GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Lyttelton Times, Issue 1510, 14 October 1865, Page 6

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

latest intelligence.

[from a correspondent.J Wellington, Monday, Oct. 9. My last letter was written on Friday afternoon. At the time of the Wonga Wonga's departure on that day, the Legislative Council was engaged in a debate upon the second reading of the New Provinces Bill; ©r, rather, upon a set of resolutions introductory to that measure, and promising justice to the outlying districts, in case the Bill should be carried. This particular debate was not concluded; for, at half-past four O'clock, the standing orders of the Council compelled members to pass to other business, among which came on the Bill itself. No measure during the session, and I may add, none within the last three or four sessions, has created so eager or so interesting a defeate in the Upper House. Mr. Hall introduced it with a speech that was not only clear and cogent, as his #peeches always are, but brilliant and even impassioned. It is a sentiment of no ordinary or mean character which prompts any old settler of one of the Original provinces to fight for the unity ©f its territory, and against its disintegration. This sentiment pervaded Mr. Hall's speech, and was heightened by the sense that lie himself was now in a large measure responsible for the province, for its political rights, for the preservation of its integrity, and for the maintenance of its power to proceed with those large public works which are the envy of other provinces. He spoke, in short, ft speech which was admirable for its logic, its feeling, and the directness of its purpose, and approached to a higher standard of eloquence in all respects than has been attained in the Legislative Council for a longtime past. Mr. Hall was ably supported by Mr. Lance, another of the members from Canterbury, who has appeared for the first time as a politician during this session. Mr. Lance made a striking speech, putting the questions in a novel and original light, which is somewhat difficult to be done with so worn a subject as the New Provinces Act. He wanted only a little eaae, which custom will Boon give, to render his address complete ; as it was, it was very effective. Setting aside the past and present Superintendents of Southland, Dr. Jdenzies and Mr. Taylor, into whose epeeches the debU of that province will always find their way as did King Charleses head into " Mr. Dick's" essays—the opposition was represented by Major Coote and Mr. James Richmond. The former is a very easy and fluent speaker; and if he could Create an impression that he really knows what he is talking about, his speeches would, no doubt, be very effective. Mr. James Richmond is a new promotion to the Council, where he represents the Government in the capacity of Colonial Secretary. He is a professor of inexact philosophy, who recognises no such thing as a fact. There is something mystical in his utterances; bis wisdom is too grand to be expressed in understandable language ; his conclusions too abstract to be applied by common men to so concrete a proposition as the one before the Council. But he is an honest and a hardworking man; and the worst that can be said of him is that the duty of debating during session time spoils many an hour of usefulness at his office table. As to the debate, the conclusion was to be calculated from the first. The Council was evenly divided. The Speaker and nine members were ready to vote against the bill; the chairman of committee and nine members were prepared to vote for it. Consequently, when the settling was " in Council" and the Speaker could not vote, the ayes prevailed; in committee, when the Chairman could not vote, the noes prevailed. The first and second reading were carried by a majority of one; aud the Council, after dinner, on Friday evening, went into committee. This fact deserves Special mention, for it was the only occasion during the session when candles were lighted in the chamber, and their lordships returned from dinner to continue a debate. It must be said that the non-eontents, when it came to their turn to hold the majority in committee, behaved with great moderation. Instead of abusing their power by throwing obstacles m the way of the progress of the measure, by which means they might have defeated it altogether, they contented themselves with adding an additional clause for the protection of outlying districts. Ii a province does not make arrangements for expending a certain share of the revenue in any district, the Governor may come to the rescue, appoint trustees for the district, and direct the receiver of land revenue to hand over to them 25 per cent of the re- j ceipts from land sold within the boundary. So the Bill came out of coin- j mittee; but before it passes, this; additional clause must be assented to by the Lower House, so that the present stage of the New Provinces Bill inudt not be taken as final. Hi nee the discussion, the state of affairs in the Council has altered by the arrival of three absent members, Messrs. Tancred, Prendergast, and Whit more, one, and perhaps two, of whom are believed to be ready to vote against the Bill. Two would give an absolute majority against it on the third reading, if the Opposition chose to abandon the spirit of moderation which they displayed in committee, and to make a stand against the Bill altogether. The following is the text ctf the clause introduced: — The Governor in Council shall, from time (o time, divide into counties such portions of (the colony as be shall think fit, and shall give a name to each; and after the proclamation 0? any auch county, one-fourth of the gross amount arising from the sale of the Waste Linds of the Crown within auch county sha.l be expended within the same, in constructing roads, bridges, and other public works. Protided, tliat if at any time it shall be made to appear to the Governor In Council thai the aKnve provision has not been fully complied frith, with respect to any such county, by the

Government of the province within which auch county is situated, it shall be lawful for him to establish a Board for such county, to be elected from and by the resident electors within the same, under such regulations as the Governor in Council may from time to time make i and therefrom iihe Beceiver of Und Revenue for the said province shall, from time time, pay over to such Board the proportion hereinbefore namtd of the territorial revenue Arising within such county, to be by them expended for the purpose* hereinbefore defined, anything in the Land Hevenue Appropriation Act, 1859, to the contrary notwithstanding. During the same evening the House of Kepreaontativea was considering the plan proposed by the Government for amalgamating aud regulating provincial loans, and that for allocating to the different Northern provinces each its own share of the Three Million Loan. These are two of the most important Bills of the session, as affecting Middle Island finance; but the House contented itself with talking away on the general principles, and neither measure passed through a Bingle stage that night. As soon as, towards midnight, both Houses adjourned, a troop of attendants were introduced, who stripped the K/epreaentative Chamber ot its solemn furniture, and transformed it into a ball-room, to be ready for a grand assembly ball, which is to be given on this (Monday) eveniug.