SKETCHES IN THE COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 66, 15 May 1869, Page 5

SKETCHES IN THE COUNCIL.

(From ow Own Correspondent.) The exdtemtftt «yifequeatilp^n the visit of Alfred Ernest .Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, has been succeeded by a little bit of political, turmoil, whidh has had the effect of warding off the ennui that might otherwise have been expected to set in. .Of course, we are not expected to look so gay over the demise of the Yogel administration as we were over the departure of the Prince, stilly as Jfchings of ths past, both events are looked upon with some degree of complacency. In a recent issue, you gave the proceedings- connected with the Prince sufficient prominence to warrant the supposition that you have no desire of revertitig to the subject, so that I am at liberty to dismiss it by stating that the short distance intervening since he condescended .to receive homage at the hands of a Dunedin public has already commenced to lend enchantment to the view.

Respecting Mr. YogeL and his late ministry, it is not saying too much to say that they have lately been in a state of mental derangement. Lashed into fury by being hounded out of the equivocal position occupied by them for the. last few months, they celebrated their quasi kick from office by doilng out as much*malignity as it was in their natures to distil. First they attacked the opposition, and Mr. Thomson, who appeared in the position of leader, came in for a fair share, of abuse, coupled with vile insinuation. He was tpld. that, his .motion for a ministerial explanation was nothiiig; more than a covert design to reserve for himßelf a seat on the G-overnment benches. He was cautioned that such a seat partook more of the characteristics of a den of lions than a bed of roses. Finding ,that their admonition had not the effect of carrying along with them the sympathy of the " House," " the ex-Treasurer adroitly shifted his position, and made an onslaught from another point. The Clutha member was told that his motion .was in reality an- attempt to gain a forced march • upon his leader ; in other words, Mr. Donald Reid being absent, Mr. Thomson had taken advantage of his absence to get himself placed in the position of the mover that had brought the Ministry to their hunkers. Under this biting sarcasm Mr. Thomson looked uneasy enough, and for a time the ■ issue appeared doubtful. The hon. member lor the Lakes, who is rather better up in sustaining a wordy warfare than the Clutha gentleman, stepped in at this juncture, and by means of a few wellplanted blows succeeded in completely flooring the ministerial champion. Under Mr. Haughton's remarks Mr. Yogel writhed painfully ; still parliamentry practice compelled him to be silent. When the : result of the division, together with the Chairman's casting vote, was announced, no man could possibly have looked more dejected; His look was one of perplexity, mixed with a certain amount of defiance, which told plainly that the next sitting would tell a tale. The next sitting came, and in a speach which < lasted three quarters of an hour, it is doing the hon. gentleman scant justice to say, heachievedfor himself a reputation for diplomatic ability far in excess of his years. Finding he had a bad case, in hand, he abused the opposite counsel heartily. He then launched into Jbold, assertions, after which he adroitly shuffled to the one side, when he saw that they would lead to a difficulty; and finally he wound up by jeeringly telling the House that, although he was about to absquatulate, he had taken the precaution of nominating a successor. This, he added, he had no doubt, would be a. disappointment to his numerous political opponents ; still, it had been done with the view, of checking the reckless votes of want of con-, fidence that had been from time to time brought forward. On the understanding that Mr. Duncan had been sent for to form "an Executive, the Council adjourned from Tuesday to Thursday, and on resuming, the House was informed by Mr. Duncan that the new administration' which had been formed was composed of Mr.- Greorge Maclean,' as Secretary and Treasurer ; Mr. Donald Reid, Secretary for Land and Works j the name_-fif__the Provincial Solicitor to be announced to-morrow (Friday).. ,Qne more .attempt was made by Mr. Yogel to render his brilliant career as memorable as possible. The report of his explanation, as it appeard in the " Daily- Times," was attacked with a fierceness that Appears to have surpassed the hon. -gentleman, himself. , Those acquainted with the connection between Mr. Yogel and the " Times " will be abje to enjoy, this part- of' the farce. The truth is that on. seeing his speech in jpjigt.Jjfe Vogfil,appearß to,, have got ' alarmed at his' own temerity, and we all know what a man with principles so well balanced^ those, of Mr. Julius Yogel does under eJjrcjimstances of that kiud. The masterrpj&ee of his impudence culminated. in a comparison drawn by him between the " Times' n report and the report which appeared in an evening- print. The comparison was so. supremely ridiculous that it was actually taken notice of; and the general impression is, that although Jlr, Yogel is excluded from the "Times" office, he can still ■ command a vacant seat in the reporters' room of the evening paper, whether or not Mr. Yo-

-gelintends to distinguishhimself further in the Council is not known; the opinion is he will not. Such was the state of matters up to the adjournment this (Ttaasdaj-) alternoonl.iln the evening a fresh candidate for distinction made his appearance in the person of Mr. James M'lndoe. This gentleman's opposition to ministerial parties is well known, and is said to proceed from a desire to become one of their number. Be that as it may, at the outset of the evening sitting he came down with a notice of motion — " That the Government, as formed, lacked the confidence of the Province." The amendment was received with some degree of surprise; still, it passed without comment,, and the ordinary business was proceeded with. After the Order paper had been got about half through, a motion for adjournment was made by the Government. In support of that, motion, allusion was made to the vote of want-of-confidence, which was the signal for expressions of opinion on . the subject. The subject was spoken to by at least two-thirds of the members, and to their credit be it said that they one and all reprobated the proceeding as threatened by the Member for Green Island and Caversham. So conspicuous was the absence of any intention of supporting it, that after a lame excuse the proposal was withdrawn. Here for the present the matter rests, and a dis.tinct enunciation of the policy of the new administration is promised for Monday. ' According to the testimony of Mr. Gillies, that policy is to be of a very exceptional' character, and every member. pftlje House is assured that it will command his hearty support. When the time comes we shall have an opportunity of judging how far that assurance is well founded.