The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 732, 12 November 1859, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

■<Baturxlay,, November 12, 1859. Ow-Tuesday.nfg-ht the question between the late and present p GrOvernment:will be brought to an issue oii the;' motion of which Sir. fJlhvier has given notice." It is In" fact' the jpiestion. whether the .voterwhichwas passed by a. thin' House— amounting- as that vote did to a vote of want of confidence—is endorsed «y the (Jouncil in .a full- sitting. We cannot tut suspect that there is some misunderstanding in the proceedings whiek have lately .taken place. With all respect, for the gentlemen who have led, this movement, we, cannot suppose, that thej M've acted with a clear miderstandmg of. the state of aiFairs.. At:the md Qia-greatideal of meaningless and object-1 less bullying, while not one charge against the Government had been substanfiated%ertsan members objected to go into Gommittee of Supply unless, a most unprecedented .return was Just furnished—a return of the iiccountsof the existing quarter up to the time they, were asked for. The demand : was made after the Council had been furnished with

accounts up to'the period of their meeting, Wo suspecs rthat this was a blunder,'not originating-.jvifch. those who wished fairly to ,go into the estimates; but it \v.as taken; up and •pressed ■ihla. manner so offensive: that, no'men with oommQiv self-respect could •hold office This 'demand.■ for a portion 'pf-the qiifir'ter's aceounts.isScarcely defended' by anyone'; but it is said, '.^Yhy did the GWernmenJ; not furnish -a .statement, of the liabilities?' The liabilities were all on the, estimates .'for the new year, and the Opposition in the-Council declined to go into those-estimates, or to,hear anything- about them, until the/accounts for October and the liabilities were laid 'on the table. ,No effort was made,to separate these demands. The Government showed no inclination whatever -to "ignore, liabilities. .They were provided for on the estimates on the table, and would irithe usuaTcourse have been pointed out in committee, or at once if.the Council had wished it. But it1 was. not for the Government to propose an alteration in or modification of a most offensive and uncalled for motion; especially as no intimation was given that one portion was not as'much .pressed as the other. ; It must be remembered that this motion was only the finishing,touch-to a,most uncalled for and blundering system of attack on the Provincial Secretary.,,, Had the Council affirmed its belief that' no'^ money should be spent without previous Vote of the Council, that, at least, would have been intelligible ;■ had they considered the items of Government expenditure, and found any one which they could declare to be without reasonable cause or extravagant, a vote of censure on that account would have been intelligible. But to scold at the Government; to talk loosely .about extravagance and unwarrantable departure from votes: while the sum over-expended was voted without going into details, notwithstanding the request of the Government; this is a course of conduGt to most men unintelligible. If we add to this, the; upsetting a Government which had worked hard, and we really believe .given pretty general -satisfaction) without seeing the means of legally forming an 'Executive possessing sufficient public confidence, to carry on business, it must be confessed that the gentlemen now on their trial have not acted wisely. We wish to speak with all respect.of these gentlemen in their private capacity, and >we know that Mr. Ross and Mr. Harman havebeen, and we hope yet will be, .useful public servants. But we must ask these gentlemen what they are about, and whether/they have considered their position at all, when we find them beginning by formingan Executive in direct contravention to' law. The Executive' Council Ordinance- provides that not more than three members of; the Executive shall have seats in the Provincial Council. We1 now find four members af the Provincial Council gazetted as, members of the, Executive j and the two," who, are resigning because, they have accepted officeVof emolument are standing again for the/r seats. Is this a blunder, -or which of. the new Executive is going to resign his seat in the Provincial Council?. It v is.Jiiotoi.io:Ue,,.tlia€-Mvi..llai!man could not take the office of. Prbyjjjcjal; Seere r tary because he.knew he would not regain His seat in the Provincial Council if he.resigned; and it is known that Mr. Wyatt's seat is very insecure.- The fifth member of the Executive is Mr. Bridge. As that gentleman has accepted a seat in the Government, we are entitled to ask " Que didhle va-tsjaire dans cettegal'ere ?" The only way in which he is known to the public generally (that we are aware) is as a respected officer of, the .Farmers': Club; and we are quite sure that in joining- the present Executive" he does not represent that body. An objectless opposition —an objectless change—a delay of public business,—what will they do with it I Not much, if we read their fate aright on Tuesday evening next.