GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 8, Issue 693, 21 October 1865, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Fbidat, Octobeb 10. Thb Speakee took the chair at 12 o'clock. Tlie House was well filled, nearly every member being in his place. The Ladies' Gail§ry was fully occupied. The Stranger's Qtm&ij was crowded ; the space behind the bar was occupied', principally by members of the Upper House. The recent resignation of the Weld fl^istry had created much excitement, 7 fuid^ r eiager desire was evinced to learn whe:i_p?^or not the opposition was prepared to form 7^_^-M^b_sti^V" , *'VV ><-*-• ; ,_- --'■)'fj yy'<:'}■ ;M^STEBIAXi _ STATEMENT.. yy-TkeJ^ and said— Sir, I y)^ that after

the vote on the motion of the hon. member for Dunedin, of the night before last, I placed my resignation and those of my colleagues in the hands of His Excellency the Governor. It , had become evident to me, not oniy from that vote, but from other recent divisions in this House, that the Ministry did not command a sufficiently strong support in this House to enable us to retain office with credit to ourselves or benefit to the country. It was evident that this House was not prepared to give the Government that decided support on financial questions, from which alone we could derive the means to carry out our policy of self-reli-ance. I may be allowqd to say, Sir, that I be- J lieve that policy has been successful hitherto. I believe its principles have taken root in this Colony. I believe that, though set aside how, it will triumph hereafter. (Cheers.) I wish, Sir, to state, that, had this House thought fit to grant us the necessary means, I know of no remaining difficulty before us that I do not believe we could have surmounted. I express my warmest thanks to my colleagues for the support they have afforded to me throughout the term of my Government, the most perfect unanimity of opinion exists between every member of the Cabinet upon all the subjects before us, and I may be permitted to say that the country will recognise the exertions' that have been made by my hon; colleagues to do their duty by the Colony. (Hear) Sir, the state of my health hardly permits me to speak. I will only add that I advised the Governor to send for Mr. Stafford, because I believe that hon. gentleman to be' the person amongst those who had usually opposed our- policy, who was the most likely to be able to form a Ministry. Sir, my statement is at an end. (Cheers.) Mr. Stafford : Perhaps I may ask the indulgence of the House to make a few remarks which may not be strictly in order, in reference to the statement of my hon. friend. Yesterday I received an intimation from His Excellency that His Excellency's responsible advisers had placed their resignation in his hands, and that he desired to see me. I accordingly waited on His Excellency, and after some discussion on some subjects which I thought it my duty to bring under his notice, I retired. This conversation lead to a second interview later in the day when I received His Excellency's commands to endeavour to form a new Ministry, to which I formally consented. I intimated that I conceived it to be my duty in accordance with the circumstances under Which His Excellency claimed my attention, not to neglect to do so, in the position in which the affairs of the Colony stand at this moment. As this is the last sitting day of the week, and as rio full information could be afforded to this House by its adjournment till to-morrow, I shall formally move that this House do now adjourn until next sitting day, Tuesday, by which time there is every reason to expect that information will be laid before the House as to what will be the best course to adopt. Mr. Weld seconded the motion which was put and passed. The House then adjourned.