The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, THURSDAY, DEC. 7, 1865.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 808, 7 December 1865, Page 2

The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, THURSDAY, DEC. 7, 1865.

The resolutions adopted by the Select Committee on the relations between the General and Provincial Governments are, as might have been expected from the constitution of the committee, a sort of -compromise, including to a certain extent the ideas conveyed in Mr Moss’s resolutions and those of Mr Macandrew —chiefly .the latter. The debate that ensued last '.night on this important subject disclosed <the fact that not a single adherent of the late Ministry has the courage to stand up defend its policy. Major sin his usual claptrap style, excused him self on the ground that as a member of the late Cabinet he could not with respect to himself or his late colleagues take part in the debate—that is to say, he, the only member of Council from ■whom the Weld Ministry might expect to receive a defence in a debate affecting their policy, has not a word to say in their advocacy. Major Richardson’s ideas of the great honor attaching to a connection with Mr Weld’s Cabinet are all very well, but we fancy his Chief will hardly accept the empty compliment as sufficient compensation for the Major’s silence. Stripped of the sentimentality with which Major Richardson to cloak his reserve, his refusal to take part in the discussion simply amounts to a confession of the weakness of his party’s cause, and a complete admission -that he has not the courege to attempt to stem the tide of public opinion in Otago. We much regret that this should be the -case. Major Richardson has long been regarded as one of the most unyielding of the opponents of any disturbance of the existing internal relations of the colony, .and it might be imagined that at least he is prepared to show good reasons for his consistent support of the Colonial-Unity party. But for aught the public can tell he has no other reasons for opposing separation, than the woman’s reason, “ because I do.” A change has surely come o’er the Major’s spirit —he has either lost confidence in his own opinions, or he holds the Provincial Council in contempt. W T e trust, however, that the debate may take such a turn a* to compel him to speak out It is necesjsary for the discussion of the Separation question that both sides shculd be freely

argued, and it would be far more satisfac - tory that the debate in the Provincial Council should not be as hitherto, onesided.