MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 330, 14 February 1874, Page 2

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

Our telegraphic intelligence in last issue regarding the meeting of Parliament in Wellington would doubtless be matter of su^^prise to many of onr readers. It seems that Parliament was prorogued till the 10th inst., and through some miscarriage of documents was not further prorogued as is usual, and as was intended. The following telegram, received from the Premier by J. C. Brown, Esq., explains the position of affairs :—: — " The meeting of Members of both Houses yesterday arose through the non-appeara.ice of an expected proclamation of prorogation. Some weeks ago it was intended to further i prorogue Parliament. His Excellency v-as advised to that effect, an .1 signifie.l his willing- | ness to comply with the advice. It is pro- | bable the proclamation of prorogation ha 3 been signed, but if so, it has miscaiviad, as a few Members of Parliame it atttmdel yesterday. Some Members of Ihe Government aleo attended the meeting, which took place since then. The Attorney- General's opinion haa been taken, and I attach ifc for your information. It is clear that the present meeting Joes not constitute a session, and as soou as tlie prorogation can be proclaimed, it will be. In the meantime if the Members in Wellington meet daily such meetings will not constitute a session and Members will probably after today not meet, at least bo the Government will advise. To-day they will probably meaL^ as yesterJay they agreed to do so. There^ seems no reason why you should put yourself to the trouble of coming to Wellington at present. Attorney-General's opinion : — ' I think, as the Governoi* has not met and iiddre?sei the two other elements of tho General Assembly, neither of those elements can proceed to any business, b\it adjourn till met by the Governor and addressed by him ; consequently neither House can sit ; each may meet but cannot sit or proceed to business. It is held that a complete Act must be parsed, otherwise there is no session. To constitute an act there must be a. Bill passed by each Housp, and assented to by the Governor. Therefore there will be r.o S'a&ioi wUhin tho meaning of tbe 50th section o\ tbe Constitution Acr, ar>d tho Governor may safely and properly prorogue to a later date. Tbe time wLicU elapse* between tr.e dare to which, the Assembly v.a* prorogued by last instrument of prorogfitian i-amely io:h February, and tho date of tlrr next instrument oi proroza'tion will not have been a^ession although Members of each fiouse"of Assembly may have met and adjourne.l. — J. PaESCERQAST.' " The '•' Independent " says it was requested to state that although ParUainant stood prorogued bi pvo lamation till the 10th it was not the intention of the Government to hold a session at the present time. A proclamation further adjourjing the meeting oJ the Hoasi> till the 13th of April was week 3 ago forwarded to his Excellency for signature. The document is now at Hokiiika, where it was expected his Excellency would arrive in tima to sign the proclamation and inform the Government by telegraph. It is suppoied that the Governor is weather-bound ia some sound i or inlet on the coast.