HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

North Otago Times, Volume VI, Issue 125, 12 July 1866, Page 1 (Supplement)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

On returning to the House of Representatives, the Clerk read the proclamation from the •• Gazette," calling the House together, also the order that members should take the oath of allegiance, after which they should proceed to the election of a Speaker who •hould present himself to His Excellency the Governor on Monday at 1 o'clock for the confirmation of his appointment. His Honor Mr Justice Johnston was then •ushered in, having been commissioned by His Excellency the Governor to administer the oath to members. The following members took the oath of allegiance : — G. Armstrong, A. S. Atkinson, T. Ball, A. Beauchamp, F. D. Bell, C. B. Borlase, J. B. Bradshaw, J. Bryce, J. Bunny, A. J. Burns, R. Campbell, jun., J. Cargill, H. Carlton, A. Clark, A. Cox, O. Curtis, J. E. FitzGerald, G, Graham, D. Hankinson, E. A. Hargreaves, T. M. Haultain, F. H. Hull, F. Jollie, A. Ludlam, D. M'Lean, D. Monro, J. Newman, A. R. Olliver, Charles O'Neill, J, O'Neill, J. D. Ormond, G. M. O'Rourke, Chas. Parker, J. Paterson, Donald Reid, \V. H. Reynolds, J. L. C. Richardaon, A. J. Richmond, J. C. Richmond, E. W. Stafford, E. C. J. Stephens, W. W. Taylor, C. Ward, W. Wells, L. Walker, F. Whitaker, J. Williamson, J. C. Wilson, W. Wood.

ELECTION OF S*EU£EB. Mr Dillon Bell then rose, and said that he rejoiced, at its falling to his lot, after a lapse of five years, to ask the House to proceed to the election of a Speaker, and he rejoiced the more because he had to propose the re-election of the same gentleman who had held the distinguished office of Speaker during the last Parliament. There had always been an absence of scurrility or acrimoniousnes8 in the debates of that House, and for this they were mainly indebted to the Speakers who had presided over them. He would propose to the House the name of Sir David Monro, and in doing so he believed that he interpreted the feelings of almost every member of the House. (Hear^hear.) It would be a matter of gratulation to them all that the Queen had been pleased to confer the honor of knighthood on that gentleman, as it showed the recognition by the Imperial Government of the importance of that Assembly. He could not but express his regret before sitting down at the absence of so many familiar faces ; they would no longer hear the vigorous eloquence of Mr Fox, the debating powers of Mr Sewell, the wisdom of Mr Domett, or the sarcastic humor of Mr Mantell ; they might, however, soogratulate themselves on some of the new names that had been added to their list, and amongst them that of the hon. member for faraell, Mr Whitaker, whose parliamentary ability, and experience in the affairs of the country would make them all rejoice in having his assistance in the conduct of the business that would be brought before them. He had, however, omitted a name which was in his heart when he spoke, (hear, hear,) — the absence of Mr Weld from that House would be to all who had taken a part in the affairs of the country for so many years a subject of very great regret. (Hear, hear.) He held, perhaps alone among the public of Mew Zealand, the place of a man whose word was never doubted, whose honor was never questioned, whose advice was always sought, and whose counsel was never refused in cases of public difficulty. (Hear, hear.) With these words he would beg to propose the name of Sir David Monro as Speaker of the House. Mr H. Carleton seconded the proposition. Sir David Monro said that he felt very

deeply sensible of the honor they proposed to confer upon him by giving him a position which he did not think it would be denied Was as honorable as any in the Colony. It had been his fortune to occupy the chair during the last five years, and he thought that he was justly entitled to presume that his conduct had been such as not, at all events, to deter them from asking him to come forward for election once more. It was a matter of congratulation to him that his proposer and seconder were gentlemen who had been in the House since the establishment of self-government in the Colony. He did not enter upon his duties without a considerable amount of diffidence, when he considered the prominence of the proceedings of that House, not only in this Colony, but out of it ; the gravity of the debates that would take place/ and how their successful result would be affected by the order and regularity with which the business was carried on. While there was this diffidence, there was, however, no little encouragement in the fact that the House had now j attained a high position, and its debates had, up to the present time been marked by prudence, forbearance, and generosity in most trying circumstances which might have produced most opposite results; and he thought that they might safely see from the past what might be the action in the future, and he felt sure that he would receive a liberal, courteous, and large-spirited co-operation from the House in conducting its proceedings. (Hear, hear.) It now became his duty, in accordance with the formality in these matters, to offer himself, and if it was their pleasure that he should take that chair, it would always be his object and endeavor to maintain the high reputation that the House had hitherto sustained. Mr Bell and Mr Carleton, as proposer and seconder, then led the Speaker elect to the chair. The Speaker elect then formally returned thanks for the honor that had been conferred upon him. Mr Stafford then moved the adjournment of the House, and in doing so said that he had to congratulate Mr Speaker upon the high honor that had been conferred on him, and that he had again been called upon to preside /over the deliberations of that House ; which was a graceful recognition of the temper, the courtesy, and the dignity, added to the impartiality which he had already displayed in conducting their deliberations. This was a new parliament, and there was a large proportion of new members in it who had not yet had time to study its rules, and he must congratulate the House itself in having Mr Speaker to guide them, at the same time that he congratulated that gentleman on his election. On the part of himself and his colleagues he returned his congratulations on the election of Sir David Monro, as he felt sure that he would check all unnecessary irritation or warmth of debate, which, if it ever arose, only tended to obstruct the business of the House, and render more difficult the position of the Government. He then begged to move the adjournment of the House. The House then adjourned to a quarter to two o'clock on Tuesday.