PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Press, Volume IV, Issue 449, 8 April 1864, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Thursday, April 7. The Council met yesterday, in pursuance of the ' proclamation issued some time ago. The galleries were filled with strangers, and a considerable number ; of ladies occupied the space behind the Speaker's ! chair. , The Speaker took the chair at two o'clock, when prayers were read by the Yen. the Chaplain. Present, all the members except Messrs. Aikman, 1 Barber, Cox, Fyfe, Peacock, White and Wylde. The Speaker announced the elections which had taken place since the last session. His Honor the Superintendent then entered the j Chamber, and delivered the following address: Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council, — Since I last called you together various circumstances of a special character have appeared to mc to render an extraordinary session of the Council necessary. Before proceeding to mention the special points T have in view, I have to announce to you that the Government with which I met you at the last session ! have resigned their position, and other gentlemen i have consented to assist mc in carrying on the business of the province. The immediate cause of my summoning you at this time is the necessity that exists to make provision for the prosecution of certain great works which can no longer be delayed without serious detriment to the interests of the community. I need hardly call your attention to the circumstances which make it more than ever expedient that several ' of the large rivers which seriously interfere with internal communication should be bridged with as little delay as possible, In furtherance of this object I have called in the professional assistance of Mr. Doyne, an engineer of considerable experience and standing, and I have directed him to proceed in the first instance to the Rakaia, to examine and report upon the best means of bridging that river, and to furnish the Government with plans and estimates for that purpose. As Mr. Doyne has only recently arrived, I am not yet in possession of his views on the subject, but he has instructions to make a preliminary report which shall be laid before you at an early date. After a careful consideration moreover of the whole question of the internal communication of the province, I am of opinion thnt the time has arrived when the construction of a line of railway to Timaru on the one hand, and to the Kowai on the other, has become essential to the proper development of our resources. With this view it will be necessary in the first instance, for purposes both of efficiency and economy, that accurate surveys should be made of both these proposed lines. The report of the Railways and Bridge Commission on the Southern Line will be laidj before you, and I Jam led to hope

that with the exception of the deviations necessary in | case of any change in the proposed site of the bridge xeross the Ritkaia. there will bo no material alteration in tliis line of rnihvay. If you concur in the view j i have taken of this very important β-jbjoct, I shall . ask your nseeut to the expeiulitarc of such «i sum as will'be requisite for defraying the expenses of the necessary surveys, an... the outlays incident upon the employment of an engineer. This will enable mc I trust, ut the next ordinary meeting of the Council, to place before you the result of these surveys, and to j supply you with rstimntos of cost and .-ill other data j necessary to enable you to determine upon the nature and extent of the work to be undertaken. In the meantime it may be desirable that authority should be given for the purchase of freehold property along [both lines, in cases where it can be obtained nt reasonable rates. I have made a temporary reserve along the line of railway as laid down by the commissioners, with further reserves at the crossings of the various rivers, and although these reserves may appear to be in excess of the necessities of the case, I shell have to ask your concurrence in them, to the extent requisite for such deviation of the line tis may be found expedient upon a more complete survey ; these reserves will be absolutely necessary in order to prevent the increased cost of construction arising from compensation claims. The formation of the lines of railway and other great works can only be provided for by the anticipation of the public reveiuie ; fears hare however been expressed as to tho ability of the provinces under the existing tinancial circumstances in England to raise money on their own xinguaranteed debentures. I think it desirable, therefore, that provision should be made for specially securing tho interest and sinking fund upon loans to be raised for these works, either by setting apart special tracts of waste lands or by specifically appropriating a fixed proportion of the revenues proceeding from ordinary sales of land, Of the two courses the latter appears to be based on principles more in uceordance with the system of land sales in force in this Province, and which has hitherto proved most advantageous. Should you concur with mc in the expediency of appropriating a specific proportion of the land revenue. I have reason to believe that the funds necessary for the construction of the great works may be obtained on more advantageous terms than might otherwise be expected. A statement will be made to you showing the amount of unvoted expenditure which has been incurred during the present financial year, and the circumstances under which it arose. From the statement as well as from other considerations it would seem that a re-organisation of our whole system of administration of public works has become absolutely necessary. With this view I propose that the management of the public works of the Province should be placed under a responsible minister, bearing the title of " Secretary of Public Works," to whom the heads of the departments of public works, railways, and surveys should be subordinate. The professional heads of these departments will receive their instructions from him as their political head, while the other branches of the public service will be responsible as hitherto to the Provincial Secretary. The great difficulty which the Government have felt in obtaining accurate information as to tho varied requirements of tho several districts of the province and the results of the expenditure incurred, have shewn the necessity of a certain degree of pergonal supervision and inquiry on the part of a political officer, who is responsible to you for the financial administration of his department. The establishment of Road Boards, to which the management of roads has been transferred since the last session, will by no means render this personal inspection less necessary. If my views on this subject meet with your concurrence, I shall be prepared at the ordinary session to submit to you measures for carrying out a complete system of administration of public works, and for a revision of the civil service of the province. I propose to relieve the revenue of a portion of the additional charge consequent upon the creation of this office by reducing the salary of the Superintendent to £1000 per annum. For this purpose a .Bill will be laid before you. A considerable expenditure has become necessary for the erection of several public buildings. It is probable that the next sitting of the General Assembly will take place in this province, and in providing for its reception, I propose that any building which may be erected should be made subservient to the general design for enlarging our own accommodation, so that the expense incurred in this respect should not be materially in excess of what would be actually necessary for our own requirements. The plans sent in for the erection of a gaol, aa well as those for the Supreme Court, arc found to involve an amount of expenditure which I cannot at present recommend, looking to the great demand upon our resources for works essential to the material prosperity of the country. I shall at once proceed to obtain modified plans, the expense of carrying out which will be more proportionate to our existing circumstances. I have fully re-considered the whole of the immigration arrangements of of the province, and after careful enquiry into the relative advantages and cost of the two systems whose merits have been canvassed, viz., that carried on by Her Majesty's Commissioners, and that by our own Agent, I have come to the conclusion that the advantages presented by the latter considerably preponderate. I have therefore re-engaged Mr. Marshman as Immigration Agent for a further period of one year, leaving it open to you ultimately to adopt which ever system may most commend itself to you. In connection with the Public Works, Immigration. Railways, Surveys, and other departments of Government, returns and papers will be laid before you. The statements explanatory of tho financial position of the province will give assurance that the prosperity of the country is still a matter for congratulation. J I may now express my full confidence that you will give to the various subjects to which I have drawn j your attention, the careful consideration which their importance demands. Hie Honor then retired. The Provincial Secretary laid on the table the following returns: — 1. Report of the Railway and Bridge Commissioners. 2. A return of the Reserves temporarily made by the Superintendent, to be confirmed by the Council. 3. Return of expenses incurred at the opening of the Ferryniead Railway. 4. Immigration returns. 5. Estimate of probable Customs revenue for financial year ending 30th June, 1861, and correspondence on the same. 6. Report of the Commissioners of Education. 7. Report of the Board of Education.

8. Statement of the ProvincialTW^ financial position .->f the province of tfo 9. Report of the Port. Ofiip er on >1 quiroHiciits of the provide. P re *nttj. 10. K-turn of v n ] m . of T n ,, lorl , nn , Port of lAttoltnn. for .!,.. v , aM VslsT Tiiliie of Export.* to en.-!, roiinlrvin isT»"' 11. Convsrondenee received from w c , the Agent. H ' S * , '»,B«q. i 12. Cnnvspondenee addressed to TT c i, by His Honor t!ie Superintendent The PROVINCIAL SKCBET4B Ywlill . TT this onportm.Hy of making n statement of*« ** tek « which tho Government intended to nur.,, • I 60 0"'*) the business before tlie Coun.-il • bVh ,nbriB flng give an opportunity to the members of rt, i d fir « entive to state to the House th o *«L induced them to resign their offices Z? °\ h&d cess. «unng th e rt . For some time no one rose, at Inst Mr. Moohhovsr roso and unid the in of the hon Secretary in parliamentaryS"?* arconnted for th« course he had adonted in V" oe » j the late advisers of tho ? ROn explanation to the Council instead of v n stating why he had taken office Tf X duty of the Council to instruct him j n ° <lie which it was u«unl to pursue in this House V" "v* own part, he should follow the precedent »i • l ! set by Mr. P-rittnn when he left Mr TnnrU W * s ment in 1856. He recollected that on that ***!*" Mr. Brittan had assigned private rea«on» f v? I retirement. There had been then ns now all Jl t gossip as to the causes of his retirement bnt), forward and stated that whatever public * there might have been, it was sufficient, tortatTT , he retired upon personal and private eomi<W;l The Council will remember that there wiJJJj* [about one chick which required hissneHnl ntt. x* He (Mr.Moorhouse) might give the same re '££ but it was incumbent on him to state thnt as root*' he heard that gentlemen hnd been found to form " Executive, he hnd told the Provincial he was anxious to give, the reasons in the the Superintendent wh.y he had retired from oi That gentleman did not give him the opportunity!, asked for. Ho had private reasons for declinin'e to say more, unless before n Comniitte of the ConnrU, ft they should think fit to appoint one which could fo termine what it would disclose. He would bowera sny generally, that he had retired because he foind a w«\nt of faith and of gentlemanly feeling on thepwt of the supreme authority in the "Government. What were the reasons why his offer had been refused he could not say. He had been ill for some days, md had left his bed that day and come down to the Council on purpose to hear some reasons given why the lion, gentleman had neelected euch an epporfo. nity of being informed of the VTisngreements which had taken place, and why the members of tin Executive felt that they had been treated negligently and unhandsomely. These questions could not be discussed here. It was very desirable that their debates in that Council should be divested of iQ personal matters. What reasons the Superintendent had given to his new advisers for his very remarkable proceedings, it remained for them to tell. Hβ ehould deeply regret being compelled to state anything tbnt would damage or outrage the public service, U remained for the Council to say whether thew di* closures should be made. For his own part he «m more interested in seeing the business of the protiact progress, and seeing it conducted peawably and popularly. His hon. friend the Provincial Seeretejr had been given credit for the public service he lad performed in taking office when he did, but in oi&r to entitle him to that credit he must rise in his plw and give n full narntive of the circumstances whi had occurred to place him in his present position. Mr. Hall said : Aβ to the question of theordera which these explanations should be made, he would cay one word. The hon. gentleman has said he lad private reasons for not making any disclosure! of what had taken place. Mr. Moorhouse : I said both private and aln public reasons. Mr. Haii.: Then that reconciles two partoofthi hon. gentleman's speech which would otherwise bate been inconsistent. It might not be incumbent on the hon. gentleman to make any explanations, for he was not in office when the Council broke npUrtrear. It was to other gentlemen that the Council had entrusted the executivo powers of government The Council had been disappointed in the expectation that those gentlemen would have met them again to render an account; instead of which they found other gentlemen in office. The publtt ought to know why that charge had taken place, why the late Government had abandoned its trot All agreed that some explanation should be maw. The question was, where it should begin—with thi end, the middle, or the beginning of the OUlttift. The Bret thing was to know why the late Government left office and abandoned the service of their county There was no hesitation on the part of the Gorer* merit in affording full explanation. ThnPßOvnfCiATi SECRKTAKTseid that thebon.mefflber (Mr. Moorhouse) had misunderstood him. AH he wished was as an act of courtesy to the memben of the l< te Government, to afford them an'opportrawy of first stating why tlipy had resigned. He Inapt wish whatever to dictate to (hem the coune W? ought to pursue. For himself he had no explanatwa to make. He had been requested by the Snperßtendent to carry on the business of the country, im he saw no reasons on public grounds why he ebo™ not. have taken office. He would now etato B» order in which the Government prop, oß * , J™ bring the business before the CounciL V* first queetion would be that of the GoreW ment Buildings. The next the appointed* of a Minister of Public Works. Then the ameniJment in the Superintendent's salary and .the Intf* gration department. These questions he woaw bring on on Tuesday next. On a eubeequent WJ th re would be the Rakaia bridge, the extension m railways, the reserves to be sanctioned. « ,rM jT possible to fit the exact, day for bringing & "*<j?T tione forward, but he hoped next week, nesday he would bring on the unvoted expenfflw" and would move the Council into C°mmrtK» « Supply. The next subject would be the quetoosm» what should be done With the Waimakam nver ■» the Rangitata creek, referred to in the report w "" Railway and Bridge Commissionere, whictt wov» stand for Thursday next. He proposed a to-morrow for the purpose of gmng nO PTj,j, motion, and for laying on the table the rep»/ w Honor's address, to be moved on Tuesday. Mr. M-OOEhocse said it was a very bed W«7 for the success of the present Government tiw vi should seek by special pleading in the style w»w • Gammon, and Quirk, to evade making tne »f tions which lay in their power, he 11 ™ 1 i e Council determined to give his »ll«PiJ!- bthe adminstration whenever the J ]&. lost his confidence in them when he nearo «» member for Mount Cook trying to put «» "JLj, Executive the duty of explaining why It was the duty of Ministers to state ZZtLs occurred. The hon. member asked where we begin. Obviously the Minietere ongb^»»»« whole circumstances of their life from the oaj£ birth. It was all nonsense. The P^"-TJ, is : so wide, nor the press so ill informed, as \ their position were not acquainted A I stances said to be connected with tne T ™?.sgß the late Ministry. He, for one could not his confidence, or rote, unless they °P e ";7 t *c* they took office. When the hte G<>t«*«£ tl* in office there was a Itfj cheefc and c, little credit, but thej■ *«• for some reason and retirea. Executive state all the oreumstance«. tf(J tf strengthen their hands by showing 0" out of a desire to serve the pubhe. W» reason and facts, not a general *,*<*■ thought it a duty. The hon. gentleman. j, tary, b ought to know what his reasons «JV wanted any assistance, he had gentleman well schooled in the life ; and the hon. member next him, » djrcline th* in the politics of the colony. n° mett no* combat with men on this side: anct « enough, he had the moet subUe lawj" ,

. he could not mnke a slip. Let o f »™V ] * { » vt *> a,KI tho "? h h ' did not pretend to diplomatic ex(Slr.M°' r jjndvit o.iouiili lo understand a simple celieiM* " c , d ft Vllli ,i writ, and the public would b>- • Off- " C i .-'i-the Sccivtarvstate ln.-> whole case— intcrcs" , ; 1 A] v nn nie » Nerval." tt hy dele]t c b' nl - v j lo na ,| v. less correct position the onus pie to >" en t<-ise jj 0 refonunemlod to them a love c f stating },ad always found popular witli off*' r P,-f Canterbury. To facts they could add the fl**** theremarkable reasons which compelled the jOton*" 1 ". t0 res iga—reasons which had been comjnteExecut' ,, guprC uie power wliose mouth-piece jnunicated to fuuU if tfaey h . ul not { , c . tW/TIL nature of those reasons. lie (Mr. Moorjjjjjjdea V' , them to take notice that it was not bouse) Jf u^. ile t0 engage in a factious opposition. ffor th nis > gee (; an terbury follow the example gehud" 0 w|^ egj where disasters had followed on ofotherpro > ft con fij cncc j n . uu j * ftkm ? the Secretary, and he hoped tlmt lion, reipectwri , well-managed explanation gflntHf^-J office on terms which would justify him tint be lo °. . j[ r , Moorlioiise concluded by saying to nnt i satisfactory explanation were the Council, but wa< A ihv the Speaker, who ruled that no member ,oppe a D -* tliere W as no motion before the °° ul -fWent those who had to mnke the usual Council excH tim)S> After sonic conversation, moved-"That in the Jopiuion of n 1 it ie desirable timt an explanation should {fail Council provim , ial Secretary of the cireumbe given i gurroU nded his accession to oflice." Ho alo " ith the course laid down by Mr. -could not as- guidance of the House, nor with MoOrh - n that tlSy should not cast upon the in- " the • TSkiSry the explanation of why they took Council had a right to demand what grave n existed for the former government leaving T , Tt could not hate been political, because iv SbTeMB they would hare followed the course Tnted wherever the system of responsible governt nrevaila, and have recomnicuded the Supar"fmiflrtit to whom it waa best for linn to apply. CS* tad not been adopted ; no member of A.fiouncil had been invited to take the office of £,%Z Secretary, but it had been filled up by a Semnn who had never occupied a scat in that frnueo Ho was aware that the oflice was now a joint «,«> that it was held among four of those who were called the " heavy intellects" of the wrinee B"t be was at a loss to understand how Eeha combination could be expected to List, coninoeedaa it was of incongruous materials, which they U once been accustomed to see arrayed in direct ' Zujonisra with each other. Perhaps the member - forHeathcote would act as the band which should hen the opposing bodies together for the good of the nrovince Seeing tho course which had been purLd by their predecessors, these men had come forwardl to show obedience to the doctrine of miniiterial responsibility, and their first step waa to act in defiance of tho course prescribed on such occasions bT filling to enquire why their predeecssovs left ofics If they knew of any private matter iffteting tho Chief Magistrate of the province, it was ftatdotytonieet the retiring members and confer niftfben as to whether it was true or not. If it Hβ tree they had no right to give him their support br Ukag °ffic°; ifc was not ' tsien tMC wnoJe JKJeiitT was theirs who had retired and left the ftSendeut without officers. Ho hoped the jfrmM Secretary, without fear of giving offence, week give the Council a complete und unequivocal — «xptaation of all that had taken place, that the publkmiglit know the truth as to the charges which had ' beaulleged, and that the Opposition might come into tie Council Chamber, he would not say with a vote of *«nt of confidence, since he had the highest respect fcrthe gentlemen who now occupied the Government «&, but he was bound to say that the confidence be had had in the Superintendent waa entirely btt, and that he should be glad to support any MJolution which would express that want of conJdenee, that so tho resignation of the Superintendent might ensue. He had no faith in ministerial responsibility ; the responsibility rested with tho man who was put at the head of affairs. He saw before him gentlemen who were conversant with the proceedings of higher branches of legislature, and he would ask them, did the General Government recognise an Executive Government in the provinces, or did the Colonial Secretary recognise a .Provincial Secretary? It wae a matter of indifference to him who occupied the position of head of the Government, provided that it was carried on well; but it wa» a matter of tho last importance who was their chief ollicer, and whether he possessed tho confidence of the province. With these views ho bud great pleuuro in moving tho resolution he had read. Mr. Beswick thought that, as the Provincial '-Secretary had only been called to olUeo upon the ■ resignation of the former Ministry, the explanation demanded should be sought from the late Government. Dr. TCBNBULL eaid that the position of the member for Heathcote (Mr. Moorhouse) was one that would MTer be forgotten, but, he thought, he was drawing too heavily on it. Ho stated that for public reasons he should decline to call on the Provincial Secretary for hie reasons for taking office, and thought it consistent with honesty to state that the utter want of *•• good taste in the head of the Government was die wason why he resigned. Ho subsequently asserted th»t any disclosures that might be made were a Matter of indifference to any one in Canterbury ; yet he took the first opportunity of getting into the Council to give tho explanations ; and being himself the fint and primo actor and the person most deeply concerned, asked the body of men called the Govern- • ftflnt to give an explanation of circumstances which »ey had heard nothing of till after they were past. A* he had taken an opportunity to secure a scat in the Council, bo ho should take the opportunity of a pTmg explanations, and not demand them at **ond hand. His legal acumen must tell » fitt that it was the persons engaged 01 tho proceedings complained of who *nrt be called to account. After being himself the *we of all tho disturbance, he now turned rounu •Od eaid it was a matter of indifference, and a personal Q"«n*L If it was merely a personal matter let it be * J? , ! ~1? in private, as a personal quarrel should bo ; »it waa a public affair, then let those concerned come before the public and give the explanations "quired. The member for Christchurch (Mr. j-Nhwer) had expressed surprise at the Provincial rotary* accepting otlice, though, he Lad never been a the Council, but did not the last Provincial SecreS -^ c Bame ? £ Mr - Ollivier : That haa nothing w w> with it.] He was appointed by the late Superwendent. [Mr. Ollivier: It was equally wrong.] ••Ik T tCm had been established, and the fault lay JUftJ those who originated, not with those who ibl- - "Jw. , . 1 * Must the Superintendent be bound to ■' * v Min »Btry out of certain 35 gentlemen ? He would call on those members who wero personally «»j Cem i in lue transactions to give explanations, «- «o not leave the task to men who, at tho time when wey occurred were a hundred miles away. J*'^ DX would be htt ppy to iuform the House « urn tacts which led to his resignation. The cause dVIw 8 ■"JP'jtoM. It was his opinion, supported Bdiw«; colleagues, that the conduct of the 'numf*- "* Promulgating his intention to fonTi X j i every P° ssi ble way, except only that of a to the people, and then changing his any reason assigued, destroyed aU As to what passed between the JJPgjendent and. anyone el»e, he was not acSSrf- lt ClCept at eecond haild ; all thatcame ttaied xJi erßOnal know ledge was what he had just f >Vh " n th P Executive asked his Honor the - tk l if e C^ UII) B 0 i« bis intention, his llonor hteT«: Jtr, Mo ° r »ou3e had failed to carry out a*&&T ent With him > and Umt therefore he did 3W, l "° un(l t0 carry his intention into ? tller matler » anterior to what he (Mr. S JUBt mou tioned, which he might be ex*sl rt, g ° , mto 'i but those did not lead to his resigia jC w ° l, gb.they certainly impaired his conSricuce. Sn l>erint<;ndent. *As to the question of

■ niSS^ ,?oneibfl - i v ¥,idi,cu " ion n "s hth * w^ addrcs" m COnslUenu 8 thc «ply t o l lis U O : lor ' s -Mr Bntnr said l, e had come down to the Ilome- '• pec ing to J».ar some gr.at political n,v s trrv cleared » >- bw. so m r as he had heard and fK...'t: ia cxplanaimn given by tho last .peaktr, ho ),a;l b.vn "•adc.. m-quainleil with nothing that in the sILMu-t d.-rec tended to shake the confuienc-e he foil in the present Government. Mr. Moorhoi-jjk snid that as hon. members sHmed to wisl. it they should have the whole ttorv, though He looked upon the Provincial Secretary :w t!-e natural protector of the Superintendent's'position and it was not for him, having a rcard for the prestige of the office, to charge into a position that in us eyes was a sacred thing and not to be roughly handled. Ihey could easily understand too that it was done at a great sacrifice*to himself, for it did not consist with his avocations that his name should be bandied to and fro, nor with his views that he should be looked on as a disturber of public order. He desired to see the country quietly as well as godly iioverned, and the Government respected by everY one. Hut on these matters there had been "a good de.vl of disturbance in the public mind, and the pres* had taken up the question and become warmh engaged. He had himself no public grounds for coming forward, till a time came when they were admitting into the Council an element chosen by the people, and on the occasion alluded to he went on an impulse of public duly, and did violence to hi» feelings by opposing, on public, grounds, the return of a gentleman whom in other circumstances he would gladly have supported. The following then waa the story : — Tt had pleased his Honor, both personally and in public, to express himself as highly valuing the scheme of policy which had been laid down by the former Superintendent, and to hold that forth a's recommending him for office, which fact might account for his Honor's coming to him and reminding him ofaformerpromise.thatifpublicdifficultiesshouldarise he would abandon the intention, which till then he had rigorously carried out, of retiring altogether from public life and confining himself to his private avocations. Heing strongly urged, ho consented to give his opinion. His Honor then said he was going to resign, and asked him (Mr. Moorhouse) whether he would succeed him. He (Mr. Moorhouse) replied that the reason which led to his resigning ollice existed still, for he did not think it consistent with the respectability of the province that its Superintendent should be in embarrassed circumstances. His llonor said there would be no difficulty on that subject, as the province would be so glad to see him (Mr. Moorhou9e) back, that he might make himself quite easy on that point. He said he must have timo to consider the matter, and to consult his friends. His Honor then asked whether ho (Mr. Moorhouse) thought him a fit man for the ollice, to which he replied that ho did not think his Honor capable o) taking a sufficiently leading part, and that the result of his being at the head of atTairs would be a divided Council and diluted measures. He would here remark that having had cogent reason for doubting his Honor's truthfulness, he had insisted on having a friend present at this conference, and could prove every statement he had made. Ho had entered into no compact whatever with his Honor ; when he said that if his Honor retired he would come forward, he spoke in the brlief that he possessed the public confidence. His Honor then said that he did not like his position and wished to retire, but did not wish his name bruited abroad ; and finally asked him (Mr. Moorhouee) to go round to the papers and get them ta treat him gently on the occasion. He replied that he had never in his life asked a favor of the press ; but, on his Honor's urging the point, he con>ented to call at the different offices. "What passed there no doubt the editors recollected, and his statement, if false could be disproved. He said that his Honorwiie about to retire from oflice, and had asked him to request the press not to make him the subject of unllattering comments. The following day His Honor came and asked him to join the Executive as President. Ue replied that he would, on coudition that His Honor left oflice, being cluelly induced to do so in consideration of the shortness of the time. He found that his Honor had not consulted with his Executive, and insisted on the matter being deferred till it had been referred to them. Jfext day a communication came from Mr. Williams, to the effect that the Executive had talked the mutter over, and would be glad if he would join them. Ou attending the first meeting oi the Executive he found that His Honor had not informed them of the reasons of his presence, and then, in Hi» Honor's presence, he stated to the Executive all the material facts as he had stated them to that House. Thus, then, though His Honor had twice said he had acquainted his Executive with his intention of resigning, that was the first time they had heard of it, and His Honor had made the grievous mistake of choosing to consult with a man who had no affinity with him, instead of with his Executive. Of course ho (Mr. M.) never committed the damaging blunder of going before the public and disturbing the position of tho Superintendent, and professed himself entirely dissociated from all statements made in the press, or disseminated among the public. Ho waited till his Honor should redeem his promise to theExecutive to resign, as soon as he should have signed certain debentures, which would be in about a fortnight's time. During the time which elapsed between his Honor's announcement that he intended to resign and his change of that intention, he (Mr. M.) employed himself, expecting to be elected Superintendent, in framing an Executive, and devoted all his energies to public business, and to projecting a scheme for the future government of the country. When his arrangements were nearly completed, hie Honor called ou him with a remarkable change in his look and demeanour, and told him that he had determined not to resign, ns he (Mr. M.) had failed to fulfil Ins compact. Ho denied the existence of any compact between them, and enquired -what compact his Honor meant. Hie Honor replied that he (Mr. M.) had undertaken to gag the press and had not dono so. He was so shocked at hearing such an untruth, that he immediately replied that he could have no further dealings with his Honor, and seizing a bit of paper j (vrote down his resignation. Since then he had gone back to his work, had never placed himself before the public, and enthely repudiated any design* on the high office which his Ifonor had clung to. He had been weak enough to use forcible language respecting the conduct of one who had not behaved handsomely to him, he was mortified at being made a fool of, and had a personal distasta for the man who had paraded him ns a fool before the country; he should have been glad to have escaped this disclosure, but he felt that the country had a right to expect a much fuller explanation than it had yet had. During the interval which elapsed before the formation of a second Executive, his Honor was closeted with many gentlemen in succession, and a pilgrimage was mado in search of a Secretary. He had himself something to do with the appointment of the gentleman who hold that position, for ho had formerly mentioned him to the Superintendent aa one whose services might be beneficially engaged for the country. It was not then surprising that he should have asked for an interview between himself and the executive in the presence of his Honor. He had heard of a rumour to the effect that his Honor had bound himself to retire whenever his Executive should tliink it convenient, which gave great cause for anxiety about the coudition of the province. The Constitution iutended the Superintendent to be at the head of the province, and unless the Constitution were altered it was incumbent that the Superintendent should be regarded iissuch.and notas|a mere log of wood floating on the Executive waters. He wished therefore for an interview with the Executive in which he hoped to convince them that the interests of the province would be best served by leaving his Honor to shift j for himself; and in this cour«e there would be but i little danger, for an attempt on the part of his Honor I to govern alone would speedily break down, the . ! Council would be summoned, and would probably . ; petition for a dissolution, and thus afford an opportunity of ventilating these public questions in their • proper atmosphere, not in the Council, and perhaps . of electing another man. An hou. member had inf ! titnated that he sought an opportunity |of coming

■; to the Council for particular purposes, but such >; was not the ca>p; lie came because he thought th«i I province in danger ; h>. , was not there for political > ! motive-. !>;it because, ihoutrii he had tin , Jii-jhes! 1 j nr.inion of the talents and energy of the Provinci-i! ; Secretary, there were many most important works to i j be undertaken, :in;l his Honor, of whose aptitude i*>»r business they were aware, would have to undertake; ■ the launching of the debenture?, and ;it ?i;cli a timo every one interested in the country would be glad to I I see such a Council a? would be qualified to exercise an influence over these operations. He \ had not the slightest intention of assuming a post j which one of the newspapers had assisnod to him, [ I that of leader of the opposition ; there were not more than two members with whom he had had any conversation as to the course to be adopted in the House; and if the Government came prepared with a policy rationally adapted to tho exigencies of the country, and gave such guarantees as an Executive could give that it would be carried out, he should be ready to give them his entire support. Mr. Hall hoped that the Council would suspend its jndgmpnt until the Superintendent had had the opportunity of making his explanation of what had occurred, should he wish to do so. lie would only now say that the Superintendent gave a very diti'erent interpretation to what had occurred, ami stated other circumstances. Mr. MooEiiorrE : Conteinperaneous or antecedent to what 1 have referred to. Mr. Hall referred to the construction put upon the facts than to other facts. The late Provincial Secretary had stated that His Honor had made an agreement, with the hon. gentleman (Mr. Moorhouse) which not been carried out. Mr. MooKHOl'siK : Will the late Secretary state what agreement was referred to. Mr. Maude : The words used by the Superintendent were "in consequence of Mr. Moor-house having failed to carry out his agreement he would not resign." He (Mr. Maude) could not say what that agreement was. Mr. Ckacoft Wilson said he was sure the Council must be quite tired of this debate. For his own part he had listened with great pain to the disclosures which had been made, and he thought the Council would not thereby be raised in the estimation of tho people. A lending London jourual had lately said of America that under the principle of election there was nothing to prevent n third-rate attorney from becoming President of the United States. Ha (Mr. W.) was quite sure the fate of Superintendents was I now sealed, and if the proposal to have them nominated were again moved in the Assembly, no one would oppose it. lie had not himself helped in the nomination of the present Superintendent. The lion, member (Mr. Moorhouse) now told them he had never trusted him. Mr. MooKiiorsE : 1 did trust him at that time, but I had a cogent reason for changing my mind afterwards. Mr. C. Wilson* : One of the faults attributed to the Superintendent was .that he was guided by tho Executive Council. He* dare say that did not suit the lion, member, but there was an old apothegm of Hesiod's which was not the less true for being three thousand years old—that some men had intellect themselves and respected it in others ; some had no intellect themselves but respected it in others ; whilst there were others who were neither clever themselves nor respected it in other people. Now if we had not the first he thought it was a good thing that we had the second. He did not support the nomination of the present Superintendent, but he should support him as long as he acted with public propriety. The Peovinxial Secretary said he would say a very few words on the question, and very few. The hon. member for the Heathcotc had said that ho had expressed a wish to him (Mr. R.), to explain what had taken place before the Superintendent. and the Executive Council. That was quite true, and he (Mr. It.) had replied that he did not see what good could come of it—that any explanation that was made must be made to the country. We had now had that explanation, and it was for the Council and the country to say how far that explanation was satisfactory. It was not for him (Mr. R.) to comment on it, but to leave it to the country to express its own opinion. Aβ to why he had taken office, he could only repeat what he had said before, that ho had done so in the interest of the country, and nothing that he had heard since, and nothing that he had heard to day in that Council had led him to change his opinion. It was for them to show that he had done wrong, not for him to do more than state why he had taken office. Mr. Oixivieb proceeded to address the House in reference to the part he had taken in the change of Ministry, when he was stopped by The ' SrEAKEK, who said the lion, gentleman must confine himself to what had been said in the debate. Mr. Oi/livieb. concluded, saying he regretted he had not come down with a direct motion stating that tho Council had not confidence in the Superintendent. He could however do that another day. He then asked leave to withdraw his motion. Motion withdrawn. The following notices of motion were then given for Tuesday next: — Mr. Maide— To ask what ia tho intention of the Government with reference to the grunt for building places of worship. Mr. Binni— To a*k the Provincial Secretary for what reason the fjovorainont support was so suddenly withdrawn from the Lancashire Immigrants lately encamped at Kanfriora. The Provincial Secretary— To move the following resolutions :— 1. "That in the opinion of this Council it is desirable with a view to the oflieient muiingvincnt of the Surveys, Railways, and other Public Works of the Province, that these departments should be placed under the immediate control of an officer boaririff the titli , of Secretary for l'ublic Works, ivlio shall he a member of the Executive Council of tho Province." 2. " Willi this view the Council will indemnify His Honor the Superintendent in any exiH'iise he inav incur for the above purpose, not exceeding the following sums :—Secretary for Public Works, .i'tiOO. with travelling allowance of .£160; Clerk, £250; Contingencies, .■f2t)u." The Provincial Secretary— To move for leave to brinjr in a Bill to amend the Superintendent's Salary Ordinance. The I'hovi.vci.u, SncnKTAJiY— To move for a Select Committee to tiike into consideration that part of Hi* Honor , * address which rd«t"-s to the Immitrr.ition to be pursued in the Province. The Committee to consist of Mr. Mnorhoiise, Mr. Buckley. Mr. OlHvier, Mr. Clark, and the mover. Mr. Hall — 1. "That a Committc* bo appointed for the purpose of considering and reporting- upon the steps- which it may be expedient to adopt for the purpose of making further provis-iou for the accommodation of the Provincial Council, H9 well as providing for the accommodation of the (Jem-nil Assembly of X<nv Zealand, in the event of its noxt sissiou being held iv the City of Christchurch." , 2. "That s:n*h Committee consist of Mr. Speaker, the Hon. Mr. Tancred, Mr. OHiviYr, Mr. Maude, and the mover. , ' 3. •' That the Committee do report on the Iflth instant." Mr. Ou.ivir.u~ To move for a Copy of any Correspondence between the Provincial Government, or tho Superintendent and Mr. Thomnkins, Mr. Thornton and Mr. Morton, in reference to their appointments. And also for copiis of minutes of the Executive in reference thereto. In the event of tin , Government deciding to produce Copies of such minutes, then to :isk the Provincial Secretary if either of those persons have bei-n appointed to tlieir offices without tlu , sanction of the Executive.