EVENING SITTING.

Southland Times, Issue 1033, 5 October 1868, Page 2

EVENING SITTING.

The Houbo met in the evening at 7 o'clock. Present — Messrs Howell, Daniel, Clerke, Longuet, . Johnston, Dalrymple, Blacklock, Swale, Armstrong, M'Clure, Boss, Pearson, Hately, and Stuart. . m Mr Longuet presented a petitidri* signed by twenty-four settlers, for a road to the Pilot Station at the Bluff. Mr Dalbymple asked the Govern* ment what steps were intended to be>- , taken in regard to what had transpired as to the opening of the railway tenders ? i The Peovtncial Tbeasubeb intimated that the matter was now in the hands of the Provincial Solicitor; Some notices of motion* having been given, Mr Abmstbong said that the Government felt a great deal on what had been done with the Oreti Railway tenders. He looked on the inability of Governmeat to accept tenders as nothing, compared whith the odium which was now attached to them. It would now be their duty to thoroughly investigate the matter through their solicitor. The evil was to be regretted, and the hon member did not see that anything else could be said. He concluded some further remarks by saying that if the matter had been left in the hands of the Government this unfortunate affair would not have happened. It arose from the Council attempting to do Executive work. . Mr Clebke moved for liberty to speak on the subject. This was a Very important matter, and he thought the statement made by the Government a very lame one indeed. A gross insult had been placed on the Province. The Speakeb here pointed out to the hon member that he had not received leave to speak. , Mr Dalbymple seconded Mr Clerke i motion, which was formally put and carried, and Mr Clebke proceeded. He considered they were suffering under a great indignity, and a disgrace which would hereafter attach to them. It was bad enough calling for tenders when they had no money, and now this indignity was added to that. He looked on the Government as the responsible party, and they should find out who was to blame. These tenders had been opened to benefit some one, and what was the usual course of procedure in such a case ? It was to apprehend the custodian of the box in which these tenders were. T?he hon member wanted the whole truth brought out before the Resident Magistrate, _though_he_ jdQubted if . even . that would clear our fair fame. Still the effort should be mader They had made fools of themselves. """'" The PBovurciiii Tbeasuseb called tha hon member to order. Mr Cmsbee was perpectly in order. He felt what he was saying. They bad made fools of themselves, and were now at the acme of disgrace bj these doco> mentß being opened when in the custody of the Government, He did not care who it was, the person who had' charge of this case should be under restraint until it was seen who was to blame. It was not. sufficient to ...suspend an ,< officer. It was a case of criminal, neglect of duty, and unless the Government ■ indicated a course to meet the case, he would feel it his duty to do bo. (Applause among the public.) •; ; v "^i^i The Pbovujciai Tbeasubeb stated The hon. member had made an onslaught .on- ■ -the- • -Government, whic 1 vaa qmfe unnecessary. JL conclusion had bjeen jumped '^ atC j^uit / ftio letters Had; %> ~ P V Mr Clebke— there is no jumping at all about it. The Pbovtsciai. Tbeasubeb, well, surely the Provincial Solicitor it the better judge." - Of course tnjsre -was «r good dttl of odium on the Government for not taking better care of the tenders, but still what could they do better than leave them in thecuftody of an oAeiaJ

iOheir service t If the fixed head of s department could not be trusted who could P Mr Dalbymple— well the Executive are responsible. The Pboydtcial Teeasxtbeb, the Executive are only responsible for their political actions. Mr Hately asked the leave of the . House for the suspension of the standing - orders to enable him to move for a select " committee to enquire into the matter, md that the: tenders be not returned to the tonderes until the report of a select committee be received. .Mr Dakiel seconded the motion, which after some discussion was put and negatived without a division. IMMIGRATION. Mr Peabson moved the resolutions standing in his name, and supported them ■•■'id a long address, which space precludes us from giving at present. Mr LoftgUE* seconded the motion. After a long discussion, an amendment that the consideration of the subject be postponed till Monday Evening Sitting, was put and carried. Another motion on the same subject standing in the hon member's name, was also adjourned till Monday.