Marlborough Provincial Council.

Marlborough Express, Volume V, Issue 223, 26 March 1870, Page 4

Marlborough Provincial Council.

The Council met at 11 a.m. on Thursday last, when were present Messrs. Seymour, Conolly, Baillie, Coulter, Turner, Western, Levien, Robinson, Eyes, Sinclair, Hodson, M’Rae, Ingles, Ward, and Rutland. About 40 persons were present. Mr. Seymour moved that Mr. Coulter be Speaker. Captain Baillie seconded, and on being put was carried unanimously. The Speaker said their next duty was to elect a Superintendent, which must be by an absolute majority of 11 members. After a brief pause Mr. Seymour moved an adjournment till 2 p.m. on account of the absence of some of the members, 15 out of 20 only being present. Motion carried.

At 2 p.m. were present the Speaker, Messrs. Eyes, Baillie, Levien, Robinson, Turner, M’Rae, and Western. Mr. Robinson moved an adjournment till 3 p.m. on account of the absence of many members, who were doubtless attracted by the sale of the wreck of the Hera. Mr. Western objected, as he thought they would be present in a few minutes ; he wished to proceed with business. Mr, Levien seconded the motion just as Messrs. Ward, Hodson, and Blick entered. The motion was put and carried mm. con.

At 3 o’clock all the members assembled except Messrs. A. Monro and Gibson. Mr. Conolly enquired whether, in the event of a gentlemen being proposed and not obtaining the requisite number of votes, the same person could again be submitted to-morrow in case of an adjournment 1 The Speaker said that, as they had no Standing Orders, there was no rule to guide him, but he thought that in such a case the person might be brought forward again on a future day. Mr. Conolly then proposed Arthur Penrose Seymour, Esq., as Superintendent, which was seconded by Captain Baillie. Mr. Eyes said before that question was put he wished to ask permission to produce some papers of importance. Mr. Conolly submitted that it was irregular to lay any papers on the table at the present stage, as whatever they were they could not affect the election of Superintendent. Mr. Eyes said he was not in a position to lay these papers before them. He did not wish to interrupt the proceedings, but considering that they would have a bearing on the election of anyone who might be elected as Superintendent, he thought it would be better that the Council should be in possession of them before proceeding to election. Mr. Conolly would, in that case, withdraw his objection. Mr. Ward said the law was quite clear on the subject. They had a duty to perform by electing a Superintendent, and he should oppose any papers being laid on the table until after the election.

Mr. Eyes would not throw any difficulty in the way of the election of his suucessor, whoever he might be, but these papers would have an ultimate- bearing on the question.

The Speaker said Mr. Eyes asked-per-mission to produce them, and suggested that they could be read. Mr. Ward objected to their being read, and urged that they could not be discussed in any case. Mr. Sinclair asked what motion was before the Council, and was informed that it was for Mr. Seymour as Superintendent, which was being put, when Mr, Sinclairurged that they should not act too precipitately. He would like the matter of these papers discussed ; they ought to consider these niceties, and not take a leap in the dark. The council decided by a majority that the papers should not be read. The motion in favor of Mr, Seymour was then put, and on a division the numbers were— Ayes, 9 :—Messrs, Rutland, Western, Turner, Baillie, Conolly, Seymour, G. Dodson, Ingles, and Ward. Hoes, 8 :—Messrs. Sinclair, Eyes, Hodson, Mcßae, Levien, Robinson, Blick, and Carter, The Speaker repeated that there must be an absolute majority of 11 votes for one person. Mr, Levien regretted their inability to elect a Superintendent. He had thought the farce had come to and end, and been played out ; and had come a long distance to do the business of the Province, and thought they would have come to an election this time, but here they sat like a' parcel of fools ; the Council had adjourned and yet nothing had been done. Unless they proceeded to business speedily, he for one would request the Superintendent to take some similar course as he had formerly done. He urged the other side to join and propose another man. The Speaker said if not one proposed : another candidate he would suggest that each member should write the name of the person he preferred on a piece of paper and hand it in, and the one who got most names should be put and carried by the Council. Mr. Eyes thought he might also propose a plan, and was surprisep to see.the course taken by the Speaker, who ought to be mute and dumb; to decide and give the casting vote when called on, and decide on points of nvder. but. propose and carry out a new system of election. He (Mr. Eyes) might just as well propose that the vote of the inhabitants and electors should be taken as to who should be Superintendent. (Loud applause outside the bar.) The attitude of the Speaker was a most unusual one for him to assume. They were not going to have any secret voting, nor going to allow him to form any code of rules for settling this object. He had decided that the Standing Orders were not in foi-ce, and it was not for him to The Speaker wished to call the member to order. Mr. Ward said all they had to do was to elect in any way they chose, and it was a piece of great presumption in the member calling their Speaker to account for making a suggestion. The Speaker said the same difficulty presented itself as last Session, consequently he proposed a mode which had been tried in other places. The ballot would not be final, but would afterwards be put to the Council.- . There was no law saying how the Superintendent should be elected. Mr. Sinclair know there were two Acta ruling the election, the Constitution Act and the Hew Provinces Act. The Speaker ruled that his conduct could not be called in question, and refused to hear any further remarks. Mr. Eyes asked if it was to be presumed that a member , should have his mouth shut by his ruling; his conduct in that chair was, to say the least, indelicate. He was himself an independent member,. and ; held his commission from an higher authority than he did. [After on interruption from the Speaker,] He claimed to speak in spite of and against any such decision, and would certainly protest-against; it;: The Speaker said he would not hear him, and would leave the chair if he continued. Mr. Eyes did not care, and would not be put. down. The Speaker had no right to suggest improperly. Were his pi an adopted, he would have no opportunity of questioning a candidate on his poHcy. He could not vote for a man without knowing what he. would do. What object was to be gained by this secret voting 1 Many members hadbeen returned by their constituents pledged to vote in a certain way; how were they

to meet them afterwards 1 The mode proposed was characteristic of the man, doing things on the sly. The Speaker* said he did not show a proper respect for 4 the chair. Mn Eyes said he called it down on his own head by his improper suggestions. Mr. Levien said he did not see the object to be gained by the proposed plan. They had already put down their names for one man, and would only put the same down again. He could not see where it was to end. He had promised his constituents to vote for Eyes, and would stay there till doomsday rather than alter. Mr. Oonolly would propose an adjournment till to-morrow, as they were not prepared to go on at present. Mr. Sinclair said no person could again be proposed this session, notwithstanding the Speaker’s ruling. Mr. Robinson said he was not going to oppose an adjournment, but he did not see the use of playing the same farce over and over again, as they did last time. Two of the members were absent, but were the whole twenty present, he did not think a Superintendent would be elected. The best way to get over the difficulty would be to ask the Superintendent to prorogue again, and leave it to the people. (Loud appause from the public.) If the opposite side was not ready, they had better give in at once, as it was no use their going on in this way. If any man has eleven supporters, let him come forward and put it to the test, so that we can go on with the business of the Province, and repair the roads, which have become impassable. Mr. Eyes said that if he should take any step, it would be with the greatest reluctance, but there must be an end to this sort of thing some time, and he hoped he would not be driven to use it. (“ Go on” from the Opposition.) He knew the intentions of some who cried “ go on” ; their little game would not, however, be successful. They wanted to do away with the Province. He had his friends in the Council, who had important business to attend to, and their patience would have an end, yet he should use his power very reluctantly. He believed the conduct of those opposite would result in a different way to what they expected. His friends were prepared to go on, and he had offered to lay important letters on the table, which they refused to allow. He believed the opposite side only sought to bring the Province to an end, Mr.'Ward protested against the threats held out. They had a month to elect in, and it was unusual to hurry them so. The two absent men might be here on the morrow, He only wished to act fairly. Mr. Eyes repudiated any idea of threats whatever, but as he had before said, he would not throw the least obstacle in the way, but consider the question fairly. It was no use sitting there doing nothing, and he hoped they would not drive him to do anything which would certainly be hurtful to his feelings, and those acting with him. The Speaker said they had a month to meet in, but not to elect in that time. In reply to Mr.- Ward, Mr. Eyes said he did not call the Council fools, but that his side sat like fools looking at the wise men on the other side. He wished them to notice beyond dispute this time that this would be the third adjournment. Mr. Conolly said all the adjournments were moved by the other side last time. Mr. Eyes said his party were in the minority last time, therefore they could not carry an adjournment. Mr, Sinclair protested that he never voted for an adjournment last session, but was willing to go on. He also called attention ?hat 9-10ths of the Council were present. Mr, Conolly moved that the Council should apjourn to ffext day, but Mr. Levien wished to move that the adjournment should be till six o’clock that evening, as he and others with him had business of importance to attend to, and he was willing to sit till eleven o’clock if there was any disposition to go on with the business. * _ ' The Council them adjourned to 11 a.m. next day. On Eriday, at 11 a.m:, the Council met, when all the members were present as on last sitting. The minutes having been read and confirmed, papers were laid on the table by Mr. Eyes, containing copies of declarations forwarded to the General Government by Messrs, Eyes, Hathaway, and Sinclair, on the alleged illegality of the votes being taken at the Tua Marina elec- ' tion in a building connected with the Ferry Hotej, instead of the woolshed, as proclaimed ; also from the Pelorus district by Messrs. Smith, Wells, Levien, Douslin, and Pitt, setting forth that only one elector (John Wilson) demanded a poll for Mr.

Rutland after a show of hands had been given in favor of Messrs. Douslin and Levien ; also correspondence between the Superintendent of Marlboi'ough and the Colonial Secretary relative to the above. Ho other business was brought forward, or word spoken until 12 o’clock, when,, on the motion of Mr. Conolly, the Council adjourned till 2 p.m.

At 2 p.m., the same members being present, ■" Mr. Conolly moved a further adjournment till 2 p.m. on Tuesday. He said he could see no other course but the present, and the delay would give time for the absent members to arrive ; and should they not then arrive, after opportunity had been given them, those present could then proceed to business. Mr. Sinclair expressed his dissent from the motion. The business had been well considered, and not unexpected. These delays were at the expense of some gentlemen employing labor to the value of £3O a day. It was with them a question of time, and he would be no party to delaying [Here Mr. W. Gibson entered, and Mr. Ward called “ Hear.”] the business. He would much rather see the question put to the issue, and might put an amendment shortly. Mr. Conolly withdrew his motion with leave. A long consultation and whispering among the members followed until near 5 p.m., when Mr. Levien moved an adjournment to Tuesday next, which being lost on a division of 8 to 3, Mr. Levien said as his motion had been lost by a large majority, he hoped the same gentlemen would propose some business. He had none at present, as his man was already in. It must be assumed that those who opposed him had some business, and therefore he hoped they would either go on with it or else allow members to go .home and attend to their own. After some deliberation, Mr. Western moved an adjournment till 2 p.m. on Monday, which was agreed to.