GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Southland Times, Issue 998, 5 August 1868, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Summarised from Hansard.) Parliament was prorogued by his Excellency the G-overnor on the 10th October, 1867, to the 31st January, 1868 ; was then further prorogued to the 17th March, 1868 ; was then further prorogued to the 28th May, 1868 ; was then further prorogued to the 23rd June, 1868 ; and was then further prorogued to Thursday, the 9th July, 1868, when it met for the despatch of business. Thttrsday, Jttly 9. Legislative Council. — The Hon Major Richardson, having read the Commission appointing him Speaker of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, took the chair at two o'clock. Shortly after two o'clock, his Excellency the G-o---vernor entered the Chamber and took the chair. A summons was forwarded to the House of Representatives, commanding the attendance of the members in the Council Chamber, who, being- come with their Speaker, the G-overnor delivered the speech which has already been printed. His Excellency having left the Chamber, and the Commons having retired to their own place of meeting; Major Richardson read a commission, appointing' him toadminister the oath of allegiance to all or any memher of the Legislative Council. The Hon Dr Pollen, and the. Hon Mr Nurse took the oath and 'their seats as members. Certain papers wore then laid on the table. In reply t»s % question by the Hon Colonel Kenny, Ui? Pollen said that he represented the <J overnment in the Upper House. A select committee was appointed to prepare an address in reply ) to his Excellency's speech, and the Coun- , cil adjourned &t 2.40 p:m. House op Representatives. — The Commons having returned from the Legislative Council, resumed at; a

quarter past two. The Clerk read the list of resignations Bince the -previous session, also the list of new members returned. Certain papers were laid on the table. Mr Stafford moved for leave to bring in a bill to enable the Maori member Mete Eingi to take his seat, he being disqualified from the fact that he holds an appointment as Native Assessor. The bill was read a first and second time, and ordered to be committed next day. The Speaker read an auioiuiiuva—^« rJ — ethe Governor's opening speech. Mr Ball gave notice that on next sitting day he he would move an address in reply to the speech. The House adjourned at 2.45 p.m. .. ■ Fbiday, July 10. Legislative Cottncil. — The Legislative Council met at two o'clock, and, after the usual introductory business, proceeded to the appointment of a Chairman of Committees. Dr Pollen proposed the Hon Major Eichmond, C.8., paying him some very flattering compliments. The appointment of the hon gentleman was agreed to nem. eon. Various committees were then appointed, when Dr Pollen moved an address of sympathy to the Queen, in consequence of the attempt on the life of the Duke of Edingburgh. The address was agreed to. Dr Pollen obtained leave to bring in a bill for removing doubts respecting the application to New Zealand of the laws and statutes relating to usury, and to limit and define the rate of interest which may be recovered in cases where it shall not have been previously agreed upon between the parties. Leave was given for the introduction of this very necessary and useful measure. Dr Pollen also obtained leave to bring in a bill to regulate the trade or business of pawnbrokers. Another useful measure, which was read a first time, and ordered to be printed. The report of a select committee appointed to preparean addressin reply to his Excellency's speech was brought up and read, and the Council adjourned at 2.40. House of Repbesehtatives. - — The House of Representatives met at three o'clock. After some discussion, the Mete Kingi bill passed through committee, was reported to the House, read a third time, and passed; Areporting committee was appointed. Then followed a somewhat curious discussion about the hours of meeting. Mr Stafford moved that the House, after July' 10 meet on Wednesday a 5, and on Tuesday Thursday, and Friday at 3. Some members seemed afraid that this arrangement might interefere with the dinner hour, and others were anxious to meet earlier in order, that the business might proceed at a proper rate. The motion was eventuagreed to, Mr Stafford remarking, as a wind-up of the debate, that "the Government had never shown any undue desire to push bills precipitately through the House." An address of sympathy to Her Majesty was agreed to. Several Committees were then appointed. Mr Carcroft Wilson, C.8., moved the appointment of a House Committee, "to provide for the comfort and convenience" of members. An amusing discussion ensued. Mr J. O'Neill of Auckland, accused former committees of having cared for the comfort of one section or the House only — the smoking section. Mr Haughton said the smokers were in a huge majority, being 100 to 4. Mr Richmond thought the non-smokers were " the quiet and unobtrusive members," adding that he himself did not indulge in the nicotian weed. He believed that if a census were taken, it would be found that persons who smoked were about equally balanced with those who did not. Mr Stafford 'understood' that the effect of the nicotian weed was, to calm obstructive dispositions, and sooth violent irritation. The committee proposed was, he thought, fairly balanced between smokers and nonsmokers. So, after a little more discussion, this nicely and curiously balanced committees was appointed; But — -MiCracroffc Wilson, C.8., had a parting shot. On more than one occasion, he. said, when he went to Bellamy's 'to get a cup of tea," he had been choked with tobacco smoke. More cominitties were appointed, and Mr Ball, of Auckland, rose to move the address in reply to his/ Excellency's speech. Mr Ball's speech is decidedly florid, and that is about all we can say of it. Mr Reid, an Ofcago member, seconded the address, and in doing so complained that his Excellency's speech was not very explicit. Mr Reid/ expressed himself decidedly in favor of the proposed Road Boards Bill. Mr Travers took the Go vernor's speech to pieces in a tone of half-seriousness, halfbanter. He pointed out several grave omissions, more especially the absence of any allusion to the natives. ' The complete absence of the Lindley Murray element,' said Mr Travers, ' may perhaps pass without much comment, but the speech as a whole, . fails absolutely in conveying to my mind the slightest scintilla of an idea as to the actual character of the policy the Government intend to propose to the country.' Mr Travers concluded by expressing a hope that the Ministry would! 1 ' enjoy their position as long as needful, and vacate the same as soon as compatible i with the interests of the country,' at which there was much laughter and some applause. Mr Reynolds of Dunedin followed, and Mr Borlase of Wellington, said a few words. Mr Hall then rose, and indignantly, denied that the Westland County Act had failed, or that the Government was yet aware whether it was really invalid. Mr Hall's speech is a very good specimen of his peculiar special pleading and minute hairsplitting. Mr Graham, of Auckland, complained of the omissions in the speech. .No notice had been taken of the Auckland goldfields, and the natives were entirely ignored. Mr Haughton — Government whip — f olio wed in defence of the speech, administering^a severe -relHik«-to-Mir€(TaiiaTn~f&r"BavTrig intruded his eternal natives into the debate. Mr Jollie dwelt on the probability of another native war, and regretted that

Ministers were so reticent on this point. Mr Jollie promised the Government a long lease of their seats, if they determined to be resolutely economical. Mr Richmond rose in defence of the speech. If it was not very clear, it was sufficiently so to enable some hon. members, 'if not to strip, at least to put on the gloves. Mr Eiehmiond declined to reply to Mr Travers, leavjng him to be dealt with by the Premier; but he demolished Mr ci__ i tt«A_ti,a_ jiativ.es. jnajnly _by_ shewing the former that tie TiiupDeen speaking about something he knew very little of. Mr Ludlam reserved to nimsejlf the right to support the Government and Mr Brandon, another "Wellington member, reserved to himself the right of . doing the reverse. Mr Stafford addressed himself mainly to Mr Travers, who hid left the House. The Premier taunted the Opposition with having no leader, no organization, and no definite object. He also replied to some of Mr Graham's remarks, and annihilated Mr Borlase of Wellington, by remarking that any suggestions of his with regard to economy ; &c., came with a very bad grace,, seeing that he was the leader of a Provincial Government which had proposed the most extravagant set of estimates he had ever Been. Several other members spoke and the address was agreed to without any amendment. The House adjourned at nine o'clock, till Tuesday, July 14f.-— ' Lyttelton Times.'