteuding over thirty-one hours, the Legislative Assembly at eleven o'clock last niiiht adjourned until Tuesday nest. This is, without exception, the most detertniued contest that Ims ever taken place between the Ministerialist party and the Opposition — the majority aud minority — in the colony. The minority, however, on this occasion had a decided advantage. They could keep up the game with only two members present; the Government had to secure at all times a quorum of tweutv members. The matter of dispute was ostensibly the Additional Estimates which were brought down, amounting, exclusive of re-votes, to over £200,000. The Opposition contended that the consideration of the matter should not be entered on until the Treasurer had made a supplementary financial . statement. The Government and their supporters contended that the votes should be taken first, and the statement made afterwards. The actual reason, however, of the determiued struggle was, that in the Additional Estimates appeared the sum of £20,000 for Lady Darling. It was believed that the Ministerialists wished to pass this prior to the departure of the outgoing mail, and the Opposition were determined to take advantage of the forms of the House to prevent the realisation .of this desire. The minority achieved the wished-ibr delay, and at ten o'clock last nio-bt a compromise was arrived at, the Opposition consenting to go on with the Estimates on the Treasurer's assurauce that any vote, not a re-vote, which was objected" to should be postponed. It was pretty evident that this arrangement did not cover the Lady Darling rote, since, as that had been assented to by the House, it was a question whether, although it had never appeared on the Estimates, it was not are-vote. Although this matter was the principal cause of the contention, it was somewhat amusing to observe how dexterously all reference to it was avoided, till at last it was alluded to by Messrs Levey and Orr, and, at a later period, by the Attorn ey-Greneral. It seemed to be understood that the mere mention of the matter would be the signal for an outbreak to which all that had preceded it would be but a trifle. Shortly after midnight on Wednesday strangers were ordered to withdraw from the House, and the press left the gallery. Subsequently, we are informed, some amusing scenes took place. One lion, member indulged in brandy and watei whilst luxuriating in the Speaker's chair. and doubtless meditating on the happiness it would afford him could he noi only sit in the seat but draw the salary two other hon. members are representec as doiu-> a little amateur theatrical busi ness in one corner of the chamber, whiisi bad recitations and stale jokes were bein< retailed in another. At one time an hon member, noted for his sonorous elo queuce, was addressing the Chamber and observed with evident gratifica tion the nods of asssent given ty the Chief Secretary , the Attorney- General and the Chairman of Committees ; bu his self-conceit received a startling shod when, finishing his oration, he discovere< that the hon. gentlemen alluded to wee asleep, and the nods w 7 ere a .tribute t< god of sleep rather than to himself. A laughable occurrence took place abou four o'clock on Thursday morning. Mos pf those present were anything but Yer

• wide-awake when the Chairman, whose i head had for some time been slightly [ verging from, the perpendicular, suddenly appeared to think he ought to do somes tV'ug. He therefore hastily proposed the ; first vote on the Estimates, and before ■ hoo. members were well aware of what was going on it was carried. At four o'clock, Visleiday afternoon the public were re admitted, and busiuess went on . in the ordinary manner. Whilst on this subject;, we may say that the statement which has been circulated, to the effect that on Wednesday night, whilst the re- ! porters were present, the Legislative ; Chamber presented a scene such as might be witnessed " in a rat-pit or at a cockfight," is utterly without foundation. The debate was conducted throughout in an orderly and temperate manner, such as is j'arely seen upon such occasions. The only disreputable episode ( was a series of recriminatory charges in- » J duJged in by the hon. members Messrs j i Jones and Gt. P. Smith, which went to j prove that neither is a particularly desirable member of the House. The votes ultimately agreed to before progress was reported amounted to £99,605 ss, and included the sum of £66,500 due to "New South Wales on account of the Border duties.