GENERAL ASSEMBLY. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WEDNESDAY, MAY 24.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XI, Issue 722, 30 May 1854, Page 2

GE N ERA L A S S E M B L Y. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WEDNESDAY, MAY 24.

Piesent, all the Members except the Hon. Mr. Petre and Captain Bellaiis. The Chief Justice proceeded to administer the required oath to the Members ; after which, the Members took their seats. The Splakeb. (William Swaixsox, Esq., AttorneyGeneral) then addressed the Council. He said, that many of the members were no doubt already aware that His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government had been pleased to appoint him (Mr. Swainson) to fill the office of First Speaker of the Legislative Council of the General Assembly of New Zealand. But it might be proper that before proceeding to take the Chair, he should read and lay before the Council the commission, authorising him to assume and exercise the duties of the office. [The Speaker here read the Commission, and then continued]. He believed it was an ancient usage for the Speaker of the greatest Legislative Assembly in the world, on the occasion of his appointment to office, humbly to represent his incapacity for so great a trust. IIa"\ ing been appointed to the highest and most honourable office which it was in the power of Her Majesty's Representative in New Zealand to bestow, he could assure the Council that he had not ventured to und-Ttake its duties without some diffidence, or without a full sense of his need for their considerate indulgence. But haung been selected to fill that distinguished office, and having accepted, the appointment, he could assure the Council that he would f el it not only his duty, but his own pride and pleasure to discharge its requirements in such a manner as mi^ht tend to justify the choice, to uphold the character of that Council, and to promote the interests of the Colony at large. In exercising his duties, it might no doubt happen that he should expiess opinions and give decisions in which the Council might not be able to concur. But he would pray that, however much they might deem him to be in error, as to judgment, they would believe him to be at all times influenced by a sincere desire, faithfully, impartially, and to the best of his ability, to discharge the duties of the office. . The Speaker then read the Proclamation, callmg the Meeting of the General Assembly. Mr. "Wuitakxii moved tho appointment for the Session of a Committee, to be called " The Standing Oidcis Committee," whose duty it should be to prepare Rules for the management of the business of the House, and for such conierenccs and communications with, a Committee of the House of Representatives as might be necessaiy. The Committee to consist of the Speaker, Mr. St. Mill, Mr. Bell, Mr. Seymour, and Mr. Whitaker. Mr, Gil.fili.ax seconded the motion. Mr. Bell objected to the transaction of any business then as he did not conceive that the Council was duly constituted until the Assembly had been formally opened by the Officer' Administering the Government. After a very brief discussion, The Si'EAKXH. said that, being appealed to, he must decide that it was quite competent for the Council to take the proposed step, inasmuch as the 52nd clause of the Constitution Act required that the Council should proceed to the formation of Rules, &c, at their first S1 The motion was then put and carried ; after which the Council adjourned until three o'clock. At that hour the Council again assembled pro forma, but there being no business "before them, it was agreed to adjourn until Saturday, at 2 p.m.