HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 324, 25 November 1864, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

TlU'ksday, !NOVI-MI;KH 21-. ASI'KCT OF TttK liorsi:. Thk Speaker took the chair at two o'clock. A large number of members bad arrived, ainoi whom we oh-crved those who were eonnectel with this pro vince, wh«> ill i»rcat force ; most conspii-unn-were hi-* hom»r the Superintendent. Messrs. Kox, Ku-sell, Wood, t arleton, Graham, .f. O'Neill, Pomett. John Williamson, .fames Williamson. The ministers occupied the left hand side of J he Speaker's chair, we presume because thev had not \ et considered themselves to have entered upon the duties of their respect i\ e olllces. The at t en dance of soul hern members was very large ; indeed we may slate. Inning enrelully collided the number, that with only one or two exceptions the whole of the representatives were present. MKSS.U;K FUOM IIII: fjovntNOK. At ten minutes past two o'clock an usher from the Legislative Council appeared at the <loor, and the call k< A message from his l'.xccl enev the (Jovcroor. ' brought tho members, some ot whom wer • dialling in different parts of the chamber, to their scats. The mcssengerap roaehed the Speaker s chairand lunded him a folded piece of paper, which the Speaker having opened, read and formally communicated to the House all members standing ami uncovered ; the contents of the message were to the eHcc* i ha! th.? House wa< >uminoned t-> attend ln> 1' cili in-y m the I. 'tiisfative Council C'haiubcr forth villi. II lere was a general movement towards the door, ami the Council Chamber, round which a number of fashionably dre-sed ladies weiv seateii, a'tended bv na\al and militar\ Officers, was s'>on lillci. 'I lie ladies win; by no mean* enviablv situated, for the anproacljes wc:*e eramined with spceiators, who o; casiomtliv aided lhei<* curositv bv a \iu"rr>us push and somewhat f'btrusivc c' niiuv.it v to bright silk and super!) lace. Jn each of the doorways was a very long a-*-S' mblagt > —w«» should say about a do/.»n native chief* tattoo* d to tlie eyelid.-, and manifesting a verv deci ied interest in the cer. nu nial that was The Governor having iva 1 his speech, the member* of the House of .Representatives returned to their chamber, and the session wn> I'-rmally iiiaugurateil. NI.W Mi-.M UllUb. Tin' SpKAKrf: announced that during the recess certain vacancies hat! oecunvd. J'rom Franklin and the town of New Plymouth returns bad been made. No return had been received from the Winmea. Col. J!ari.TKiN, introduced l -y his Hon. tin- Superintendent. took the oilli and his seat f-»r Franklin. Mr. Charle* Jiuow:.', inlro ~ by Mr. .lames Rieh'ooud, took the oath and his seat for .Now Plymouth. I'lrrrrtnNa. ~Mv. John vVilmamson in pivsenf inc; a petition from anuinberof sidllers of ib-'V» r :; : roa said, the p'MiJioners stated that they bad been driven from their houses and suffered great injury to >heir property, and much personal h-irdahips during the ]>rogr.-ss oi tho M.ir.ri insurreetion, and they ])ravcd that the House would take their ease into its consideration, and urant them such compensation as mijdii. to it seem meet. Thev h id been obliged to tak" lodgings, and had lost a large amount of provi-io:,*. u ;d in ' rdcr to mar-tain tho:i* families in town had been oblige 1 to Fell t)e*ir [ slock. The property in tins district had been greatly i deteri'nated. Tin; honorable gentleman having piv- ! sen ted the petition, moved that it be real an I receive 1. Mr, \Vj:u> impiired whether if xvas in order to reet ive a petition a-kiug for compensation. Jt was to be presumed tlr»t. the compensatioti tliry a>kcd was such as perhaps the House could not give. 'fhe Sl'kakku said that the petidouer-i ha I not defined the compen-ation which they asked. Had thev aske l for a )> cuniary compensation the petition could not be received. They had not done bo, ai:rl be thought the petition shoul 1 be received. J'KFKNCJ! FOKCK. Mr. Mantt-ll piveented a petition from sixty-nine members of th" Colonial Defence f-ore;: of the Colonv of New Zealand, stationed in din Provineeof Wellington, praying for the consideration of the House, the\ having beeu discharged at five days notiw at a great distance from their homes. 'Jhe fvtitinn was rci:eived. An lion, member inquired "whether any of those persons were now in the defence force. Mr. Man'tell : None whatever. JtlGlt SCJIOOI., JJUM'DIX. Mr. W. TT. Kkynolds presented a petition from the sehohirs of tlie High School. Dur.edin. The petition was ordered to be read. The reading this petition excited much merriment in tbe House, from which cire instance we aie iridutfod to it in full. It id aa foilovrb :—XLo

imclprsiouetl Brl,o]a r ., of tlif ITigh Peliool. Dunedin. hum y shcwi'th : Tlint yoxir mpmorinlists to tinIIUIII ior liuvo bi-pn ntiiv f l)r soino wenka under militarv instnictiona, !llv J ir thoy may jtnl.;,- from the iirnis • on tlicni from time to timu l)v tho Major .•onniumdme; in the militia (laughter', the progress ln» iH'tMl salisr c-tei-v. F rom reniiirks that have lallen Irom tliose wlio-in opinions are (renernllv ro--peet. il, yom- memorialists learn that the establishi»f su< !» a duly instructed, armed, and in uniorm (laughter) is likely to in-dii a spirit into the rtMitg generation (laughter) which would materially nourish the niost ])atrio!.ie feeling, while it. would iniirse arc(-niiting element among the population and tend to give cfliciency to any measure of defence that might he bcr»'atter necessary. (f.aughter l . Vour memorialists are »liul of being allowed to take part in th- volunteer movement, and fliey feel that tlie lessons they have learned and the sp rif. it encourages in 'hen are already producing beneficial effects in them. \ I .oud laughter). They earnestly desire to he ofTicially tveoghised us u portion of the volunteer force. (He:ir. hoarl. With thi< view your memorialists approach your honourable llou-e. and prav that tliev may re eeive at vour )innds stirli encouragement as niav be in your power to award. ' t'n tiie motion of Mr. Reynolds the petition was ordered to be received. N ATV R AT.IZ ATfOX. j Mr. W T'M.D introduced a Hill for the naturalization ol certain persons. Hill rend a first time. .M 1 NlSTi:il I AL STATKMI-NT. Wi;i,n said, t wish, with permission of the House, to Mate that (he late Ministers baviiii.' teud'-red their resignation to his Kxcelhaicy the (loverii'M-, on Monday evening - , after my arrival from tbe South, his I'ac.i Ihmev went forme and letpiotMl me to form a Minislrv. Alter j>refi«ninary conversation it was agreed that I snonhi place certain propositions in writing before bis Kxcclleney — propositions wlreh unless his Kxeellency had aervded to, I could not have felt it my duty to atttmpt to f'uan a Ministry. These propositions havn His Kxeelleucv's assent to them, and will be placed in your hands when pr-nted ; thev are in the printer's hands nt present, and will. 1 hope, bo in vour bauds tomorrow morning. (Hear.) My fhvt- act after His Excellency hud accepted these propositions, subject.to the concurrence of this House, was to put myself n communication with Mr. Slsiflord, a gentleman to whom 1 felt I owed that deference and, with respect to whom I adopted that course, not only on account of the number of ye n-s of political friendship pasmd with him, but also on account of, and in conjunction with, the position he holds in this Houm;. I did not expect, when I spoke to him upin the subject, that I could induce him to join mo in forming a Government, but. 1 thought such an act on my part was due to him, and ns an acknowledgment of the relations which had always subsisted between us. Mr. wtarford felt himself unable to join me for the object 1 hid in view. 1 have succeeded in forming a Ministrv, and 1 will state the otlices we propose to take. For myself, 1 will hold the Colonial Secretaryship with supervision of Native Affairs; Mr. Fit/.herbert consents to take the olliee of Colonial Treasurer; Maior Kiehardson accept* the otlice of 1 Vstma-!er-(iencral. and Major Atkinson lias taken otlice as Minister tor Colonial I'efcnce. In the oth-n Mouse the tiovenuuent will be represented by Mr. Sewcll as Attorncy-Oeiieral. I have reason to ho e, from conversation with mv colleagues.that we will be of one iii m united mind, and I tru-t. in our relations with this 1 louse, we shall he able to bring that mind to bear unnirmoufdy on the <piesti >n? brought before you. 1 will oui v say, that in taking olliee at a time of great dulieulty, during a severe crisis in the affairs of the colony, and underthe p-euliarand somewhat sudden c;rcutnsian« es in whieh we have been called upon to take ollice, ([am sure I speak for my eolleagu»\o we can only do this by trusting that this House will remember these cirenm tanees and assist us with a fair and reasonable eritii ism. 1 a*k you |o give them a fair support, ard time, which is to enable us to judge (In'ditlh-u.t .portions on wliicli we i-hall have to advice. (Cheers.) I may say I have done my v. ry best that not one hour's time should be lost. We have at the very earliest opportunity related to to this hou-e the circumstances under which we have taken ollice, and 1 will not ask this House to delay ('•rone moment more than is absolutely and imperatively neccs-arv. I will move that- thia House do adjourn until Saturday at 12 o'clock. I hope — though I will not positively engage—l hope that by 12 o'clock on Saturdav I will be able to make a short statement of the main features of our policy. Tn th" meantime mv own memorandum, whi' h is the nu niorandum with the Governor, cont.lining- tho condit inns uu cr which we accept ollice, and the general features Of our poliev, wdl be in your hands in a complete form. 1 would have the House to und»Ts'and that this is not a complete programme, for 1 should have felt it to be wrong to draw out a complete pr< gi amine without the concurrence of my colleagues. I d rew i he*e prop sitionsout simply as a hasi.s «m wli.'cii alofuj 1 would consent to risk other gentlemen to jmn me ; an«l, I need not add, overy |g» ntleman who jo : ns me has aeccpt'd these proposii lions. 1 say \ will att-'iupt to make a statement on | tiie necavkm of the reply t<> be moved b> bis KxcelI lem'v's sp' •■eh. I now move that this House do adjourn until 12 o'clock on Sattinhiv. {Hear, bear), j Mr. I >o.\i v. rr -aid that b fore tbe ipiest ion oftbead'journmeut \v;o put In* wished to know whether the Ctovernor's speech should not be r<';ul in that House. It had always been the prac'iee to loive the speech read a second tjne. It wns impossible to hrar it down bebuv. Mr. Wi:;o remarki-il that the spon-h w:is in the hands ol the printer, an i would be in every hon. im-inher's possession immediately. 'fie- Si-CA k i:u : The prictice of the House of Commons, as far as I un ler-tand it, is this : On tbe returning of the Hon-" from bearing i: er Majesty's s,'c eeh, the Hone generally adjourn- for a few h'-urs, thev go through some formal business however, audi th-iv meet at a later period ot the I dav — when the Speaker reads the speech a ; .-second t::ic\ when it H usual {V.r some m».*mber to , : move Cue addros in reply. The time whieh had 1 clap-e i ailoitied the members sin opp'utunity to have ; ; lead it:id conoid- red tlio speech. It bad therefore. . ! up.Tn conferring with the Ministry, ap]teared to be | the belt r course that tlie speech should he printed, , ! and upon tiie re-assembling* <>f the House I should ..report the .speech to the House. Honorable gentle- : nmn having full time to consider ii, would be pre- ■ pared to i-nter on the debate on tlie address. It it be the wi*di 'if th" th it I should report it al once, and that it be again read, 1 will do so, but I submit tiie plot ding is unnecessary. The House adjourned at a (puuter to \> o'clock. .NOTICL3 O'' MOTION,—SVITIin.W. 1. Mr. C.via.r/rON to movo " That Mr. Ward and Mr. Piomeit be ajipoiided to tho Joint Committeo oil I'r.v.tfe Hills " 2. Mr. Caiu,i:ton t to move, " That Mr. T>illon T3ell, i Mr. Thomas and the Chairman of Commit- ; tees } be appointed Lo the Joint Committee on Stand- < ing < )rde.r?>." , o- Mr. ' 'a it r.KTox to move, "That Fii/.(iorahl, \ Mr. Ward, Homet!, Mr. Stathu'd, and Ihe ('Jliti I'iiiati of Coamiittei.'H be appointed to tht Committee of Selection." 4. Mr. Hi M.ori l>Hi,i, to move. *'That a lions* j '.yominittee be appointed, with power to confer with t any .'-imilar r'ommil!e>r which may be appointed by :iie Legi^lali ve ' 'ouncil. Tlio Committee to on-ist of Mr. h'itz( lerald, 31r. Wayne, Mr. CracroU, Wilson, C.lh, Mr. ('harle.s Tavlor, and Mr. Statlord." 5. .Mr. Kkvn'oliis to move, That tliere bo laid o:i ; he I dii" of tiie ILou-e, er-jiies of all correspondence ( with the Provincial (lovernment of ' > »9,. an.l of all ( eontracls connected with tlie budding ot tho Post Ollice, Ihinedin." li. My. l\\'rnu:>oN to move, That there oe laid on th-- tabic a Kcturn showing the amount realized Irom I nte>tato Kstates, annuail in the l'rfivinc.e ot Otago ; the amount of Interest whieh lias annudiy accrued ; •nd tho nature of tho Deposits or Investaients. 7. Mr. Fo>: to move, '• Tiiat a re>pect'al address he presented to His Kxeellency fhe (lovemor, requostmg him to furnish this House with a copy ot ins Despatch to tho Uighl Ilonorab'e Mr. Cavdwell, No. 12; - I, dated 20th August, lStit." !*-. Mr. John Williamson to move, "That tho Pe'itiou of Dr. Hales, and others bo taken into consider d JOJI." Petitions pfczcnicd to tic Jiousc nf R:prezorJ-otivcj. Th K. - day, '2.1.'h yovemlcr, ISiJi. 1. TVtition from 69 Members of ihe Defencc Force, it. Wellington, u>mpl..ining of being discharged. (iTr. Mantell.) 2. Pet ii ion from 27 Settlors, at the Wairoa, for ■"in■icns.'.t io:i for lo^.-e* in tho war. Tvt v r. John W iiliaif.soii ) 3 1 etit.i'in rrfim 1 <f tiu- : i h Sc'i.'i 1, 1 111! .dm 11 In; nirolli.-tl as u Lkuioi. Vuluutci'd. (Mr. i-10/nO'ds.)