The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, THURSDAY, DEC. 21, 1865.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 820, 21 December 1865, Page 2

The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, THURSDAY, DEC. 21, 1865.

In the Provincial Council, The Speaker took the chair at 12 noon, and reminded the House that, by a resolution of the 13th December, all Government business should take precedence. He noticed on the Order Paper two motions standing before the motion of the honorable member for Oamaru (country), which he understood the Government last night to consent to have placed first. The Proviin cial Secretary said that it was no fault of the Government that Mr Gleeson's motion stood where it did, and as the Government expressed yesterday it had no objection to its being considered before other business, there could be no objection now. Mr Lloyd brought up the Report of the Select Committee on the petition of David Andrew, which was ordez-ed to be printed. The Provincial Secretary, referring to Mr Thomson's question yesterday as to the instability of the walls of the new Provincial Government Buildings, wished to state that enquiry had been made into the matter, and that although an additional half -brick in thickness had been recommended, the building as at present was perfectly secure.

Mr Gleeson moved the motion standing in his name, which was seconded by Mr Moss—"That this House has no confidence in the .Executive as at present constituted." The remarks of the mover were inaudible. Mr Moss said that it had been his desire to move instead of second the motion, and he would briefly give his reasons. It would be remembered that when the Committee brought up

<&heir Report on .Education, the Government at - once brought in a bill to repeal the Assessment Clauses, and asked for permission to consider the other recommendations of the Report during

-the recess. ISTo objection -was dreamt of, and it •was supposed that the Council had siifficient confidence to meet the Executive on that point, and give them an opportunity of bringing down next session data upon the subject. Personally he was then opposed to the incorporation of the High School, and was so still, and from what he had subsequently heard, he was sure that a large proportion of the Council had not made up their minds to carry out the last portion of the Report. However, when the vote left the "Government with only two supporters, it could cot, consistently with self-respect, remain in office. They could not, as the present Chief Secretary elegantly put it, "swallow the whole of the Report," and declined to suffer further indignity in order to secure their seats. Calm reflection convinced him they did right. It was admitted by the late opposition that the matter was of secondary interest, and the refusal to grant the Ministry time to consider it was sufficiently indicative of want of confidence to cause it to retire. That was the position of his party. What was that of the present Ministry ? He emphatically declared that it did not possess ,ihe confidence of the Council on broad political TJie Provincial Secretary (Mr

Brodie) had throughout the progress of the Land Resolutions stated his determination to oppose them in every possible way, and if possible to worry the Government out of office as had been done in another place; yet his first act of office was to move the adoption of the very measure he had so obstructed. Was not this flaunting his shame as boldly as vice of another kind displayed a bravado to cloak its conscience. Mr Burns and Mr Mouat had opposed the regulations, but after they were carried, candidly said that they would support them, and after Mr Brodie had denounced them as "ruinous to the country," and calculated to ' 'fill them with sheep rather than men,'' he was surprised Mr Cargill should cover his own Government with such shame by sending for that gentleman. The Chief Secretary (Mr Brodie) replied that, although the honorable member had selected him as the butt for all his artillery, the position he had taken as the champion of the Council was a weak one. His strong language and reference to '' shameless abandonment of principles " were mere rant. He (Mr Brodie) acknowledged he had been beaten on the Land question, and when continual majorities convinced him that he could not carry his own principles, he had no hesitation in performing the formal duty necessary to form the resolutions of the Council into a bill. What else, in his position, could he do ? He could not alter them if he wished; and how could the Government, even if they wanted, bring down new regulations? or even if they had, what chance had they of passing them. In moving the adoption of the resolutions no principle was involved. If participation in amending those resolutions disqualified a member from joining the Government, it would be impossible to form an Executive from that house. All had more or less objected to the resolutions, and would the hon. member, the late Treasurer, desire to intercept the business of the House ? The late Government kept on repeating the ad misericordiuin plea. "It is a vote of want of confidence, and we must resign, and we had done so to our sorrow." Did not the honorable member distinctly say, '' I will have nothing to do with the incorporation of the High School ?" [Mr Moss I said personally I would not.] The Provincial Secretary continued—lt would have been a mockery to have remitted the question to the Government after that, and he might tell the hon. member that was the cause of the vote of want of confidence. As to the remarks of the honorable member who had proposed the motion, had his j(Mr Brodie's) eyes been closed he could have imagined that he was listening to the lowing of one of that gentleman's numerous herds, the sound of which would Have been equally as intelligible as his speech. The old Ministry ought to have retired quietly, and. not make the shameful attempt they were doing to climb back into office. The new Executive had not had a moment allowed them to develope a policy, nor even to carry on the present business. Incompetency was not urged, only the former Ministry said '' we have made a mistake" and want to get back. An attempt might be made to obtain a catch vote. Many members were absent who would not support the designing attempt of the late Provincial Treasurer- As for the honorable member, the mover of the motion, it was quite unnecessary to refer to his political influence in the country. [Want of space compels us to give the barest outline of the succeeding speeches. ] Mr Grant thought the opposition premature, and would leave the House on a division being called.

Mr Walker supported the remarks of Mr Moss and commented severely tipon the qualifications of the members of the new Executive serititum.

Mr Macandeew characterised the circumstances which had led to the resignation of the Executive as childish. They had an undoubted majority, and had been as good a Government as the Province ever had. Their conduct had been characterised by imaccountable petulance, and, as in a few days the Ministry might assume a different complexion, he would move •'the previous question." Mr Vogel seconded the amendment in a speech of considerable length. Mr Reynolds supported the original motion. Mr Heistnie spoke, as nearly as can be estimated, about 2000 words in five minutes, and as no shorthand writer can write as fast, what he said must remain a mystery. Mr John Cargill replied to the remarks of the mover and seconder of the motion and its supporters, and denied that he had ever neglected his public duties. Mr E. B. Cargill thought the conduct of the late Government pettish, and would oppose the motion.

Mr Houghton would support the previous question, as thirteen members were absent, if the Government would promise to make a call of the whole House.

Mr Mor/AT had no desire to see any interest unduly represented in the Executive, and would gladly make way for any other member. Mr Moss would vote for the previous question if the Government adopted Mr Haughton's suggestion.

The Provincial Secretary said the Government would not do so, and that therefore he (Mr Moss) could vote as he desired.

The Speaker, having clearly explained the consequences of the "previous question " being carried, and vied versa, put it. and declared that the " noes " had it. A division was called for, ■which resulted as follows :

Noes—Blair, Brodie, Brown, Burns, E. B. Cargill, J. Cargill, Hepburn, Lloyd, Macpherson, Miller, Morris, Mouat, and Haughton and Macandrew, tellers—l 4. Ayes—Clark, Hughes, Moss, Reid, Rennie, Street, Stevenson, Thomson, Walker, and Gleeson, and Reynolds, tellers—ll. The motion of want of confidence is therefore shelved.