Telegrams.

Otago Witness, Issue 1630, 26 August 1871, Page 13

Telegrams.

Wellington, August 17th. Mr O'Rorke is elected Chairman of Committees.

Last night Mr Pearce moved the Reply to the Governor's Address. He admitted himself to be a Government supporter, though not at one with the Government on the subject of the San Francisco service. He warmly eulogised their colonising and native policy. He announced that the leading principle of the Education Bill would be a thorough system of inspection. The Government would supply the wants of districts now unprovided with schools, and would make education compulsory, at the same time that they took advantage of the facilities already provided. Mr Richardson, Christchurch, seconded the Reply.

Mr Stafford said he was unable to see affairs through the same rosy spectacles as the mover of the Reply. He had never before felt greater responsibility and anxiety at the commencement of the session. He did not believe that the Government policy had inspired universal confidence throughout the colony. He remarked the omission from the Speech of any reference to Dr Featheraton's appoint-

ment as Agent-General, and the death of E. Puni. He was altogether disappointed with the terms of the San Francisco mail contract. The colony could not afford the expense, and the foreign steamers were driving our own off the coast. He commented on the continual pursuit of Te Kooti, and the Violation of Mr Fox's promise that the employment of the friendly natives should be on the principle of " no cure, no pay." He did not think Mr Todd's murder showed a very marked improvement in the state of our native relations. Mr Vogel, imder more favourable circumstances, sold the debentures for 30s per cent, less than Mr Fitzherbert. This was no subjeot for congratulation. The falling off in the revenue was due to the decrease in the spending power of the population, which had been decreasing since 1866. We must either reduce our expenditure, or impose further taxation. He approved of the action of the Government regarding the convicts from Western Australia, but regretted that political offenders had been bo treated, The settlement of population on the waste lands was most important ; it was the question of the day. He would gladly help the Government to pass any measure with such an object.

Mr Fox acknowledged the courteous and conciliatory tone of Mr Stafford's speech, The House had not been called together earlier, as the Government desired first to learn what Mr Vogel's operations in England had been. The Government did not think it necessary to give historical prominence in the Governor's Speech to Dr Featherston's appointment ; and E Puni was not, in the eyes of the natives, a chief of equal importance with Tamati Waka. He defended the native policy of the Government. When they took office Te Kooti had with him 600 Uriweras, but by constant harassing this force had been broken, and Te Kooti now had not 20 men with him. Nearly the whole Uriwera population was now located at a distance, under the care of the friendlies, and none were now so bitter against the King, Scarcely a week now passed without some section of the King party coming in and asking for work. They were learning the advantages of peace over war. The Government regretted their inability to punish the murderers of Mr Todd, but it was wiser to bide our time, and hope that some day we should be able to avenge it, or even to allow it to pass unavenged altogether, than wilfully plunge the colony into war. The San Francisco mail contract was not greatly in excess of the authority given by the House, and he was hopeful that when Mr Yogel returned, we should be in a position to largely avail ourselves of the assistance of the Australian colonies. The burdensome part of the present service was the coastal service, and that was expressly done by the House.

Mr T. B. Gillies disapproved generally of the Governor's Speech. He wanted to know under what authority money had been spent since the expiration of the financial year. He disapproved of the San Francisco servioe. A branch service to Fiji would answer all oxir rei irements. He did not believe that oj, xrelations with the natives had improved during the year. The Government were now repeating the system which had brought on war. Their policy was nursing a war, by supplying the natives with the means to procure arms and ammunition till it was convenient to break out again. There was a medium between a fighting and a cowardly policy, and the Government had not hit that mean. Decent foresight would have foreseen the falling off in the revenue. He marked as an omission in the Speech that no reference was made to the dissatisfaction regarding the management of the Telegraph Department.

Mr Gisborne said that Mr Gillies's querulous speech was that of a disappointed man, and was in marked contrast to the statesmanlike utterances of Mr Stafford, who could approve of a great policy, even if he had no part at present in carrying it out. The increase in the Telegraph revenue showed the public confidence in the Department. Mr Gillies woiild plunge the colony into war in en-deavoiu-ing to hit the mean he spoke of.

Mr George M'Lean (Waikouaiti) complained of the delay that had taken place in calling the House together. Mr Vogel's absence was no reason. Why was he away ? He (Mr M'Lean) knew the money market well, and he declared that Mr Vogel's presence in London had nothing to do with the negotiation of the loan. By mere chance Mr Vogel reached London at that time, and, in the need of his Government, forced it on the market. He (Mr M'Lean) thought it would be unwise to alter our native policy now, whether it were good or bad. The Government would be horrified by the scenes of scrambling for the money that would take place before the end of the session. He called upon the Government to strengthen their position

by calling to the Legislative Coiafleit sw-me Middle Island men. He objected to having in the Government a blind thewriat. without strung minds tv control him r his present colleagues were not able to hold him. They should surround him with men in whom the country had confidence. The present Government was an individual one, each member of it going about the country as he liked. He approved of Dr. Featherston's appointment, but said that he would have been far better without a forerunner. The Government should aak for a Committee of Enquiry into the working of the Telegraph Department. Mr Bunny defended the Speech generally. Mr T. L. Shepherd objected to it. ! The Address in Reply was agreed to. To-day, Mr Gillies's motion for the production of papers, &c. , relating to the cases Regina v. Lemon and Regina v. Barton, was agreed to without remark. Mr Collins moved for the names of the persons not in the Government service to whom the free use of the telegraph wires had been given. Mr Fox refused to assent to this, saying that the Government claimed the confidence of the country, to use the wires as they might think best for the good of the Government of the country, and that it was inexpedient that it should be disclosed with whom they held confidential communications. Messrs Stafford, Hall, Fitzherbert, and j Creighton supported the motion, the latter moving an amendment excluding native matters from the return. This amendment was negatived by 30 to 25, and the original motion was rejected by 31 to 20, several members leaving tho House. Mr Collins said the action of the Government confirmed the rumour that the use of the wires had been given to political supporters. Mr Macandrew has given notice of a long series of resolutions in favour of forming the Middle Island into one province, with an elective Lieutenant-Gover-nor. The Governor's despatches contain the Attorney- General's opinion on MrMuston'a pardon. He admits its having been illegal. August 19th. On Friday evening a long debate took place over the form of the proceedinga in re the Motueka eleotion case, Mr Travera, as agent for Sir David Monro, objecting that the House had not complied with the statutory requirements. The objection was over-ruled, and an amendment by MrStafford, to take the opinion of the At* torney-General on the matter, was nega« tived. Mr Fox moved the second reading of the Election Petitions Bill. Its object ia to compel witnesses before Committees to. answer all questions, protection being given them against prosecxition if they give evidence criminating themselves. One clause makes it applicable to all pending petitions. Mr Stafford moved that it be read that day six months, as it was evidently intended to refer to the Motueka ca9e. He openly accused, the Government of showing an indecent haste to interfere with the judicial case now pending, and urged the assimilating of the law to that of England, by making the Judges try election peti* tions, Mr Fox and Mr Gisborne denied that the Bill was specially prepared to apply to the Motueka election, saying that orders had been given for its preparation months ago, when five petitions were pending, of which four were againßt Government supporters. Mr Reeves said that the object of tha Bill was to further truth and justice, and he would have been only too glad to see it passed, had he been petitioned against. Mr Reynolds supported the Bill. Mr Steward and Mr Thomson strongly condemned it, as its motive was apparent, Mr Gillies repeated what Mr Stafford had said, and referred to Mr Fox's great animosity towards Sir David Monro, as shown by his interference in Sir David's . case against the Colonist. He said that the Government had not brought the Bill forward until all the petitions except that against Sir David Monro had been withdrawn. Mr Macandrew moved the adjournment of the debate till after the Motueka case had been disposed of. The Government were apparently willing that this should be done. Sir David Monro said he did not now believe that the Bill had been levelled at his case, but Mr Fox's whole conduct had justified that belief. Mr Fox had used the whole machinery of the Government against his return, and it was owing to that influence that Mr Parker polled so many votes, and that subsequent proceeding^ had been taken. He alluded to Mr Fox's affidavit in the case against Mr Luckie, of the Colonist, whom he called a scurrilous editor. That affidavit con.tamed ma ny inaccuracies,

Mr Gisborne said that the Government were willing to excise the retrospective clause, or agree to the postponement of the debate. Mr Stafford withdrew his implication that the Bill was meant to apply specially to the Motueka case. Mr Fox denied using the machinery of the Government in elections. No Government had ever interfered less with elections. He considered it perfectly legitimate for Ministers, as leaders of a party, \mder party Government, to interfere, and to use their influence to secure the return of their friends. It was not his policy to pass over his own friends, leaving them out in the cold, for the benefit of his opponents. Had the Government liked, they might have removed the Motueka Returning Officer, and replaced him by one who would give his casting vote against Sir David Monro, who had no right to claim any consideration from the Government. Mr Gillies said that the Government had interfered in the elections. He was a member of the Ministry at the time the clock case occurred, and his recollection and notes did not at all coincide with Mr Fox's affidavit. He challenged Mr Fox to lay a copy of that affidavit on thu table. ]t was absurd for the Government to talk of Sir David Monro attempting to crush Mr Luekie, after their own action Rgainst Mr Barton. Mr Collins asserted thai the Luna and the telegraph were both used by the Government for election purposes. Mr M'Lean denied their ever being so mcd. The debate was then adjourned for three weeks, and Mr Brandon was appointed Chairman of the Election Committee. Mr Murray's motion to add the names of Messrs Bathgate, Carrington, and M'Leod to the Waste Lands Committee, was lost on a division by 23 to 22, Mr Gillies has introduced Bills to abolish imprisonment for debt, and to enable suits to be brought against the Crown. The Government expressed their concurrence with both principles. In the Legislative Council Mr Waterhouse has introduced a Bill to legalise marriage with a deceased Avife's sister. August 21st. The publication of Hansard i 3 temporarily suspended, owing to the compositors having struck for Is Gd a thousand. They are now getting Is 2d, and were offered, but refused, Is od. August 22nd. The Public Petitions Committee have reported that they cannot adviae compliance with the petition of the Chancellor of the University of Otago for a share, in proportion to the population of the province, of the funds of the New Zealand University. A second Masonic Lodge, under the Irish Constitution, is being formed. August 23rd. In Committee of Supply last night, Mr Gisborne moved for an imprest of £ 100, 000, to last up to the end of September, by which time he hoped the Appropriation Act would be passed. The delay in calling the House together was owing to the desire of the Government to learn the result of Mr Vogel's public works negotiations in London. The House would be informed of the result of those negotiations in a few days, and Messrs Brogden and Webb would probably be here before the end of the session. Since the end of the financial year the Government had spent between £20,000 and £30,000 without the appropriation. Mr Hall asked how the Government obtained the money from die Controller without its having been appropriated. Mr Gisborne replied that he believed the Government had folloAved the example of former Governments. They had drawn the money from the Controller under permanent Acts, and had then applied it to meet ordinary expenditure. The motion was aureed to. The Port Chalmers Railway Bill, the object of which is to validate the Provincial Ordinance from the date of passing, to legalise all acts done under it, and to enable the work to be completed, was read a second time and passed through Committee without amendments. Mr O'Neill gave notice of a motion in favour of reducing the gold duty to Is, and miners' rights to 10s each. Mr Stafford presented a petition from Mr Smythies, asking to be heard at the bar of the House on his case. The Motueka election proceedings were adjourned to the sth September, to allow of the attendance of witnesses from Nelson. Mr Gisborne moved the second reading of the Coastal Regulations Bill. Mr Fitzherbert said that it raised the whole question of protection versus free trade. Mr Reynolds said that it raised the question of the present San Francisco mail contract. The debate was adjourned until Tue-fi day next.