POLITICAL.

West Coast Times, Issue 254, 16 July 1866, Page 2

POLITICAL.

The General Assembly, or Parliament of the colony, met at Wellington on the 30th ult., and the session promises to be one of great interest. The House of Representatives unanimously ro-elacted Sir David Monro, Knight, as its Speaker. Mr Stafford, the Premier, hw completed! his cabinet. On opening the first session of the Fourth Parliament of New Zealand, his Excellency Sir George Grey had an opportunity of congratulating the colony on the " all but complete cessation of disturbances, in those portions of the Northern Island which had previously been disaffected," and on the important results attained by the expedition of G-eneral Chute on the West Coast. His Excellenoy was unable, however, to announce the complete restoration of tranquility, and recommended tho provision, 1 without delay, of a sufficient colonial force, to repress outrage and maintain her Majesty's authority— a necessity arising out of the departure of her Majesty's regular forces '* as fast as the means of transport can be procured." His Excellency indulged in felicitations upon the commencement of the Panama Mail Service ,- the extension of telegraphic communication within the colony ; and the continued increase iv the produce of the goldfields as having caused a corresponding increase in the population and revenue of the colony. His Excellency promiied economy and retrenchment ; referred to the recent disposal of a large portion of the New. Zealand loan, as evidence of an increasing confidence in the value of the Colonial Securities, which had be«n temporarily depressed by a variety of causes ; and recommended, with a view to the enhancement of the public credit, the consolidation of the several Provincial loans. Sir George Grey announced as the financial measures of the sossion, a vovision of the tariff, and tho enactment of Stamp Duties as an additional means of revenue. He

formally announced the appointment of a Commission "to enquire into the position of the Civil Service, with a view to establishing a definite system," and intimated that measures would be submitted for the improvement of the administration of justice, and " on other subjects of importance."' Addresses in reply to the Vice-regal iptech "were adopted, without division, by both branches of the Legislature. Subsequent proceedings havo not been of much interest. The session has lasted only tot a few days. Parliament is now, however, ■ettling down to its work, and in our next Summary we shall havo an eventful chapter of legislation to record — much of it intimately affecting tho special interests of Westland.

Whilst the new Parliament has been beginning its labors at Wellington, Westland has been engaged in the reception of the new Superintendent of the Province Mr W. S. Moorhouse 5 in electing five members to serve it in the Provincial Council of Canterbury; and in the preliminary measures necessary for the establishmenfjwithin the proclaimed townships, of the institutions of municipal government.

Mr Moorhouse, it will bo remembered, is the one representative allotted to the great Gold district of Westland, containing a population roundly estimated at thirty thousand, in the Parliament of the colony. He has, in addition, been elected Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury, of which Westland is the district to the west of the dividing range, or Southern Alps. On the occasion of his electioneering visit here some jnonths back, he promised that if elected Superintendent he would spend a considerable portion of his time here, and both make himself fully acquainted with the wants of the district, and to a great extent personally superintend its local administration. So lias taken tho first Btep in redemption of this promise, and landed in Hokitika from tho steamer Auckland, on the 2nd instant. Owing to the severe weather which prevailed, and the consequent impassable condition of the Bar, his Honor was detained for some Bix days in the roadstead — a circumstance to be regretted, inasmuch as it necessarily shortened his stay amongst us. On his landing at the Wharf he was received by a Committee of fifteen, who had been appointed by ballot at a public meeting of the citizens, consisting of the following 1 gentlemen: — Messrs Prosser, Button, Bonar, Bright, Anderson, Bracken, Binney, Clarke, Cassius, Shaw, Ecclesfield, Fisher, Munro, Rees, and Moir.

When the river steamer which had waited on the Auckland reached the wharf, Mr Moorhouse found a dense crowd of persons in waiting, the whole of the shipping in port displaying its bunting, the members of the Fire Brigade drawn up in uniform to secure him a free passage through the throng, and in fact every indication of a hearty welcome. Mr G-. S. Sale, the Goldfields' Commissioner was on the spot to officially receive his Honor, but the Committee expressed a wish to take charge of him until the public had given him their own welcome. Mr Moorhouse was then escorted to the > Freemasons' Hall in Fitzsimmons' Commercial Hotel, where champagne was served and a few toasts exchanged. His Honor then proceeded to the front of the hotel, where, the windows'being thrown open, he was publicly presented with an address signed by the members of the Committee, and his Honor addressed the people 'in a speech . which won universal applause. Mr Moorhouse then retired with the Committee and otheii citizens to the Masonic Hall, which had been most tastefully decorated with evergreens, flags, and devices, when Mr Prosser was called to the chair and the health of his Honor and Executive drunk with more form and ceremony than In the first moment of welcome. Mr Moorhouse in retnrning thanks, first for himself and secondly ftr his advisers, entered at considerable length into the policy it was pro-, posed to pxirsue with reference to the future administration of Westland affairs. His explanations and promises gave general satisfaction. Mr Moorhouse was, on this occasion, asked to accept of a public banquet, which he at once intimated his satisfaction in doing.

Before the banquet there was an interval of busy work, spent first, in the personal inspection by his Honor of most of the public institutions of the town, and of sites of necessary public works, and secondly, in the reception of deputations who waited on him by appointment to represent the grievances and wants of the district. Two or three days were spent in this latter part of the work. The most important deputation consisted of tho members of the Reception Committee, who pressed upon Mr Moorhouse's attention in succession nearly the whole of the questions which have constituted for many months the leading topics of discussion and complaint. Tho necessity of wharf extension and liavbor improvements ; of public roads and exploring tracks; of tho amendment of tho electoral disqualifications under which the district lies ; of a more judicious and equitable policy in the disposal of the town lands ; of enlarged facilities for the due administration of justice, and other cognate subjects of equally pressing interest, were urged upon his Honor by several members of the committee; and Mr Moorhouse, whilst only pledging himself to definite action in certain cases, c x)ok full notes of the representations made to him ; promised to recommend them to the serious consideration of his executive ; and courted full and frank corresponpondence on the several subjects. All this sufficiently predisposed the public to give him cordial entertainment at the forthcoming banquet, and, accordingly on the evening of Friday, the 6th instant, the Freemasons Hall was filled by a very numerous company, including all tho principal residents of the town, and munj gentlemen from the country districts. Tho hall was again very handsomely decoratod, and there was an abundant provision of all good things, including costly wines, which reflected the highest credit upon Mr Fitzsimmons, of the Commercial Hotel, who was the caterer. Mr Evan Prosser, the late representative of the district in the Provincial Council, occupied the chair, and was supported on his right by his Honor the Superintendent (the guest of the evening), the Right Rev. the Bishop of the diocese, and Mr Bright, M.P.C.; and on his left by Mr Sale, the Commissioner, the Rev. Mr M'G-irr, Catholic clergyman, and Mr W. Fisher, the Secretary of the Reception Committee. The usual loyal toasts having been duly honored, Mr W. L. Kees, proposed the health of his Honor, which was drunk with enthusiasm and responded to by Mr Moorhouse in a lengthened and most interesting speech. He referred to the vast resources of the district ; the necessity of promoting its permanent settlement by the sale of a portion of its rural lands, under conditions that would not defraud tho miner of any portion of their auriferous wealth ; the importance of opening up the country by roads and tracks ; the duty of tho commercial community to promote legitimate enterprises of this kind by subscribing capital, and by lending the use of their names as promoters, and the desirableness of the Government giving its assistance to them either by subsidising them or guaranteeing interest upou investment. In a subsequent speech, in returning thanks for •his Executive Council (proposed by Mr S. M. South), his Honor expressed his very entire confidence in the integrity, ability ,and thorough good feeling towards Westland of the gentlemen who wore his advisers. Mr Campbell proposed tho Church, which was respondod to by the Bight Reverend tho Bishop of

Christchurch. Mr Eicko proposed tho health of tho members for the district in the ProTuicia' Council, coupling with it the namo of MiBright, who responded. Captain Turnbull proposed the Army and Navy, which was spoken to by Mr H. W. Bracken. Mr Cassins gate the Mining interest, to which Mr Gillespio responded ; and Mr O'Loughlin followed with the Commercial interest, to which Mr James Bonav made a very happy reply. Tho Legal profession was proposed by Mr Bright and responded to by Mr Rees, and thon the Press was given by Mr W. Fisher and acknowledged by Mr Shaw, the proprietor of the West Coast Times. Tho Ladies followed, as a matter of course — Mr J. R. Anderson eulogising them very wittily, and Mr Moir acknowledging the compliment for them very gracefully. After these toasts had been disposed of, the health of Mr Sale, the Commissioner, was proposed by Mr South, and responded to very effectively and feelingly by that gentleman. Mr Prosser tho chairman, being toasted, with hearty cheers, made a capital speech, which was exceedingly well recaived, and in which he vindicated the course he had taken in promoting tho general interests of the community. Tho banquet terminated tho festive proceedings connected with the visit of Mr Moorhonse. His Honor the next day left for Greymouth, and^ after receiving soveral deputations there, left in the Airedale for Wellington, to discharge his duties as the representative of Westland in the General Assembly.

We havo adverted to the subject of electoral disqualification as an incident of the circumstances under which the West Coast has been suddenly peopled. The general question Mr Moorhouse^ hai promised to bring before the Assembly with the view of procuring the passing of a special act to remedy defects that may be found to exist, and to legalise paefc elections to the Provincial Council. Hokitika was recently proclaimed a municipality, and the meeting for tho nomination of candidates for the new Municipal Council was formally convened by notice in the " Government Gazette." Owing, however, to the' uncertainty which prevailed as to tho qualifications of the electors, and the possibility of the legality of the powers exercised by tho Corporation being questioned, it was unanimously resolved, at alargo and influential public meeting, to adjourn the electoral meeting. This course was accordingly adopted, and in the meantime the remedy which Mr Moorhouse has promised to obtain from the General Assembly, is waited for.

The election of five members to represent Westland in the Provincial Council of Canterbury has taken place since our last summary. By the ordinance passed last session, tho West Coast district was divided into three separate electorates. In each case there was opposition aud a poll, but the members chosen were all returned by large add decisive majorities. The following are tho names of tho gentlemen who will take their seats in the new Provincial Council, which is expected to be convened in about two months from this date: — DISTEICT. MEMBERS. Hokitika f5' TT ETE TT Bif8 if (. T. L. Bright. Greymouth J. A. Wliall. Westland (Goldfields') \ J?' ?- arff< v (.0. iiOOi.