PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2891, 24 January 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

THE OPENING CEREMONY

MR W. J. STEWARD ELECTED AS SPEAKER.

(I'.V TKLKGlUl'ir.— rRKSS ASSOCIATION). Wklmsctox, Last, Night. Tiik first session of tlie eleventh Parliament, of New Zealand was opened by Uin/ mission to-day, Hons, .-ir I'. Whitaku, Stevens and Bailie being the Couiimssioneis. Sixteen Councillors were present and fiftyfour members of the Lowe.r House. After the formal properdins,';* were over bir H. Atkinson, who had sent his resignation in an hour or two before, and had_ been sworn in before the Coveruor was introduced by Sir I'. Whitaker to the speaker s chair. He announced the appointments fr) the Council, and swore in the Hons. Ormoud ami .Johnson, but made no spnech, and none was made by the euunC,1 ln the Lower House the first business was the swearing in of members, who took the oath by batches of four, to the number of liS. Messrs Allen. boldie, buckland, T. Mckenzie, and Atkuison, being the absentees. The Clerk then announced that tlie House would proceed to the election ot a \ir Saunders proposed Mr Rolleston for the position, and Mr Thomson seconded the nomination. Mr Seddoti moved that Mr Steward take the chair as Speaker, and Mr 0 Gonnoi seconded the nomination. After both candidates had expressed their thanks for being nominated, the clerk put tho question that Mr Kolleston bo olccted Speaker. The division resulted, aye?, ; noes Mr Steward was then eiocten without a division, and the proposer and seconder escorted Mr Steward to the speaker's chair, which he ascended ana briefly returned thanks. Hon. K. Mitehclson announced that the Premier had tendered the resignation of himself and the government to the l.overnor and the .Ministers were now only occupying the benches till their .successors were appointed. Hon. J. liallanco congratulated Mv Steward, and went on to announce that His Excellency had asked him to form mi administration and that he had accepted the task but had not yet had time to consult his friends, but hoped to be in a position to make the announcement to the House by Tuesday. Hon. K. Mitchelson moved tlie adjournment of the House till Tuesday, at 2 p.m. Mr Hamlin congratulated the hpeaker heartily, and said he could freely have his assistance should he desire it. The adjournment was agreed to, and the House rose at 4 p.m. 'llie following is the division list on the election of Speaker. Ayes "J'.). —I'ryce, Buchanan, Canoll, Dnthie JAjrftiis, Hamlin, Harkness, Lawry, Mac Arthur, Macdonald, Mckenzie (Mount Ida), Meredith, Mills (I'ort Chalmers), Mitchelson, Moore, Newman, _ Rhodes, Richardson. Russell. Saunders, Swan, iaipna, Thompson (Marsdon), ihompson (Auckland City),- Thompson (brace), Valentine, Wilson, and Wright. Noes »>.—Balhnce, Black, Biuck, Cadman Cairncross, Oawson, Duncan, Ivirnshaw, Pish, Fisher, (imnness, Hill, Jones, Hogs, Houston, Hutchison (Waitotara), Hutchison (Uunedin). Joyce, Kelly (lnve.-cargill), kelly (Kast Coa-t), McLutesh, Mckenzie (Waitaki) Mills (Vvaimea-l/ieton), O Connor. ; Palmer, i'arata, I'ercival, INnkerton, Keen, Reeves (luangahua). Seddon, Shera, Smith : (Xew Plymouth), Smith (\\ aipawa), tanner. Taylor and Ward. Pairs: r.Mckeni zie, Aye; Iveeves (Chnstohurch), Ao,