Wellington;

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 847, 1 August 1866, Page 7

Wellington;

(fboit oub 'oto cokkesfohdekt.) July 17. The lethargy with which, in my last letter, I reported the Assembly to be afflicted, seems at last to be passing away. Last week saw the opposing champions, with their respective followers, standing with folded arms. This week opened with that sparring in tfhich members of the ring indulge' before the mill commences. The first division of the session took place on Mr. TitzGerald's proposal to subsidise the Wellington press with a sum of £1500 a-year for reporting the debates. This subsidy was not to cover the cost of the paper on which the New Zealand Hansard, in the fond imagination of the member for Christehurch, was to be printed. A liberal Government was also prepared to supply it. The hon. gentleman had barely resumed his seat after informing the House that the select committee recommended the undertaking, when he was flatly contradicted by one of your Auckland members, Mr. J. O'Neill, a member of the committee, who stated that the committee absolutely refrained from recommending the House to undertake such a work, and that it had limited itself strictly to ascertaining what would be the most feasible means of obtaining a report of the debates without expressing any opinion upon the propriety of the undertaking. Mr. FitzGerald, who seemed somewhat nettled by the remarks of his brother committeeman, submitted to the correction, and Mr. O'Neill proceeded to denounce the extravagance of the proposal, especially at the present juncture, when the utmost economy in every branch of the service was needed. I was remarkably struck, during this passage of arms between this pair of Hibernians, of the truth of the maxim that " if you put an Irishman on a spit you will always get another to baste him." It was something wonderful to witness the gusto with which Mr. O'Neill administered the basting to his fellow-countryman when he got the opportunity. Mr. PitzGerald, although he winced a little, did not retaliate. The House during the debate was almost convulsed with laughter at a reply made by the Treasurer, Mr. Jollie, to an innocent question put by Mr. Whitaker, who asked whether there was such a plethora of wealth in the Treasury as would admit of £1,500 being squandered in the way proposed. Mr. Jollie replied that he did not pretend to know more about the state of the '1 reasury than many private members in the House did, hut that he thought money was not so scarce as to be a bar to the proposal. The hon. member for Newton, Sir Isaac, as we call him in the reporters' gallery, could not stand this, but fixing one eye on the Treasurer and the other on his audience, exclaimed, " Well, if you don't, you ought." The proposal to subsidize the press with £1.600 a-year was lost by 36 to 22, although the Government threw their entire weight in favour of the motion. Another attempt to get a sum of five or six hundred pounds for the purpose met with the same fate, after which the matter dropped. Thus Mr. PitzGerald's first essay in divisions was not Ycry successful. Mr. Moorhouse, the Superintendent of Canterbury, who was elected to the Houre of Pepresentatives for two districts—Westland and Mount Herbert—made choice of Westland as the district for which he would serve. A writ will therefore be at once issued. The ballot for the Audit Committee, resulted in the election of the undermentioned gentlemen, for whom the votes were as specified —Mr. John Williamson (of Auckland), 26 ; Mr. Haughton (of Otago), 19; Mr. Curtis (of Nelson), 14. The Speaker appointed Mr. "V\ illiamson Chairman of the Committee. Thursday, July 19. The most amusing scene to-day was a legal combat between the Superintendent of Auckland and one of our Wellington legal luminaries. The matter under debate was a motion of Mr. Hall's, to the effect that Judges of the Supreme Court ought to be armed with the jurisdiction of the Vice-Admiralty Court. This, it was considered, would require a reference home. The Wellington Provincial Solicitor expounded his views upon the question of the powers of the Vice-Admiralty Courts, and told the House that the fringe of shore between high and low watermark came within their juri.-diction, and that it was upon that very circumstance that he had grounded the opinion which he gave Dr. Samuel in reference to the Taranaki iron-sand. Mr. Whitaker could not let this opportunity pass ; for though courteous to those who let him alone, he is a very ugly hitter where any one treads on his corns. He first assured his opponent that he was wrong in his law, for that the Vice-Admiralty jurisdiction only extends over the water, and that the moment it retires from the coast, the space between high and low watermark comes under the ordinary tribunals. He concluded by saying that if the Provincial Solicitor grounded the opinion he gave Dr. Samuel upon such law as he had laid down to-day he felt satisfied that his client, Dr. Samuel, did not receive value for liis money. Tuesday, July 24. The debate on separation was opened this day by Mr. Whitaker, at a quarter to three o'clock. The hon. gentleman, whose voice seemed to be suffering from huskiness at the commencement of his speech, put the case of Auckland before the House with that consummate skill for which friend and foo give him credit. Without entering into a discussion of the debates of the plan of Government he proposed for the Province— details of which lie had placed on the Order Paper—he pointed out the propriety of members adhering in the first instance to the primary proposition contained in his r-esolutions, namely, that provision should be made for the better government of the Province of Auckland. He said that he was quite aware that dissatisfaction existed in other parts of the colony with the present form of government, but that he considered he would, as a private member, be travelling beyond the sphere of his duty, if he included in his proposal any other portions of the colony than that province with which he was especially connected. If hon. members who concurred with him that something should be done for Auckland desired that alterations should be made in administering affairs in other parts of the colony, he would give them every assistance in his powe, in accomplishing their objects. Mr. Whitaker dwelt especially upon the native phase of the question, arguing from the text supplied by Sir George Grey's despatch to Mr. C'ardwell, this for the proper control of the natives, nothing was so much required as a Government on the spot, acting instantly.

It would be impossible to touch on all the topics of the honorable gentleman's speech.—a speech which lasted two hours and a half, and was throughout marked by that massive thought, close reasoning, and stored-up knowledge for which your Superintendent is preeminent. The House was crowded in every part during the whole time occupied in the delivery. The place alloted to members of the House of Representatives was packed to the utmost —the ladies' gallery was full to overflowing. No access could be had to the strangers' gallery a few minutes after the doors were open, and even the space alloted to members of theUpperHouse,which is but rarelyhonored with the presence of the wouli-be aristocracy of New Zealand, manifested distinct signs of animation. Upon the conclusion of his speech the hon. gentleman was greeted with loud applause from all parts of the House. Mr. Whitaker concluded his speech by moving that the House resolve itself into committee to consider the series of resolutions that he placed ori the Order 3? per. A considerable pause ensued before a seconder of the motion rose. It has been currently lumoured that the question of separation, which is to rob this fair city of its imperial dignity,

was to be moved" and"seconded by the Sbperindents of the* two provinces, which •in population are equal to the other seven provinces combined. Mr. Dick, the Superintendent of Otago, however, did not move, and the motion was then formally seconded by Mr. 3£. Grahnm, of Auckland. The Premier, Mr. Stafford,' then rose and stated that the Government, although determined to resist to the utmost the alterations in the Constitution, proposed to be effected byMr. Whitaker's resolutions, would not oppose the discussion of them in committee. It being now the usual hour of adjournment for dinner, the House rose. At 7 o'clock the House again met, and the debate was resumed in committee by Mr. Stafford, who in an eloquent; but very bombastical speech, carped at the details of Mr. Whitaker's proposal, taunted him with not having brought forward such a scheme as this—if it were the honest conviction of his heart—during the half-dozen years he held the office of Attorney-General of the Colony, and, above all, upbraided him with not having disclosed his views, in 1863. on those matters,' before he induced the Assembly to entrust him as the Prime Minister of the colony—with the raising and expending of thiee millions of money. The speech was loudly applauded by the Premier's sworn foes, the members for Canterbury, whilst hi 3 ordinary supporters seemed to look upon him with perfect scorn. Mr. Moorhouse's description of the speech of the Premier, though given the next day, ought to be recorded here. Mr. Moorhouse said that, having listened attentively to Mr. Stafford's

harangue, he could compare it to nothing else than this, that the Colonial Secretary took his stand on a big dram to amuse his audience by shouting, at each stamp of his foot, "Unity, Unity," " Magna Charta," " Hurrah for sentimentality!" Immediately upon Mr. Stafford resuming his seat, Mr. Dick, with the approval, it is said, of Mr. Whitaker, moved the following resolutions to the original motion : — . 1. That in the opinion of this House, temporary provision should be made for the better government of the Colony of New Zealand. 2. That the Provincial Legislature should have exclusive power of legislation on all subjects except such as shall ho reserved for tho General Assembly. 3. That the General Assembly should have ex-clui-ive power of legislation on the following subjects : — (1.) The imposition, abolition, alteration, or regulation of Duties of Cußtoma. (2.) The establishment or abolition of a Supreme Court, or the alteration of the constitution, jurisdiction, orpractice of such Court. (3.) The regulating of the current coin, or the issu« of any pa ( .er currency. (4.) The regulation of the carriage of letters between any of the Provinces of the Oolony, and between the Colonv and foreign places. (o.) The regulation of weights and measures. (6) The election and maintenance of beacons and lighthouses on the coasts. (7.) The regulation ot marriages. 4. That all pecuniary debts and liabilities of tho colony should remain as at present a charge on the colony, and proper arrangements made for securing the due pavment of the share chargeable to the respective provinces. s.';That after a day to be fixed the whole rereuue arising within each province should be made provincial revenue. 6. That after such a day the whole coßt of the civil and military governm'nt of each province should be borne by that province, and an equitable contribution provided for towards the expense of the General Aesfimbly. 7. That an equitable arrangement he made for relieving the colony of the expense of the administration i'f native affairs and the cost of military defence. 8. That effect be given at once to theeo resolution*, fo far as it is competent for the General Assembly to do so, and that the Imperial Government be applied to to give full effect thereto with the least posihlo delay. Mr. Dick spoke with that degree of earnestness which always ensures a speaker a good hearing, whilst there was apparent about him such honesty of purpose that commended itself to his hearers. Contrary to the expectation of the public, who did not expect any division on the question for several days, the committee at once divided on Mr. Dick's amendment, when, although all

Hie Auckland members in the House, with the exception of Colonel Haultain, joined forces with the Superintendent of Otago, they were defeated by 42 to 24. The members who Toted with your members on the question were—Mr. Burns, Mr. Cargill, Mr. Dick, Mr. Hepburn, Mr. Macandrcw, Mr. Ueid, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Vogel (Otago), Mr. Hargreaves, Mr. Moorhouse, Mr. Ward (Can,erburv), Mr. Wood (Southland). Three Auckland members did not vote. Mr. Carleton, being in the chair, could not "vote ; Mr. Henderson was accidentally absent; and Colonel Haultain voted against his colleagues. How Colonel Haultain came to desert his colleagues has not yet been explained. It had been said that not even the sweets of office could wean any Auckland man. from his allegiance to his constituency on the question of separation. Your Superintendent, Mr Whitaker, in opening his case, stated that no member was or could be returned for any constituency in the Province of Auckland except he had pledged himself to be in favour of separation, and broadly stated that if the division lists should show any recreant member as haying voted against it, such member was in this House on false pretences. The honorable and gallant Colonel, the Minister for Defence, was not to be swayed from his purpose by such allusions, but showed that he is at least possessed of such tenacity of purpose, as to cling to the Ministerial benches, even now, when the Premier almost daily informs the House that the mind of the Government is made up to resist Auckland's demand for separation. Ohus has the«6timable gentleman—the member for Franklin—passed into that stage of development in which his enemies regard him as a convert, and his friends as a pervert. He was not, however, the only member in the housj that seems to have betrayed the confidence reposed in him by his constituents. The Postmaster-General —Mr. Paterson, of Otago, served his friends in exactly the same way, and when taunted the next day with his departure from the principles laid down in his speech, on the hustings, he, with a pathos that deeply affected the House, deprecated the idea that consistency should beobserved between speeches delivered on the hustings, and the votes of the occupants of seats on the Ministerial benches. lhis division having disposed of Mr. Dick's amendment in favour of making a modification in the form of government throughout the whole colony, the debate was continued by Mr. J. O'Neill and Mr. Vogel, with reference to some change in the government of the Province of Auckland. Thus a most anomalous mode of ! dealing with a question has been established — namely, voting first, and debating it afterwards. I At 10 o'clock Mr. J. C. Eichmond obtained, an adjournment of the debate till to-morrow, and it is now expected that it will occupy the whole weeky Wednesday, July 2. I cannot undertake to give you even a summary of the proceedings of this day. The debate was opened by Mr. J. C. Richmond, and continued by Mr. Reynolds, who amused the House by reading at considerable length the extracts from the speech of Mr. Paterson when a candidate, and contrasting it with tlm vote he had given last night. Mr. Paterson made such a defence as I haro indicated above, end concluded by expressing his belief that xXew Zealand if it remained united would soon become, the pride of its friends, and the terror of its enemies y at which magniloquent remark the House loudly, f cheered. Mr. Bell followed, and cast m Mr. Whitaker's teeth, that when he held the high office of Premier of the Colony, in 1863, he neglected his duties, and gave himself up to,a

vulgar quarrel with the Governor. Ho then sneered at the financial arrangements made byMr. Wood in London, after which he passed on to that favorite topic of his—the laudation of Mr. Weld; and whilst upbraiding Mr. Vogel for some condemnatory remarks he_ had made daring his speech upon the ex-premier, wound up by saying that it was impossible for such a mind as Mr. Vogel's to comprehend such a man as Mr. Weld. " That Mr. Weld was an Hyperion and Mr. Vogel a Satyr." Mr. Bell was followed by two new members —Mr. Curtis and Mr. Oliver, both of Nelson, the former of whom spoke in a clear and temperate manner, in opposition to Mr. Whitaker. The latter followed on the same side, and though it would appear that Nature never intended him for an orator, she has stamped upon him the hearing and demeanour of a gentleman. Mr. JR. Graham, Mr. Bunny, and Mr. Cargill followed, after whom the debate, was closed with the speech of Mr. Moorhouse, the most effective speech of the day. A ludicrous occurrence took place on the proposal to adjourn the debate. Mr. Haughton, who is a thick and thin supporter of the Government in resisting separation, movedthe adjournment. There was some objection raised by Mr. C. Wilson, upon which the Colonial Treasurer, Mr. Jollie, gravely told the House that on such an important question as this the Government would grant iurther time, no matter how insignificant the member might be who asked for it.