POLITICAL.

West Coast Times, Issue 591, 16 August 1867, Page 3

POLITICAL.

The proceedings of the General Assembly since the date of our last Summary have been of an important character, but the most no 'able feature about them is the defeat of the Stafford Ministry on two measures to which great weight was attached. The first of these was a Bill brought down ostensibly in compliance with a pledge made last session by Mr Stafford to provide dur ingthe present session for the increased representation of Westland in the Assembly. This large district, containing an estimated population of not less than fifty thousand persons: and with a revenue which may be inferred from the fact that from the 22nd March, 1865, to the 30th June, 1867— a period of little more than two years — its contributions to the Colonial Treasury amounted to upwards of L 600,000 : at present sends one member only to the House of Representatives. Last session Mr Moorhouse, the incumbent of this one seat, endeavored to procure an enlargement of the representation, and his Bill was sustained by a petition most numerously signed. It was pleaded, however, that the session was too ad vanced to* allow of the subject being then dealt with, and the measure was withdrawn, on the distinct assurance of the Government than an Emergency Bill should be brought down, in sufficient time to allow, in the event of its passing, additional members to take their seats early in the present session. So far from this pledge being redeemed, Mr Stafford did not introduce his Bill until the session had been far advanced ; it contained a clause enacting that no writ under it should issue until the month of September next ; aud its main provisions were found on examination to be of a generally objectionable character. It proposed an artificial distribution of seats as far as Westland was concerned, whilst it abolished the special miners' franchise which has hitherto prevailed here, thus disqualifying a very large majority of tke population ; aud as a counterpoise to the concession of two members to this district it proposed to give two others to the Province of Auckland, in the North Island. The Bill was opposed on various grounds : partly upon the inexpediency of making any addition to the number of representatives in the House ; but mainly because the exceptional circumstances of Westland,which called for an enlarged representation, did not justify the Government in dealing with the subject beyond that extent, unless they were prepared to bringdown an entirely new scheme for the redistribution of seats. Mr Aloorhouse himself moved the amendment which proved fatal to the Bill — that it be committed that day six months — and he i was supported by the whole of the Otago members, and by nine out of eleven of those of the Canterbury Province. The amendment was carried by a majority of seven votes, and the measure consequently dropped. It is understood that a new Bill is to be introduced, having reference to Westland only ; dealing with the district as one electorate as at present, and protecting the existing franchise enjoyed under the Miner's Right. There is no probability, however, of the district receiving its increase of representation in sufficient time to enable it to avail itself of the privilege during the present session of the Assembly. Another and a still more" damaging defeat sustained by the Government, was the rejection by a decisive majority of their long-promised and long-looked for measure for the establishment of local governments?. Some hope was enterained that the Bill would contain clauses, under which the districts of the colony remote from the several provincial capitals, might exercise an adequate control over the expenditure of their local revenues and the administration of their local affairs. The Bill was a most voluminous one, containing nearly four hundred clauses. It failed, however, to fulfil the general expectations that had been, entertained of it ; whilst on the other hand it was regarded as a deadly blow aimed at provincial institutions. Under the present political settlement^ the provinces enjoy the proceeds of their own land funds. Mr Stafford's Bill proposed to supplement the local rates raised in the counties or shires to be created under it by grants, proportioned to the quantity of Crown

land sold in eacli district, and out of the proceeds of such sales. This was justly regarded as a proposal aiming at the withdrawal from the Provincial Councils of the right of administering their land revenues, which they "have hitherto possessed, and the whole provincial party iv the Hou^e were arrayed against the measure. After a protracted and animated discussion, the division on the motion for the second reading resulted in a majority of nine against the Bill.

This division may be considered a fairer test of parties in the House than the one on the Representation Bill. Foreseeing defeat, Government prudently announced that it was not their intention to regard the measure as one involving the fate of the Ministry. It has no doubt, however, been a heavy blow to them, and is probably only the precursor of moi'e disastrous defeats. A crisis, a resignation, or a dissolution may very possibly have to be recorded in our next summary of news.

The story of our local politics during the past fortnight may be very briefly told. We recorded in our last the foundationofaSeparationLeague;theelectionof a General Committee or Council to carry out the movement; and the appointment of a Sub-Committee to prepare a Petition to the General Assembly setting forth the case of the district. This Petition has been adopted by the Council and approved at a general meeting of the League. It will be found in our other columns. Some exception has been taken to it on account of its length. But without entering fully into the subject it was impracticable to frame such a statement as should put the General Assembly in possession of the grounds on which the claims of the district to be created a new Province are based. The Petition has been widely distributed for signature, and the reports forwarded to, the Council leave no room to doubt that it will receive the support of the great bulk of the people. Mr Barff, one of the members of the Provincial Council for tlie district of Westland, has addressed the first country meeting held on the subject at Stafford Town, where he was enthusiastically received, and where there was a very decided expression of opinion in favor of the Separation movement. Last night a very successful meeting was held at Kanieri, the nearest diggingtown to Hokitika. Mr Shaw, the VicePresident of the^ League, Mr Barff, M.P.C., and Mr R. Reeves, attended as a deputation from the Council, and met with a heart}' reception. Those meetings are to be followed up by others, so that the movemeut is now fairly set afoot, and is being energetically sustained. We shall no doubt have the opportunity of reporting substantial progress in our nsxt summary.

His Honor the Superintendent being absent in Wellington in attendance on his parliamentary duties as member for Westland, has in the exercise of the power to that effect vested in him, appointed Mr Stewart, the Provincial Secretary, to be Deputy-Superinten-dent.

We made reference in our last to the creation of a new office, that of Goldfields Secretary, and to the selection of Mr Jas. A. Bonar, tho Mayor of Ilokitika, to fill the post. The appointment has not yet been gazetted, although, the announcement of it was made some month or more ago in the Provincial Council, and Mr Bonar has not yet entered upon the duties of his office. He p; oceeded to Christclmrch however by coach Hn Tuesday morning with the view it is presumed of being installed and receiving the necessary instructions. His return mayb e anticipated in a few days. Mr Sale, the present (or late) Commissioner, is also in Christchurch. Consequent upon the appointment of a Goldfields Secretary, the office of permanent Under-Secretary has been offered to Mr Sale, but it is not yet known whether he will accept it. If not, he will probably be transferred by the Government' as a faithful Shd able public servant to some other field of official labor.