OPENING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1702, 8 July 1862, Page 3

OPENING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LFrom the “Wellington Independent,” July I.] Yesterday being the day fixed for the meeting of the General Assembly, it was formally opened by the Speakers of both Houses taking their respective chairs, and adjourning until to-day. In the Upper House the only member present from oilier Provinces was the Hon. Mr. Cutfield of Taranaki, who with the Hon. J. G. Crawford, and J. Johnston, comprised the whole of the attendance. Having waited for about a quarter of aa hour, and there being no quorum, the Hon. Mr. Bartley, the Speaker, adjourned the Council until this day at 2 o’clock. In the Lower House there were only seven members, four belonging to Wellington, viz., Messrs. Brandon,Carter, Featherston,and Rhodes, and three from ether Provinces, viz., Capt. Atkinson of New Plymouth, Mr. Eyes of Marlboiough, and Mi-. Mantel! of Southland. Dr. Munro,thc Speaker, read the usual prayer and was declaring the adjournment of the House, when Capt. Atkinson suggested she Speaker’s incompetency to do so, inasmuch as his counting the members, and declaring the House adjourned, was “ proceeding to business,” which under the circumstances he was not competent to do. Mr. Brandon differed; there not being a sufficient number of members to form a quorum, there could only be one proper course for the Speaker to pursue, and that was to adjourn. After a few words from Mr. Mantell, supporting Mr. Brandon’s view, the Speaker declared the House adjourned until this day at 12, as the course which the authorities ho had consulted led him to adopt as the right one Until we hear from Auckland, the Legislative Council will continue to meet at 2 o’clock, and the House of Representatives at 12 o’clock, daily. Had His Excellency and the Northern members arrived on Saturday, as was expected, the opening of the Assembly would certainly have been postponed for another week. The Lord Worsleyis no doubt steaming against a boisterous north-wester, and the Southern members will come up iu her presently; but the Nelson members will not be here until the Airedale arrives on the 6th. The Assembly has generally been prorogued for several short intervals to await members’ arrival, and the present will be no exception to the rule. The non-arrival of the White Swan from Auckland is easily to be accounted for. Circumstances have probably necessitated a delay in the Governor’s movements, and not wishing to cause the Northern members to leave unnecessarily early, the White Swan has probably been detained by the Government for a few days; a Proclamation further postponing the Assembly for a week or so having meanwhile been issued. The position of the Assembly is, however, under any circumstances, a very curious one. If it has been further prorogued, the two Houses are sitting contrary to law, and if it has not been further prorogued, the absence of the Governor and his Ministry places it in an altogether unheard of situation. The course pursued by tlie two speakers is, either way, the safest and most calculated to prevent any ill consequences resulting. But our readers may rest assured, that the Ministry have taken all proper precautions to prevent the Assembly lapsing, as was busily reported yesterday would be the case if no proclamation had been issued further proroguing it. Without admitting that such a consequence would follow, but believing that the course adopted by the two Speakers is a perfectly safe one, we may dismiss all anxiety on this score, and wait patiently for the White Swan’s arrival to set matters square.