PARLIAMENTARY.

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 2030, 11 August 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Prom our Special Correspondent.)

The Separation Debate.

WELLINGTON.

This day.

The Best Speech for the Government The afternoon sitting of yesterday opened with much the best speech yet made for the Government in the debate. Mr Eallance (Rangitikei) made an eloquent and moderate speech against the resolutions. His main objections were based npon the idea that partial Separation mast lead to a total severance. He combatted the idea of the bad condition of the colony, and questioned some of Messrs Rees and Wood's financial statements with vigour, wisely leaving others untouched. The speech throughout was listened to with pleaoure by the House, and applauded by both eides at its conclusion. Mr De LatourMr De Latour (Mount Ida) followed in a good speech, the matter of which was logical and good, but the manner inferior, and voice too sing-song in tone. He agreed with much said by Mr Ballance, but differed from his conclusions on the ground that wo were not proposing to alter an existing constitution now ; that was done last year, but to build up one now in ruins. He claimed specially to represent outlying districts, as he bad notoriously done in the Provincial Council of Otago, and from their point of view utterly condemn the Government proposals, prefer ring the Separation resolutions. Last Night After the dinner hour, Mr Murray-Aynsley (Lyttelton) in a short speech, very badly delivered, and scarcely audible in the House, declared against the resolutions. This member is n«yer well heard, and from fewness of ideas is never listened to at all by anyone. Mr MacandrewMr Macandrew followed in a very pithy speech of about half an hour, in which he compared the expense and usefulness of the General Government and Assembly and Provincial Government and Council of Otago very much to the discredit of the former. He was happy, and was loudly applauded when he summed up Sir Jelius Vogel's arguments against the resolutions as " fllapdoodle " — the stuff they feed fools on. Canterbury Opinion of Mr. Stafford. , Mr Montgomery (Akaroa) came next,ana stated he could not support the resolutions, mainly because of pledges given to his con* stituents to try to get a Board of Works for Canterbury, but he guarded himself from the imputation of at all endorsing the Government proposals, or even expressing the slightest confidence in them. He ateo expressed utter astonishment at Mr Stafford's speech, and intimated that if he had again to go to the hustings the speech would cost Mr Stafford his seat. Mr Liims&on. Mr Lumaden (Invercargill) followed, and in a humorous speech compared the Colonial Government to an extravagant old man, giving the parable of the prodigal son reversed and stating the opinion that the nine sows should take charge of the prodigal father and put him on very short allowance, as his life depended upon improved habits. Hovr are Babies Born? Mr Manders (Wakatip), in one of his incoherent speeches, tried to excuse himself for voting against the resolutions, on the ground that there was no provision in them for County Governments. He caused peals of Isughter by saying that Sir George Greyfl aesolutions were like an infant born without any clothes on. Mr Fisher (Heathcote) followed, and shortly stated that although a Canterbury member he felt, after what he had seen in the House, fully justified in supporting the resolutions. He heard only two other Canterbury men would vote for them. If so, he would gladly make a third. A Maori OratorTar iti, the Bay of Islands member, who has been gained by the Government it is-said by promise of a seat in the Cabinet, declare >

against Separation on the ground that he did not know where Maoris were to look for their nioney in case of Separation. A remark causing general laughter, as he was no doubt right a V out decrease in .native subsidies. He was followed by Karaitiana, who, in a far different temper, supported the resolutions because the Natives and Europeans could become one people if Separation was attained. Mr Tole followed, and In a neat speech pointed out his reasons for supporting the resolutions, the chief of which was the danger arid impolicy of attempting to force distasteful constitution upon any free community. Mr Gibbs (Nelson) was the last speaker of the evening, and he made a very weak speech to a Hcmße barely containing a quorum to excuse himself for voting with the Government. Mr Stevens (Christchurch) moved the adjournment, and will speak this afternoon.