Provincial Council.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 734, 19 November 1859, Page 3

Provincial Council.

Tukrday, November 15. The Speaker took the chair at 5 p.m. Present all the member except Messrs. HiL'gins and Potts. PETITIONS. Mr. Fooks presented a petition from the settlers engaged in the Kaiapoi timber trade praying the Council to take into consideration the bad state of the fcorth road between the Bth mile and the bank oHhe river Waimakariri. Petition read and received. Mr. Blakiston presented a petition from Samuel Smart ox Lyttelton, contractor, praying for compensation for losses sustained in the partial carrying out and final withdrawal from him of the con-, tract for widening the Lyttelton jetty. Petition read and received. RESIGNATION OP THE EXECUTIVE. Me. Rahman then rose and stated, that on the last sitting day he had, on the part of himself and his colleagues.promised that he would to-day be prepared to furnish to the house some intimation of the course proposed to be adopted by the new Government. Then followed the motion of the hon. member (Mr. 011ivier)in consequence of which it had not been the intention of the Government at once to lay the return of liabilities on the table, as they considered that the debate on the motion should precede the production of that return. This morning, however, things had assumed a different aspect. This morning the Executive met his Honor, who requested from them some explanation of the course they intended to pursue.' The Executive had then told His Honor that they had not had sufficient time afforded them for maturing all their plans, but the first step they contemplated taking was the introduction into the Council of a bill to authorise a loan to meet present exigencies. When the Executive took office they did so under a distinct understanding with the Superintendent (knowing that his views and theirs differed on some subjects) that he would be prepared as far as he legally could to endorse their acts. It was therefore with some surprise that they had on this occasion been told by His Honor that the proposed Loan bill would meet with his decided disapprobation, and further, that he considered this question now to be reduced to one of policy, namely, whether the course he had endeavoured during the whole term of his tenure of office to pursue or this new policy of the Executive should be adopted : and that, in the latter case, he should feel it his duty to resign. Not, he said, at once, nor probably during the present session, but at some time when his so doing would not embarrass the affairs of the Province. The Executive felt themselves placed thus in a peculiar position. They felt that the resignation of his Honor would be an act prejudicial to the interests of the Province, and that but one course was left open for them to adopt. They had therefore in the following letter tendered their resignation to his Honor:—

Christchurch, November 15, 1859, To his Honor the Superintendent.

Sir, —Having received from your Honor this morning a distinct expression of your views, to the effect that the policy of your present Executive and yourself are so widely at variance as to render any co-operation in the work of the Government impossible, we feel that we should not be acting with justice either to the province or ourselves were we to attempt to pursue the course which, according to your Honor's statement, would lead directly to your resignation.

In order, therefore, tc avert such a crisis, which, in the present financial embarrassment of the country could only be regarded as a most deplorable event, we beg to tender to your Honor our seats as members of the Executive Council.

We feel bound, however, to state that" we should not have accepted office at all had it not been for your Honor's statement that you would endorse all our acts, " if only they were consistent with law." We have the honor to be, Sir, Your Honor's most obedient servants, E. J. S. Harman, President, Geo. A. E. Eoss, Provincial Secretary, C. W. Wyatt, Provincial Solicitor, Augustus Edward White, Chas. J. Bridge. To which, his Honor had replied in the following terms,

Christchurch, Nov. 15, 1859,

Gentlemen, —I have the honor to accept the resignation just received by me and severally signed by the members of my Executive Council. I trust to be able to find gentlemen who will assist me to carry on the Government.

I feel much obliged by your readiness to avert inconvenience to the country, but at the same time beg to state, that I have not retreated from the position I took, when I stated to you that I would, as Superintendent, endorse all your lawful acts. You will, however, remember that I by no means pledged myself to continue head of an Executive whose policy might be very materially opposed to my own on matters seriously affecting great public interests.

I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your very obedient servant, W. S. Moorhouse,

Superintendent, Canterbury. Messrs. Eoss, Harman, Wyatt, White and Bridge. The whole question had hinged on the proposed Loan Bill, and he (Mr. Harman) had thought that the sooner that question was decided the better. He had now only further to add that the present Executive merely held office till the appointment of their successors.

Mr. Ollivier had a. few words to say on circumstances which had taken place since the correspondence just read. His Honor had done him (Mr. Ollivier) the honor to send for him, and entrust to him the construction of a new Government. He was in ignorance of all the circumstances alluded to by the honourable member (Mr. Harman), and having all the work of formation and consultation stilfbefore him, he was compelled to ask the Council to allow him some little time to mature his plans. He regretted these . delays in the business of the session, but under existing circumstances he would move that the Council^ at its rising do adjourn to Tuesday next, the 22nd inst.

THE FINANCIAL RETURNS,

On being called upon by the Speaker for the motion standing- in his name, Mr. Ollivier said that after what had just transpired the Council would probably not deem it necessary that this motion should be pressed. He would therefore ask leave to withdraw it.

Leave given. Motion withdrawn

I.YTTELTON HOSPITAL

' Mr. Davis moved, " That the list of patients admitted into the hospital at Lyttelton be produced, for tho three yenvs. ending the 30th September, 1859, distinguishing those cases received direct from vessels, and of patients previously living m the province. Also, the outdoor patients^ and the number of deaths during the above period.

Agreed to. Tit After notices of motion the house adjourned at 6 p.m. to Tuesday, 22nd inst., at the; usual hour;