N.Z. PARLIAMENT

Otago Witness, Issue 2250, 15 April 1897, Page 21

N.Z. PARLIAMENT-

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7. In the Legislative Council to-day tbe ActingGovernor met members of both Houses and read a brieF Speech explaining the reasons for calling them together. Leave of absence was granted to the Hon. Mr Wabawaba for tbe session. NEW MEMBERS. The Hons. Major Harris, W. Kelly, and D. Pinkerton were sworn in. MISCELLANEOUS. The Hon. W. C. WALKER gave notice of a bill to amand •' The Legislative Council' Acb 1891." The Hon "ft. OLIVER asked if the correspondence een tbe late Governor and Mr Chainberla. «* ei»L'-"> to the appointment of members to fchat House would be laid on the table. Upot. the Hon. Mr Walker replying in the negative, he gave notice to move for it. In tbe Home of Representatives to-day after a sheaf of notices had heea handed in, the Premier moved that the Houee meet this morning, and latsr on to enable him to do this moved tbe suspension of the Standing Orders. On this the first division of the new Parliament was takes, the motion being carried. In the evening the debate on the Address-in-Reply was commenced and concluded, and the Hon Mr Seddon read a memo, setting forth approxt- i mately the state of the public accounts. ELECTION PETITIONS. The reports of the judges of the Election Petition Court were read. In that upon the Wellington election their Honors drew attention to the irregularities in the shape of hiring cabs by the licensed victuallers, rowdyism at the Skating Rink booth, and the fact that the " voting papers were nob properly gummed. j OBDER OV BUSINFSS. The Hon. Mr SEDDON moved that for this ' session Government business take precedence for the remainder of the session on Wednesdays and Thursdays. He thought this motion was necessary to enable them to get through the business. Sir R. STOUT protested that notice must be J given of a question of this kind. The Hon. Mr SEDDON moved the suspension ot the Standing Orders to enable him to move the resolution. Captaio RUSSELL said that the Opposition • did not wish to put any obstacles in the way of the Government transacting the necsbsary bueiness this session, bub he pointed out that if the House agreed to the Premier's motioa members wouJd absolutely abrogate all the powers they possessed, and they would be unable to get any questions answered by Ministers, nor would they obtain any information from Minister* by way of returns. Mr GUINNESS said Captain Russell's remarks were somewhab misleading. Member*) would have the right to ask questions from the Government, but he would not say they had the right to get answers. > Sir R STOUT said he objected to a prere- J dent of this kind being created by tbe Government. Mr FISHER said it was an extraordinary Session called for one particular purpose. The Hon Mr ROLLESTON admitted it was an. extraordinary session, but the Premier would greatly expedite matters if be gaw members certain information which they had a right to obtain. He for ione would put no obstacle in the way of the colony celebrating the sixtieth year of her Majesty's reign, but at the samn time he felt; that the House was entitled to obtain replies to a large number of questions that hid just been given notice of that day. He suggested that Mr Seddon should not pives his motion that- day, but should allow it to stand over till to-morrow in order that members of the House may not be disappointed at not getting the information they were entitled to , The Hon. J. M'KENZIE said (he House knew they were met for an extraordinary purpose, and yet they bad already heard motions for returns given which wou'd keep the^ House going for_ a month. If all thestj returns were prepared it would be impossible for the Premier to go Home to represent tbe colony at the Queen's celebrations. He denied that Ministers last year refused to answer questions. Until these •.questions were made the medium of intercepting supply and blocking business, Ministers refused no reasonable returns last year, bub they were not going to furnish returns that were asked for for political purposes. He hoped the House would see the necessity of pasting the motion, but if they desued to prevent the Premier going Home by blocking business they had better declare their intention at once. Mr BUCHANAN thought the motion mosh unreasonable, and he assured the Government side of the House that the Opposition fully desired to facilitate the businecs this session, but they wished to get reasonable information which had been asked for. Mr ALLEN also protested againsb the Premier's motion, and pointed out that practically the Government would have the wbo'e of next day for their own business. Mr Seddon might well wait till next day before bringing on his motion. Mr G. HUTCHISON said ib was most unfortunate thab the first act of the Piemier iv this new Parliament was to move a moMou which would prAoticilly gag the House. The motion of the Premier was calculated to stifle all discussion on questions of returns, aud he hoped the House would nob a^ree to it. The Hon. G. V. RICHARDSON thought the Premier misunderstood the position. If he only trusted tbe Opposition a little they would be prepared to facilitate the business in every possible way. Mr MONTGOMERY thought if Mr Seddou would give an assurance that he would furniith returns in the recess, matters might be obviated. The Hon. Mr SEDDON said thehoa. gentlemen opposite misunderstood the posit-ou altogether. It was understood from the first that Government business was to take precedence in this short session in order to allow of himself to go Home to represent the colony in June nest. They were told if they passed bis motion no returns could be moved or a»ked for, bub they found in the Standing Orders that Thursday should be devoted to Leal bills. It was impossible in the time at their disposal that the Government could reply to all the questions and furnish the returns asked for. He was prepared to take unopposed returns tc-morrow. (Sir R. Stout: "Will you oppose them?") He bad not yet seen them, and could not reply. (Captain Russell : " Will jou kindly tell us what you are prepared to do, or will you meet us in the matter ? ") He should be quite prepared to meet the Opposition, but could nob agree to give any promise that would lead to the main business of the session being deferred. He would next day agree to unopposed returns being moved for, and in respect to other returns he should be prepared to confer with the leader of the Opposition. He should also be prepared to answer questions as fi*ras the time ot the House would p»rmit, but ibs main business before them waa to extend the Public Revenues Acb in order

to allow him to go to England. He hope the House would pass his motion. The motion was agreed to by 4-4- to 26. < THE ADmtESS-IN-BEPLY. Mr J. HUTOHESON (Wellington) moiol i the Address-in-Raply to the Acting-Goverm r * Speech. He said he had a pleasant and easy if quite unusual task to perform, and he asked for the indulgence usually given to young and inexperienced members. They were told in the Address that the reason they were oallfd together was to assist in celebrating the sixtieth year of her Majesty's most prolonged and i beneficent reign, and although man might have different opiuiona, they would all agree that her Majesty's 60 years' re'gn had been both benign and unparalleled. Hn held that the industrial classes had beeu greatly banefited by that reign, and he would say that the masses of the peoplu bad never been the most disloyal portion of the community. He contrasted the action of Ministers with that of the other colouies in accepting Mr Chamberlain's invitation, and said that wherean nine other Premiers had accepted the invitation with thanks, Mr Seddon bad called Parliament together to siuc'iou it. Respecting tha proposed volunteer contingent there were various opinions respecting it, but ha pointed out that Mr Chamberlain's despatch specially mentioned that it would be very acceptable if the Premiers of the colonies were accompanied by a guard of honour composed ot the armed force of the country. He had nothing bub contempb for jingoifm, and had no spitit of militarism in Lira, but the only reason why he should wish to sge the volunteer contingent sent Home was in order that the Premier might accept the terms of the invitation, and that we should b3 placed on the j seme footing as the other colonies. That was ' the only way he could reconcile his democratic views with the vo'untesr coutingent, as he wished to 6ea the Premier take advantage of the invitation to its fullest sense. He referred to the departure of Lord Glasgow from New Zealand, and said that although many colonists might differ from our Ute Governor, they must all admit that he had whilst here endeared himself to the hearts of tbe people of the colony. He had felt at Lord Glasgow's depar- ' iu r e that some musician might pay the old tune, " Will ye no' come back again ? " With respect; to the question of "supplies" bethought the House must pass somewhab exbended supply to enable the Government to carry on the public aertice of the colony. He concluded by reiterating th° devout wish expressed by his Excellency the Administrator that the colonial statesmen's deliberations would conduce to the honour of the colony and the glory of the Empire. , Mr E G. ALLEN seconded the motion. Ha gathered that the two reasons for calling , Parliament together on this occasion were, first, ' to arrange for the Premier going Home, and also to provide means for doing so Hs hopsd ths House would accept the iuvibation of ths Secretary of State in full, and that it would grant suppli** t,o enable the colony to be represented in such a m inner as would not only do credit to ourselves, but do honour to the Empire. He^eferred to the early years of the QjeeD, and siid when they cornpired ' tbab period with the pressnt period they were all startled by the great changes that bad taken place. The great improvements in commerce, education, arts and sconces, and the wealth ot the paop'c were all tributes to the great, good, and just reign of our Queen. They were fully justified, he thought, iv responding fully to the invitation of the Home Government, and he fe't sure that any information which the Premier would obtain which would be of advantage to the colony would be freely placed before Parliament. He hoped the Home would also agree to the exuenditure rtquired to sand Home a small detachment of cavalry, as to refuse to do so would discount our professions of loyalty. The p-eseuca of the colonial contingent would also have a very good effect on foreign representative!* who would be present in London iv Juue nexi, and would strengthen the connection that bound tbe old world and the new. Captain RUSSELL complimented tbe mover and seconder of tbe Address on their speeche?, but of all persons wrjo should be congratulated it was the Premier himself, a^ neither of those gentlemen had complimented the Government on its administration for the last 12 months, especially as he held that there was no period in which that Administration could be more attacked than during that period. He had no dqpbt the Premier when he got to England would feel the responsibility pat on him, and would worthily represent this colony, which, although the most distant, was probably th<} most loyal of all the colonies. The present occaaiou was unique, he thought, in tbe history of the world, as no monarch had ever reigned so long, nor h*d there ever been so many changrs witnessed in any other reign. He thought, however, the Premier was- paying his c illeagues a poor compliment in saying Parliament could not reassemble till he came back a?ain. There were two previous occasion* ou which Premiers had gone to England. In one ease Sir B. Stafford had gone to England when Premier, and yet, although there was no cable communication at that time, the parliamentary institutions did not stand still. In the oth«>r cige th« same thing had happened when Sir J. Vogel went Home in tho middle of the r^ssiou They were now, however, tojd by Mr Seddon that because he was going Home Parliament couM not possibly get on without him They were told that Parliament must* adjourn for a very long time because of the abseuse of one man. That was surely opposed to democracy, and they were allowing td* drift into the hands of one man all those powers ' which should have remained in ths hands of the representatives of the people. He referred to h s meeting a week or two ago with Mr Seddon, and said he had agreed to supp'ies till thu 30th September, and he ' (Captain Russell) had it in black and white, j (The Hon. Mr Seddox : " I only said I would bubmit the proposal i o the Cabinet.") He re- j peated that the Premier had led him to believe i that he accepted the proposal for the 30 "h of September, and they all knew Mr Seddon never ' consulted his colleagues only when it «uited him. By extending supplies till the 30bh of ! September it would give Mr S*ddon 10 week 3 ' iv London and that would enabte Parliament to nif et. on the 39th of Septembf r. The Prenvec's colleagues could surely prepare for the House to i m -et on thatdate. It' the House did noo meet | till October there would be no possible time ] before Christmas to discuss all the various questions that were of vital importance to the , people. He hoped the House would agree that J in giviug the Premier 10 weeks in England they were doing all that was necessary, and that would enable Parliament to be exiled together cv the 30th September. He was noc altogether ouposed to the volunteer contingent going Home, bub hs contended that the men wh'i were selected were not proper specimens of our colonial forces. He coutended that the House should be informed of the questions that would ba discussed in England, audV^fc thought ib was > improper for anvoue, even although ha be a Premier, to be allowed to deal with large que=tious of A-hich tbe House knew nothing at all. The House should also be put in possession of . all the despatches between tho Home Govern-

"ent and the Ministry as early as possible, as i wa? of grout importance we should know how *■ v ■ are governed. There were, of course, coni lential despatches which could not ba laid on t'.is table, and which the House should be pub m posse»sion of. There were many other subjects which he hoped to deal with later on — nob later than the 29:h Bopt°mb*r. The Hon. J. M'IyENZIE had hoped Mr Rollestoo would have spoken in the debate before he wai called on to speak. He could assure Captain Russell that there were peoplo on that side of the House who could carry ou ! tha Government without the Premier or with- ] out; the assisl*nce of the Opposition, bub while Mr Ssddon lived and was Premier no one i-uould take his place. The Opposition had tried once to win an election without a Premier but they were defeated. There was no reason whatever why the Government could nob bs carried on, bub thb Government felt it was necessary the Premier *hould go to England. It had been said there was a differeuca between the Premier and himself as to h'S (Mr M'Kenzie's) going to Bugland instead of the Premier, but they all knew he would nob go Home in borrowed plumes, and, as a matter of fact, as the Premier and all his colleagues knew theaquestioii of his going Home iustead of Mr Seddon was never mentioned at all. Captain Russell had told them he should criti- ■ cisc the Government policy in September next, bub they wera prepared for that, and when the time came the Government would be ' able to meet every charge made against them, including those brought by tha member for Bruce. It was not necescary, however, to refer to those matters now, as they were met to assist j in celebrating the Rscord Rsigu of Queen Vie- ' toria. Hs referred to the vaib improvement that had taken placa in industries, arts, fc?., during her Majesty's reigu, and s*id he felt tha l ; the English nation had been well governed during that time. He honed they would long remain a portion of that Empire, and thought they should take full advantage of the invitation sent to the Premier to visib London. He would nob speak at length on the question, a* ' he knew mmv hon. gentlemen were anxious to ' get back to their home". Mr SCOBIR MACKENZIE, after congratulating the mover and seconder of the Address, referred to the remarkß of the Minister for Lands, who had professed great iudign&tion at Captain Russell stating that the Government could no 1 ; carry on witiout Mr Seddon, but the fact wa? that Mr Mackenzie was really replying to Mr Spdrlon himself, and his remarks applied 'ta the Premier. He quoted from the speech ' tha Premier mude at Danevirko recently, in , which he said he hoped bo party feeling would 1 arise, and that the press of the colony would , not do anything to " injure the Government" 'in his absence. He (Mr Mackenzie) wan a pressman, and felt that the remark applied to him as well as others, but he could assure the Premier that he should do nothing to injure tho'e poor helplesß creatures opposite during Mr Ssddon's absence. He quoted from other portions of that speech, and s»id its whole tone was. that of the keeper of an imbecile family who whs handing his colleagues over to some- ' body, asking them "for God's sake to take care of them." He felt impelled to make these retna»k* in order to remind tbe Minister for Linds that he had been wounded in the IIou«e of his friends. He wished to say he (Mr Mackenzie) was fully in favour of the Premier accepting Mr Chamberlain's invitation, and he desired to facilitate it He thought the House should send the Premier Home with a good grace, and in a generous soirit. --It was hopeless to avoid two sessions this year, but there was one remedy, which was that as, in the opinion of thft Premier, none of his colleagues were competent to cvrry on the Government in his absence, he (Mr Maoke>zu>) wouW be prepared to lend him oneof tha Opposition (he did not want the job himself). There were, however, he was hippy to say, 28 members of the Opposition, and any one of them could carry on the G3v<»rnment in the Premier's absence. Whilst he was willing to allow tbe Premier every opportunity u> go Home he felt Ihab the House should reassemble ac such an early date as would enable th<i ordinary business of the conntrv to proceed. He also felt sure that the present session should have been called at an earlier date than at present. It could easily have been done, bub the fact was the Premier knew if he kept it off as long as possible there would be no chance of holding a longer session than a we«k or 10 days. He felt sure thai allowing for all MrSeddoa had to do in London there would be ample time for the Houss to / meet again at the date named by the loader of the Opposition, Mr GILFEDDER cordially approved of the proposal that the Premier should go Home, and as there was a general consensus of opinion I that the invitation should be accepted, he hoped ] the good sense of the House would deal with i the matter in a proper spirit.. He referred to ' Captain Russell's speech, and said the Premiers I of the other colonies would be accompanied by j volunteer contingents, and they would be unwise ( to fetter or place obstacles in the way of the j Premier siting Home to take part in the Record j Reign celebrations. He a'so referred at some I kngth io Mr Scobie Mackenzi-'a speech, and (Wended the Premier from tho chirges mide } against him by that hon. gentleman With j regard to Mr Mackenzie's < Her to lend the Government one of the Opposition, it seemed that those gentlemen were for sale, end. he should Rtronsjlr advlss the Premier not to accept the on>r Mr TAYLOR had no objection to the Premier going to England, but, he was sorry to lind thwe w^re members on the Government side of tbe Houne who had strong democratic principles on the platform, bub wbo lost those principle'! in the Houser He held that whilst they had cause to congratulate the Queeu on her .long r^igu, her Majesty should also congratulate herself on having a very superior j people to rule over. There was a strong feeling ■! own 'south that this short session I was not necessary, and it was felb there was n<v a imuopily of Ministerial power in : the Cabinet He thought one reason why the Opposition wanted the Premier to go Home was because they felb his absence would prove disastrous to the Liberal Party. He held that democracy should take no command from the i Secretary of thp State, and as to. the proposal \ to send troops Home it was nothing more or less | than a burlefque, and he protested againsb such wanton waste of funds. In a few_ weeks there would be plenty of men clamouring for work, and yet it was proposed to spend , thousands on th's expenditure. He held that our Agent-general should be in the position of ambassador, and if it were represented that the Agant-genpral could perform the duties now required to be done by the Premier lb would oopn up a very important question. The Government of thp country should not be iv tho hands of one man, however able he might be, and it was Parliament which should govern the country. He claimed to bf» a loyal member of the Liberal party, bub he felt that the party had nob ye 1 ; learned the meaning of democracy. It was greatly to he regretted that our timber, cold, and coal industries were bo ; ng alienated. He hoped the Premier would enjoy his trip to England, and that he would come back with a renewed desire to serve the colony.

Tfie Address-in- Reply was agreed to on the voices. * THE RECORD REIGN PARLIAMENT. Though tbe first session of our thirteenth Parliament promises to be brief it is nevertheless not likely to pas* without incident or debase of interest. The main difficulties will be about the supply of information in regard to the financial position of the colony and the vote for Mr Seddon's bodyguard. The principal opposition to sending Home the New Zealand contingent of volunteers seems to come from Mr Seddoa's own followers, no fewer than 13 of whom objcot to the proposal on the ground of unnecessary expeuse. There being so many of the Premier's following opposed to the idea, the key to the position rests with the Opposition. Tae re is, however, a diversity of opiuion amongst the latter, and they will therefore not act as a bedy, bub each one will be allowed to vote as he thinks fit on the question. The issue is therefore in doubt. One thing, however, is cercain — viz., that while the Opposition are divided as to whether the contingent should go Home or not, they are practically utnrnimous that the expenses in connection with it thould not exceed £3000, < and that the number of men should be limited to 25, or, at all events, 30. A CAUCUS. At the Government caucus Mr Seddon pleaded strongly for his army, and pointed out that already nearly £1000 hid been spent in preparation for the visit, and that passages had been secured for the men under a penalty of £250, so that in any case it would cost the colony about £1250, even if the men did not go. The passages would cost £2500, so that the total cost would be some £4000. Other members of ' the party, however, utatsd that the cost could ' not be less than £5000, and urged that the colony should not be taxed to this extent in connection with such a ceremonial. The members who most strongly opposed the expenditure were Messrs O'Meara, Meredith, Montgomery, J. G. Smith, Graham, Joyce, O'Regan, Hogg, R. M'Kenzio, Flatman, T. Taylor, Tanner, aud Pirani. Tho Premier therefore decided to further consider the question, and pointed out that if these dissentients were to combine with the Opposition they could defeat the proposxl Some surprise was created in the Miniiteiial camp when it was announced that the Premier was not going to submit the question of his expenses on the visit Home, either to Parliament or to the party. He was going to be as economical as possible under the circumstance!', and be would account for bhe amounb necessary as unauthorised expenditure. THE QUESTION OF SUPPLY. ; In regard to the question of supply there is likely to be some diversity of opinion. The understanding with the Opposition party was that supply should be granted up to the end of September by means of a special act This would naceasitate the calling together of Parliament in September in order to obtiiu an Imprest Supply to carry on after that month. At the caucus tha Premier wanted the party to support him in obbaining supply up to the end of October, bat he could only obtain a promise of support for supply up to the 14-th October, and on the understanding that Parliament must meet in the last week of September. The Opposition, too, will insist upon the opening of Parliament aboub the middle of September. , THE FIRST DIVISION. The division regarding the suspension of the j Standing Orders this afternoon is not without; interest, and b?ing the first in the new Parliament I give the name*. Ib will be noted thai Mr Joyce voted against the Government, and the cute ones" at once began to wonder if the member for Lyfcfcelfcon is endeavouring to get the Opposition vofcs for his candidature for fchj Chairmanship of Committees. JVIr Taylor also voted against and Mr Wason with them. Tbe list is as follows :—: — Ayes (44). — Messrs K. G. Allen, Cad man, Carn-cro-s, Carroll, Orowther, Duncan, Fisher, Flatman, Fraser, Gilfedder, (rrahatu, Guinness, HallJones, Hogg, Holland, Houston, J. llutchcso-t. Kaihau, Kelly, Larnach, Lawry, M'Gowan, J. M'Kenzie, R. M'Kenzie, Meredith, MilUr, Mills, Montgomery, Slonison, OMeara, O'Regan, Parata, Pere, Pirani, Seddon, Smith, iStevitn.s, Steward, Symes, Tanner, R. Thompson, T. Thompson, Ward, Waion. Noes (26). — Messrs J. Allen, Bollan<3, Brown, Buchanan, Carson, Ilelce, Herries, Hunter, (3. Tlutcbison, Joyce, Lang, Lethbiidge, Lewi?, M'Guire, Scobie Mackenzie, M'Lean, Masssey, Monk, Moore, Richardfon, Rolleston, Ru-sel), Stout, Taylor, J. W. Thomson, Wright. STOUT AND BALLANCE. ' J Mr Seddon seemi to have been guilty of a | perious oversight in not inviting Sir Robert 1 Stout to speak at the unveiling of the Ballance j Statue, The statue, by the way, does nob bear 1 a striking resemblance to the«iate Mr Ballmoe, ; and can b>rdly be called a work of art. ; JOTTINOS. j Mr A. R. Atkinson, a candidate for me | Suburb", is very severe on the recently ma.de | Legislative Councillors. He calls them the j •'Political stonebrokes of the community — men who were rejected by the people as not good enough to represent them in Parliament, but were regarded by the pressnt Government j as good enough to put into the Legislative Council." THURSDAY, APRIL 8. In the Legislative Council to - day the bill to make provision for the offiie of Speaker becoming vacant when Parliament is not i:i session was read a second time. The Address- * in-Reply was adopted after a debate, and a committee appointed to consider the best means of having the colony represented at the Recard Reign celebration*. The Hon. Captain Baillio was elected unopposed to the Chairmanship of Committees. In the House of Representatives to - day the Wellington Sanitation Bill was read a second time. A committee was unanimously appointed to draw up a respectful congratulatory ad<lre3S to her Maj-sty the Quejn on the sixtieth anniversary of her accession to the throne. A motion was also carried approving of the Premier accepting the invitation to attend the celebrations in London in honour of the occasion. The Public Revenues Act A.mendmsnt Bill was read a second tima in tbe 1 evening. PUBLIC REVENUES BILL. The Hon. Mr SEDDON introduced the Public Revenues Acb Amendment Bill, and moved that the bill be taken as one of urgency and read a second time at 2 30. — Agreed to. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Rolleston, Tbe Hon. Mr SEDDON" said he propcaed to ■ lay on the table at the commencement of next ! session all the correspondence or telegrams with the Secretary of State on the subject of the recent appointments to the Legislative Couvwil. He did not regard Mr Rolleston's motion on the subject as a return. Replying to Mr Monk, The Hon. Mr CADMAN said it was not ] advisable to allow linemen on thi Government j railways to leave off work on Saturday after- 1 noons at 1 o'clock,

Replying to Mr Fisher, The Hon. Mr SEDDON said the Government could not agree to hand over the Mount Cook giol site for the Middle District University. Replying to Mr Guinness, • The Hon. Mr SEDDON said the Government found the loss sustained by the telephone sorvico at the old rate was about £4000 a year, and with the extension under these regulations it meant a further loss. In New Soutb Wales telephones cost £9 a year, whilst here they cost only £7. Replying to Mr O'Regan, The Hon. J. M'KENZIE said it was impossible for him to iudicate at the present how the lands included in the lien under the Midland Railway Contract Acb would bo available for settlement. Replying to Mr R. M'KeDzie, The Hon. Mr HALL-JONES said tbe whole matter of preparing an estimate of the cost of completing tbe Midland railway by a light railway would be gone into shortly. Replying to Mr Buohanan, The Hon. Mr SEDDON said the Government could not consent to relieve foreign commercial traveller! from the license fee of £50 now charged. Replying to Mr Richardson, ag to what steps the Government propose to take towards raising the second million and a-half for advances to settlers. The Hon. J. M'KENZIE said the Government had not up to tbe present tima done any"thing in this direction, because the necessity had not job arisen for it. There was a certain proportion of money in hand which wou'.d keep them going for some time, and it was inadvisable to raise more money till ifc was required. He waß not prepared to say whether or not further money would not be required before next session. THE HFCOHD HEIQN. The Hon. Mr SEDDON moved that a select committee be appointed to consider and recommend to Parliament tbe course which should be taken to most appropriately represent on behalf of her Majesty's subjects in New Zealnnd their congratulation* and rejoicings ou the completion of the sixtieth year of her Majesty's reign ; the committee to have power to confer with a similar committee ot the Legislative Council, and to consiit of the Speaker, Mr Carroll, Captain Russell, Mr Kaib.au, and tho mover. lie ssid he moved the resolution with great pleasure, and he telfc «very member of the Hou.-e wou'.d concur with it, and not only every member bub everyone in ths colony would be gratified that her Majesty had achieved such a long and happj reign. He bad taken the course which he hoped would give pleasure to p.very member of tbe House, and be felb suro tbe committee he had proposed would draw up au address appropriate to this great conation Captain KUSSELL «aid that it was with jjroat pride ke filled the position of seconder to this motion. Her Majesty's happy feign constituted in epoch alnvost unparalleled in tho history of the world, aud the marvellous ft'-ivßnceoieut m&de nob only in Bnglaud but in the colonies during the reign was a standing testimony to benefits derived by her Majesty's subjects. It was almost unique that a woman possessing ao much power had wielded it so well, and ths Queen had set au example bo her r* opl« which might well by fwllo'Vfcd all through l*<o Eiiipiro. Tha H-u. W. ROLLESTON said Otptain Russell had well expressed *?hat a'l on the Opposition side fell respecting her Majesty's reign. As one ot the oldest members of the House , he could not help expressing the great p,-a.tificat ; .on be felfc at, her Majesty completing Ihf, oixtif th year of h«r reiga ; and he paid a, high tribute to her m"-ny oirtnes. He felb tbe address thai; wouid b>i drawn up would do justice to New Zealand, and there was no m?ro ioyal colony in 'he Empire. The Hon. Mr CARROLL, on behalf of the Native race, expressed the great pleasure be felc at Ibis motion being proposed. He referred if< the complete uniSy that had taken placa bptvretm Europeans and Nativos dating the Queen., reigu, aod this was indeed a record year. He cuuld testify that old Nnfcivb cbief'o •.espected her Majoaty wojt sincerely for hor gceal and good quiHti^e, aud ho referred to tho many engagements that bad taken place in New Zealand ie wbirh friendly Natives bad borne £.rms for iha Queen. Ha thought they were unique iv hat lug such a jraee and having them ou au equal footing with ourselves, and h» felt sine that tbe appearance of such a taoe m Eogland would do credit to our colony. He felb also that a volunteer contingent in conjunction with tbe Maoris would worthily represent the colony in England during the Rsccrd Keign ce!ebrat.:or.s Mr HONE HEKK said this was an occauion on which, everyone should be allowed to t-xprfi«B ineir loyally tciwaids the Queen. He mighb say be was a descendant of ono o> : the Native chiefs who opposed the Queen's rule ie tba oil days, and that being ao ha now occupied a. unique position in exprcsintr gratification Rt> this motion being proposed. But his ancestors in those days were no doubt actuated by a ;en?o of loyalty towards their own country. He agaju expressed bis thorough loyalty to Queen Victoria." Mr WI PERE approved of a Maori contingent going to Eugland with the Premier, and he disapproved of the people c-irping at the expenses of sending a contingent Home on this occasion The Queen was held in very high reverence by all the people over whom she reigned, and her Majesty alwayo bad the interests of the Maori people at heart. He saw no reason why all tbe members of the House should not be sent Home as well as tbe volunteer contingent. Mr KAIHAU thoroughly approved of tae Premier going Home to England to see the Queen, bu* he would like to see the Maori race in New Zealand represented by their chiefs. Mr PARA.TA quiba agreed with the Premier accepting the invitation ssnt to him to vuifc England on this occasion, and he thought it right that Natives both from the North and South Islands should accompany the Premier. Mr MILLS, as oneof the oldest colonials born in New Zealsnd, felb a^debt of gratitude wan due to the pioneers of the colony for the loyalty they instilled into tbeir children as they grew up, and he believed that if their loyalty were put the test they would be found assisting to defend the great Empire over which her Majesty had so long reigned. He had much pleasure in supporting the resolution. Mr MONK referred to the disturbed state oE the colony in the early days, and said he felt great gratification at the fact that the NewZealand branch of her Majesty'o Empire was about to assist in adding lustre to the Queen's illustrious reign. The Hon. Me SEDDON, replying, said b« could scarcely express in words the pleasure he felt at that moment. The debate that had jusb taken place was one that would do henout to tbe New Zealand Parliament. He was specially pleased at the way in which her Majesty's glorious reign was referred to by tha leader of the Opposition and by the Native members in the House. The motion was agreed to. The House roße at 12,45 p.m., and resume* at 2.30 p.aw

' THE PREMIER'S GOING HOME. The Hod. J. M-KENZIE moved— "That the members of the House of Representatives heartily appreciate the opportunity afforded to this colony of heing represented at the public celebrations of the sixtieth anniversary of Her Most Gracious Majesty's accession to the throne, s,td cheerfully approve of the acceptance by the Premier of the invitation cf the Secretary for State to take part iv the celebration, and that tbe necessary expenses in connection with such visit be borne by the colony." Htr'did not think it necessary to ssy he was o»e of her Mtjefety's loyal subjects, as he belonged to a race which was renowned for its loyalty to Queen Victoria, and the 36 year 3 during which he had been in the colony had not abated one iota of his loyalty to her Majesty. Her reign had been most remarkable in many respects, and it would go ddwn to history as a reign iv which British interests, products, &c, had made most material advancement in every shape acd form. As had previously betn stated, arts and f ciences had made more prepress iv her Majesty's reign than in any previous one, and tho utmoEt considerat:on had also bsen shown to the poorer classes of people during that reign, which had further endeared Queen Victoria to her people. Agriculture had also been greatly improved and advanced during tbat period, aud no country could be prosperous without agriculture. Colonisation had been extensively carried out during her Ma jest's reign, and this had undoubtedly contributed to the welfare of the British people. The colonists of New Zealand in particular had very much to be thankful for during the Queen's reign, and more privileges had been granted to her subjects than for 200 years previously. The workers of the world were ako greatly benrfi'ed by the Queen'a reign. It had further been essentially a reign of peace, aHhcugh they had several little wars to settle. But notwithstanding this, Great Britain had not been called on to pay anything like the taxation for this pur- ] pose that was paid under previous sovereigns, j He thought, taking everything into considera- ' tion, they had cau r e for pride in regarding themselves as bsing portion of the British Empire, | and he hoped they would never separa'efrom it. Ho held they should be represented by the Premier of the colony at the celebrations of the Queen's reign, and if the House agreed with this view his motion should be passed. He , felt that the Premier would do honour to the colony and to himself on that occasion. The House vQuld agree with him that the Premier should be sent Home at tbe expense of the i colony, aud if his motion were carried )~e had | no doubt the House would provide the funds to enable tho Premier to go Home to represent j the colony. The Hon. Mr CARROLL seconded the resolution. He said Mr M'Keczie hsd dilated on the subject so admirably that it left him ; little to say. He felt there would be no possib'e opposition to the invitation being accepted by the Premier, as tbe whole colony felt that the ! Premier should represent the colony at tbe Record Reign celebrations of her Most Gracious Majesty, and he thought the necessary funds should be voted by the House. The next question wts whether j the invitation should be eccepted in wholo or iv part, and as the invitation asked for J a military force to accompany the Premier, j he was one who favoured tho invitation being ! accepted as a wholp, and their volunteer con- i tingenfc t houid be sent. The occasion was unique, and if it cost £3000 (which he believed was all j | it jurald cost) they should not confider that ! " quHlion, but fhould accept the invitation as a whole. They must recognise that the betiign reign of her Majesty fully •warranted the expenditure by the colony of the neces3ary sum to enable New Zealand to be properly represented. If the House expressed the feeling that them was no necessity he should abide by its decision, and was only expressing his individual opinion. He only wished | to sco the native race and our colonial forces properly represented at Home on the occasion. \ Captain RUSSELL had great pleasure in I supporting all that he understood of tho motion moved by the Minister for Laud*, and j thought ib would be unwise if the colony was ' not represented by its Premier on this ojcasion. j There was no doubl; the Premier was the proper , person to represent the colony, and he agreed ; vvith Mr M'Kenzie that Mr Seddon would . do so creditably. There were, however, one '■ or two things to be cleared 'up and j he felt it was very undesirable that : the Premier should be abseub from the-; colony for too long a period, so as to ptevaut the business of Parliament being properly ' transacted. There was nothing to prevent the Premier from getting back to the colony in tims to enable Parliament to be opened by the 30th September, and he declared the:o was a j tacit understanding between the Premier and such members of the Opposition as could be called together that Parliament would meet not later th»n the 15th Septtmber.— (The Hon. Mr Sedeon : ll No. ! ') Well, he would read the correspondence on the subject between the Premier and himself, from which he showed thut Mr Seddon virtually agreed that the Public Revenues Act should be extended till the 30th September aud no longer, aud that Parliament should meet not later th&n the middle of September. The Premier, as an afterthought, s&id he thould have to formally consult h : s colleagues, but on no oceaeion was the 14th of October mentioned by the Premier. While he (Captain Russell) was desirous of facilitating the Premier's departure as much as possible, he thought he vrould be doing wrong to the country if he did not insist on Parliament meetiug on the 15h September. That would give ample time for the Premier to get btck to the colony, and even if ho did not arrive for the openiDg of Parliament his cslleagpes could get on very well without him during bis absence in Eogl&nd. They bad just heard from the Minister for Lands apd the Colonial Secretary that the Premier would decide important questions in England, and he asked what right the Premier had to do that without the consent of Parliament. If time permitted he should like the question discussed what right the various Premiers had to meet in Australia to discuss most important questions without Parliament beiog acquainted ■with thair intention. It saemed to him Parliament was being reduced to a mere cipher by the autocracy that wag now practised by the Pfemier. He should strenuou«ly oppose supplies being granted beyond the 30<h September, and he hoped the House would support him Id that. The Hon. Mr SEDDON said he should not have risen were it not for the correspondence read by- Captain Russell. It seemed to him almost impossible that anyone could come to the conclusion on the subject which Captain Russell had cone. How was it possible that, he (Mr .Seddon), without consulting his colleagues, could give a decision on a question of policy ? He asserted that he had copied the agreement submitted by Captain Russell, and he told him he should give the decision of the Cabinet later on. He telt convinced that no secretary of his could have telephoned to Captain Russell that the Cabinet agreed to either the l<Rh of October or the 30.h Scptc.nber, Locause tho matter was noj settled by tho

Cabinet. He assured Captain Russell that if he a greed to the 30th September he would have stuck to it, as he wae- very careful and a man of his word. He was convinced there would be no cbancs of doicg any business in I London in June, and from intormation he had | obtained, he thought there would be little [ etauce of doing anything till late in July. Had | he been asked to go to England to take part in , the Record Reign celebrations alone, he should ask himself whether he should really go at all, but they knew that; several questions of interest to the colony were to be discussed at Home, I such as commercial union, defence, exclusion of 1 Asiatics, the Midland railway, &c , all of which would lake some time to discuss. There was another matter of much grciter importance — namely, that the producer* of the colony were being wronged in respect of freights and the value they got for their produce, and he trusted every member on both sides of the House would desire to sco some alterations made in ttose respects. He was informed that they were pajiog cx'.cbly double for freight! in this colony bfr\ ond whav was paid by the oilier colonies, and surely tbafc should nofc bo the ca-e. They should &l«o see whether tho State could i.ot confer some benefit respecting the yradiug ol frozen meat, and wbeu all the Premiers of tho colonies were together in London they should be able to effect some improvement in these matters. Captain KuFsell bad told them ifc was nob necessary for him (Mr Seddon) to be present ab the opening of Parliament, bub he contended ifc was necessary for him to be pivsenfc in order to embody the proposals in the Governor's Speech that might be arranged at Home. He had no hesitation whatever iv telling the House that Parliament would mcci. again nofc later than the 30th September. He should get back as soon as he could consistent; with his duty to the co'.onj', and he should do his best in the interests of the colony. Sir R. .-TOUT said ifc was to be regretted that the memories of Captain Russell and Mr Seddon did not agree on the question of the reassembling of Parliament. The Premier had jns!i told them he promised to consult his Cabinet on the question, but he had not told them he had inlormed Captain Russell of the result of their deliberations, so that he had broken his word ou that point. He wished to say. without being in the islighteat degree disloyal, that the great reforms which "were effected during the Queen's reign ware not directly due to her Majesty. The reason why the Queen wf s revered by all her eubjerts was because she allowed ber people to rule. She had nofc set up an tmblem of dictatorship, but; allowed the utmost freedom. They had a very different state of things in this colony when tbe Premier did nofc ht sifcate to declare that a small section of the people here (Freethinkers) should not bo allowed any polibicil frce.iom. Was that liberty of thought? If they, therefore, revrred the Queen, they at the si me time proclaimed tbat their own system of government in this colony was wrong and corrupt. He hoped the Government would take this to hears and would give political freedom to all people in the co'ony. He doubted very much whether all tbii talk about loyalfcy to tho Queen and loyalty to the Empire would amount to much if it came to a question of carrying oufc aome proeresMvc ideas tha 1 - some of them might wish to put into practice. Thero was no doubt whatever that anything that would tend to injure England would nofc only injure us but the whole world, ss England h»d always stood up for freedom, and tbafc was her glory. He (Sir R. Stout) had no objection to the Premier going to England to represent the colony, and he thought ifc was due to his position, but he failed to see why tha Premier should go to England to discuss such questions as freight* on frozen meat, the Midland railway, foreign bondholde m. &c , and if th*ti were all he was to go for ifc was not uecpssitrv for the Premier to leave Wellhigfc^D. He did nofc know whether any other subject should be dicenssed excenfc that of federation, and if they did nofc federate with the other colonieH (their neighbours) how conld they federate witb places so many thousands of miles away ? He W3S nofc aware tbafc Mr Chamberlaic wanted the forces particularly to go lo England. All he said was tbat the eolonipg might wish to send those forces. Was ifc intendrd tbab the forces wero to be fenfc Home wifcbonfc the consent of Parliament ? — (Hod. Mr Seddon : " The motion now proposed only dealt with tbe Premier's going Home ; the queet : on of the forcfu going would bs dealt with la'-er on"). Was thib proper respect to pay fo Parliament ? They were nofc particularly told whether the contin gent wrs to go Home or nofc, bub this was to be left to the Cabinet to decide. If tbab were the case, the House mighfc ns wpII adjourn ab onco and go hom<». He Sedated that if tbe Hon«e passed any- Supply Bill till ib knew whether an armed fo-ca wrs Home or nob ib would ho falie to itself and not doing its duty to the colony. It seemed to be imagined that the Premier was in a diftVrc-nt position, and had much more power than other Minicfcprs ; bub he quoted from Mr Gladstone to tha effi-cb that the Premier had no special power over other. Ministers, and his vote only counted one in the : Cabinet. The Premier had no rifthfc to control ! his nnlleaßUPP, aud it frequently heppemed that ! the Premier was not a member of tha Lower | House. It was a most dangerous precedent j that Parliament should ba adjourned because i the Premier was going to England, but sooner than nofc allow him to go he should consent to that, nlthouph it was a most peculiar position I that trip color/ v coulrl only be ruled by one mm. Mr FISHER *aid Parliament bad mefc for the purpose of sending the Premier to England, and so far as their procpediugs bad gone they had been conducted with great decorum. He regretted, however, that the House had jusfc been treated to one of Sir R. Stout's carping speeches, which they bad been accustomed to for the, last 20 yraiM. He contrasted the attitude taken by Captain Russell with that of Sir R. Stout, and said Iha speech of tbe leader of the Opposition reflected the greatest credit on him, whilst the speech of what he might call tbe other honourable gentleman was exactly the opposite. He defended Mr "' Seddon from Sir R. Stout's attack on him, and mid all the Premier had said on the I occasion referred to by Sir R. Stout was that Freethinkers had nofc increased iv the coiony. He (Mr Fisher) rejoiced to hear that was so, as they all remembered the time when Sir R. Stout travelled through the colony in the interest of Freethinkers and in deprecation of all other religions. Sir K. Stout had referrad | to the Government as corrupt, and he (Mr Fithex) declared trafc Sir R. Stout himself waa tho most corrupt adminUfcrabor that had ever held office in the colony. The f acfc was that the hon. gentleman sceffed at pverytbinr that was not the product of Robert S'oufc. He referred at lenglh fco Sir X. Stout's administration, and s*id ib mattered little to him (Mr Fi«her) who the Premier wai — whether Captain Russell or Mr Seddon, — but he should go to Engl&nd and take part, not only in the celebration?, but in (he discussion of the various question referred fco by Mr Chamberlain. He tbonijhfc ifc was of the hii:bo>o import? nee th^r; th° P'oniipr ibould as fully as i)o«si'ule d"=cus"i ibo= > 'jrf.t qu'sMons p.ud «p~nd all the Hum <&v Lis disposal ia doing co, Ib was

altogether erroneous to say the Premier desired to take Home a contingent as a body guard, but the facts were that Mr Chamberlaiu iv his i despatch stated that tho Premier might bring | home small detachments of troops, and they i were told that small as those bodies might be they were to occupy a distinguished position in | the procession. It was matter for cougratula- j tion that Mr Chamberlain had done such honour to the colonies as to invita colonial troops to take part in the coming demonstration. Mtsars Wason, Massey, and the Hon. W. J. steward spoke iv support of the motion. The Hon. W. J. STEWARD continued speaking. Ha thought a mistake had been J made in the way the volunteer contingent had j been selected. They should have all been i cjlonial - bom. His opihion was th&t the invitat'ou should be accepted on all grounds. Mr G. HUTCHISON said he should move an amendment to Mr M'Keiizie's motion. He referred to tbe attack made by Mr Fisher on Sir R. Stout that afternoon, and S'iid if he were > correctly informed that hon gciitlem\n had been told off to follow Sir It Stout, so that they j were likely to witness fcenffi in this Parliament; j that they had not seen for the last three yesr3. • They had just seen Mr Seddon applauding Me j Fisher's diatribes agfeiusi Sir K. Stout, and yefc j they had yesterday seen the Premier unveiling j the statuj of a man who was not only a close J personal fcitud of Sir R Stout's, but had been j ?.&socia i ed with him in a Ministry which ■, drew down tho most vio'ent denunciation from | Mr Fisher. He quoted from several of Mr i Fisher's former speechts in Hansard to show [ the bitter attacks thit honourable gentleman bad made on the present Government, which he now so warmly supported. He referred to the misunderstanding be.w een Ct plain Russell and Mr Sec Won, and said ib was a distinct ' breach of cr.fidenco. Was ib conceivable, if ' Mr Seddon had nofc agreed to the 20th September, that Captain Russell would nob have got-e b?ek to thote members of his party with ! whom ho had consulted, and told them tha Premier refused to agrea to the reassembling of Parliament not later than the 30th September ? R'-f erring to Mr M'Kenzie' s motion, he said there was no allusion 10 it to the volunteer contingent that was supposed to go Home ; nor was there any reference in it to the Public Revenues Act. He therefore proposed to move as an amendment to include the words, "and the presence in Eu gland on the occasion referred to of a detachment; not exceeding 38 to represent the mi itary force of the colony." The Hon. J. G. WARD said it was to be regretted that any acrimony should be imported j into this debate, and it was als»o to be regretted j that the religious connections of anybody should be brought before the House. If Sir R. Stout felt aggrieved in this matter he should hive brought it up outside the House. He thought everyone would sgree that Her Most Gracious Majesty should have a fitting celebration of her lengthy reign, and he was convinced that the people living in the most remote part of the South Islaad which he represented were aa much desirous of seeing that reign celebrated as those in other parts of the colony. He congratulated MrHutchiepn on the attitude he had just taken up, because there was vow some hops that hon. gentleman would mend his way* in the matter of attacking obher nv-mbers. Respecting the dispute between Captain Russell and the Premier, he contended that Mr Seddon had as mush, right to be believed ai Captain Russell, and ib was to be regretted ' that auy misunderstanding had arisen ever the matter. He asked what the meaning of the amendment was, seeing that Captain Russell's memorandum stated thib the vole for a military contingent wafc not approved. What was Hie reason of the change ?—(tWjißAr,? — (tWjiRAr, Membfrs :*" There is no change.") He read I'aptaiu Russell's memorandum, in which it was stated that the leader of the Opposition was not convinced of the desirability of sending Home ft contingent;. The fact was Mr Hutchison had now come down with an amendment for party purposes with the object of making a party question out of what* should be altogether beparated from party. He deprecated the remarks made against Mr Seddon t-ying in Lon- s don to assist in the development ot the exports ! of the colony. He (Mr Ward) felt that no | matter what member of the House went Home he should do his b^sfc to assist in matters of this kind. He himself had had a specimen of the way public men were, attacked who went i Home for the colony, and he had bt en attacked j ior 18 months resp-cting some remirks he had j made in London respecting fcha jVhv Plymouth ' bouah 'lders. The London i'imtjs apologised for | what it had ssi i about him, but nob a single newspaper in New Zealand had tho decency to withdraw the charges made. Apart altogether from the Queen's Record Reign celebrations, who would gainsay the fat-t that New Zealand J was tot greatly concerned on the Bubjpc!; of our dofencts ? Ha pointed out that thh f*cl that tho Qupen of England was related to seven j crowned heads in Europe hid frequently pre- j vented an outbreak of war, and that being the c*«e. the colony should not grudge spending £3000 or £4-000 on Bonding Home a contingent of ouc colonial forces fco take putt in the great csleb'a*ion. If they believed that the Pcemier , shonld represent the cjiiony iv London, they j ought to give him every reasonable) latitude to . perform the duties dcvolvieg on him whilst the ' gue't of the Home Government. He again \ wished to express his gratification at the reign j of 60 years or a sovereign who had been a good I wife, ruother, and Queen. ; The Hon. Mr SEDDON asked whe'her the j amendment had bueu moved with the sanction j of the leader of tha Opposition, but Captain , Russell made no reply. ! Mr FRASER deprecated any heat being exhibited over a matter of thiß kind. He paid j he was one of those menobsrs who had bean j consulted by Captain Russell respecting his agreement witb. Mr Seddon, and hs corroborated Captain Russell'a version of the circumstances. Captain Russell's memorandum respecting the contingent was that £3000 for volunteers was uoc approved of, bub that a. vote was to be taken on the subject-, which meant that every member should vote as he liked on it. There was never an occasion ou which the Opposition desired more to meet the Government in a generous spirit than the present oue. Too many speeches had been already made ou this subject. Nol that he was nofc as loyal a subject; ns any other member, j Mr CROWrHER thmghl there would be ample time for the Premier to go Home imd i ba back in time to hold a session and transact necessary busiuein before Christmas. The Hon. Mr SEDDON deeply regretted the mistake that had arisen between Captain Russell and himself respecting the date?, but he felt sure the mistake had not been wilful on either side. He again detailed the terms of the j agreement made with Captain Russell, and sail ha had already agreed that the House should mict on the 30 Ja September. There ' would be ample time to transact th.c business j ot the Keesion in fcwq mouths and three weeks . before Christmas. As to this amendment, it J was only proposed for party purposes, in order \ to put the Government; in a fix ; and, that ; beinjr sc, he should ask the House to negative [ ib. Ho regarded tbo amendment «.!st a=s an attack on the N.itive race, as of tha SO men whoax it was proposed to send Home 20 were '

Maoris, and the Amendment stipulated that the contingent should nofc exceed 30. Mr G HUTCHISON eaid he was prepared to withdraw tbo amendment if the Premier submitted ib to the House. 1 The Hon. Mr SEDDON said if Mr Hutchison ; withdrew his amendment he should submit the ' propotals of the Government to-morrow respecting; tho contingent. i Mr HUTCHISON withdrew hia amendment. Messrs Buchanan, Stevens, and Monk also spoke on the motion. i The Hon. J. M'KBNZIE did not think a lengthy reply was expected from him after such a long debate ns had takeu place ou his motion. He objected, however, to Sir R. Stout so frequently assuming that Mr Seddon dominated i the Government, and that it w»b a one-man Ministry. It; wa3 a slander and an untruth to say the Premier dominated his colleagues. In fact he had never known a man who was more ; ready to listen to the views of those he worked with than the present Premier. Sir R. Stout had again told thorn that afternoon that this was a corrupt Gjvernmeut, but he had made no distinct charge of corruption. Sir R Stout ; also tried to make it appear that the GovernI ment were opposed to higher education, bub he ; denied that, and said they were lavourable to ■ higher education whenever it was necessary. i Ho hoped the House would pass his motion. : The motion was agreed to on the voices. : WBrXINTGXON SANITATION. i Mr J. HUTOHE.SON moved the second [ reading of the Wellington Sanitation L an Bill, to enable the City Council of Wellington to borrow certain sums ior drainage purposes. — Agreed to. The bill was committed, and the debate on the third reading adjourned till next I day. ! 1 PUBLIC RKVnNUFS Bir.T-. j The Hon. Mr SEDDON moved the second | ' reading of tbe Public Reveuues Act AmendI ment Bill, to temporarily amend th' 3 law relating to tho public revenue. Toe bill propos-es to extend the appropriations uudpr the act from 31sfc March to 14-bh October, 1897. The Hon. G. F. RICHARDSON was surprised to find by clause 3 of the bill that the . amouut of unauthorised expenditure was increased from £100 000 to £150,000. He pointed | out that iv 1892 93 tho »m unit of unauthorised expenditure was £44,000 tor the year, in 159394- it was £45,850, in 1894-95 it wis. £20,384, whilst in 1895-96 ib jumped up to £88,892, and fchia year it was £150,000.— (The Hon. Mr Skddon: "Oh, you don't understandib !"; Ifcseemed j | to him the Premier did not understand ib. Alter j referring at eotue length to the position of the j public works fund, he nexb referred to the J memorandum laid on the table by the Colonial Treasurer. With respect fcT the surplus claimed by Mr S ddon (£34-0,000), he drew attention to the remark made in the memo., "For th:ra really is a surplus," which, to his mind, threw some doubt on previous surpluses. Coming to the advances t:> settlers scheme, he said it would result iv tjreafc los 3to ths colony, .and he knew of cases in which the depurbinent would lose both principal aud int^esfc. — (The Hon. Mr Seddon said if the hou. member mentioned those casei to him he would make inquiries of the department.) He considered the position of the public work^ fund most uusatisfaefcorr, and the Government would hava no funds to construci pubic works during the winbor. Sir ROBERT STOUT pointed out thit the Public Revenues Bill now btfore them gave toe Treas irer an unlimited amount ot money lup to the 14-tu of October n-'xfc. He presumed I that was not meant, bub the claasa would have t to be altered, or else Mr Seddon was asking for something which it wai absurd to ask for. Referring to unauthorised axpsudituw, ho pointed out that then 1 wes no netid to iucreass it to £150,000 as £80,000 was left from the \ £100,000 unauthorised last year, and he saw i no necessity for ircroasing the unauthorised expenditure by £bO,OOO, uules something j were going to bo dona which the House I phould nofc pprmifc. As to the question lof surpluses, he asked whether 16 was ! wise to havo a surplus, and he quoted ! from a well-known Americau writer to ! the effect that the moral effecb^of a deficib on the people and legislation was good, as ib made | people more careful. Was the House aware how the expenditure of the colony was iDcreasi ing V Why, there was this year an increases j over lasb ypar of no less than £145 520, and of ! this sum £152,193 was in departmental ex^ i peuditure, which he thought a very Beriour | position. There was also a very large increase I iv loan expenditure, and the increase of interest this year over last year was £23.225. He referred to the unsatisfactory gf-ate of tha public works fund, and said ffom the facb that. I the debt and interest were increasing, as also j the departmental charges, they would tirher | have to greatly decrease their expenditure or I iucrease fcixition. | Mr G. HUTCHISON strongly condemned the finance of the Government, smd specially complained that Ministers s'aculd have unauthorised expenditure to the extent of £150,000. He ! also pointed oufc the excesn on the Estimates j made by the Treasurer, which surely was bad J fluance. It appeared t,o him, from the finifi- . cial position of the colony, th\fc thero was no ' alternative but eithor further taxition or | further borrowing. In some respecis the out- | look was satisfactory, inasmuch as the revenue | had come in — although it was from the customs ! tariff. I Mr ALLEN (Bruce) pointed oufc that the ; House had voted a Urge sum for roads lasb , year, the greater portion of wh eh had nob been spent. He failed to see why they were con- i stantly asked to vote money for ro.ads if thr-y i were not required. He criticised several other portions of the memorandum, and strongly objected to the increase in the unauthorised expenditure. The Hon. W. ROLLBSTON thought the House wa=s very much imVnted for the manner in which Mefisrs Hutchison aud -Allen had dealt with the memorandum in the time at their disposal. He felt that tho Government were in a very unenviable position iv taking the course they were doing. Ths Government were taking a terrible responsibility in postponing the session of Parliament as they proposed to do, especially when he considered the necessities of the colony, 'and fclie wants of their constituents. Thr* House would bn doing wrong if ; it agreed to allow the scsion to be postponed beyond the middle of September. Any longer delay in tbe consideration of public matters would unduly delay popular requirements. There was, for instance, tb.3 land regulations of the Minister for Land*, wh;ch were creating great hardship. There was also tha bank question, the non - settlement of which was b-coming a public ecandal, and also the providing of work for the unemployed. The Premier would, he hoped, I represent the colony worthily iv England ; bub ! there was no doubS that by his action he was \ admitting that his colleagues could not carry on Parliament in 19s absence. He objected on constitutional grounds that the public of New Zealand was going to be neglected through the Premier gMng Home, and that their parliamentary system was about to be interrupted. ' Mr BUCHANAN objected to the high } intoreßt paid on local bodies' loans, and ho

hoped the- 'Premier would alter that state of things. Mr PI RANI said tbab not a single penny of votes pub down for his district lasb year had been speur, and he mentioned the subject so thab this might not be continued. Mr TAYLOR wished to kcow whether the railway vote would bo sufficient to continue the manufacture of rolling stock at Addingfcou and other railway workshops. If this were not dono they would have scores of men walking about the streets of the cities. The Hon. Mr, SEDDON said in some respects the debate on this bill was temperate, bub he had not expected a financial discussion on hi 3 memo. Ib was true men had been retired in the Railway department, as the vole was exhausted. That referred to locomotives, bub the construction of rolling stock was going on ; only if the unauthorised expenditure were cub down there would be no money for rolling stock. He referred to the speeches of Sir R. Sfcoufc aud Mr Richardson, and said they had kept back that lasb ye.\r the unauthorised expenditure amonnted to £88,000. The reason why tbe vote was increased this year was that for the next six months they would have the least revenue. He denied that the Government had wilfully underestimated their revenue as they had been charged with doing, aud the large increase in customs was on articles that were never touched by the tariff of 1895 There was an increase of £21,000 in tobacco aloue nnd an increase ot £59,000 on articles of luxury nob affected by thab tariff. Ho declared that ai lung as ha held the position of Treasurer he would endeavour to have a surplus. Sir R. Stout, ha held, was very unfair iv referring to the iucrease in departmental expenditure. Lasb year there was £30,000 fop electiou expenses, and £17,500 had to be paid on the shares of the Bank of New -Zealand, \vhich would ultimately ba rcouped by the bank, bub neither of ' these were recurring items. He referred to j various other chtrgeß made in bhe debite against the Government, and said they had bsen very careful of the expenditure, but if they aoceded to all the requests for votes made to various Ministers they c mid nob be so. He felt confident they could meet all their expenditure up to Juue ne.xfc ya'. The motion v... t;iii-i;». THREATENS O SPLIT IN THE MINISTERIAL PARTY. I learn from a reliable Ministerial source thab there aro all the elements of a big split already evident in the ranks of the Liberal party. Mr Graham, of Nelson, arrived iv Wellington ab last; fully conviuced that Mr Seddcn's Atiminisi ration 11 in reality a one-man Government. 11°, Mr Hogg, Mr Joyce, and others were somewhat annoyed at the proceedings iv caucus regarding the proposal to send Home tha Now Zealand contiugeutj and they htve intormed Mr Seddon that he cannot rely upon them entirely for their support. Indeed, Mr Graham has^sent; Mr Sfddou a formal letter announcing his i:. dependei.es. Furthermore there is likely to be considerable heart-burning over the elecbiou ot a Chairman of Committees. Mr Guiuuttss is no!; at all likely to have a walk over, and the nimos of iVles3rs Fisher, Joyce, Piruii, aud G. J. Saiith are mentioned as likely cat didates for the offiei. Just before the dinner adjournment Mr Seddon gave nobice thab ho would to-morrow move tho appointment of Mr Guinne3s as Chairman of Committals. SUGGESTIONS FROM THE MAORIS. The now membrr for the Western Maori District (HenarelCiib.au) made his first speech in the House this morning. Though a big man physically he has a very small voice. Ho made a suggest/iou, whioh whs well lvcaived, thnt the Premier should ba accompanied Home by a leading chief of the Maori raoe. All tho Maori member* spoko ou the question of sending Home tho Native, contingent, aud Wi Pere caused great laughtsr bz to:ne references to ancient Maori custom*. He said that amongst the Maori 1 ! those who carped at expense wera regarded with disrespect, and the Maori psople had their heads cub off He went on to advise thai, her Majesty should send out somn officers to d c.ipititc all ihoKo psople who obj cted to the coat of senning Home the military aud Nitive contingents. A more piacticil suggestion by Wi Pere was tbat the cost of the trip i-honld be defrayed by the 700,000 inhabitants of the colony each contributing 6d towards it. FAREWELL TO MR SEDDON. A meeting oE the members of both branches ! of the Legislature was held to-day, Mr Larnach I "residing, when ib v&s decided to entertain M* Scddon ab a smoke cocc ri prior to his departure for England. A committee was appointed to msikt! the necessary arrangements — viz., r.he Hon. Messrs Rigg, Rof-ves, Harris, K«lly. L'.rna"h, Carroll, aud Messrs Montgomery, Mills, Aldcsey, and Lewis. THE PREMIER'S TRIP HOME. There was a lengthy, and at times acrimonious, debate to-day on the Hon. John M'Ke^zie's motion regarding tb.9 Premier's trip to England. The feabure of the afternoon debabe was the excellent speich delivered by Sir R. Stout, who adopted a loftier tone than any other member who had spoken. He was followed by Mr L'ipher, who made a violent attack on Sir Robert. The latter, however, did nob hear the gpaech, as he adopted ths came tactics as he did during a former Region, and walked out of tho Hous3 when Mr Fisher bo?an to tpbak. Subsequently, however, Mr Fisher got from Mr George Hu'cbison as savera a dressing-down as ever he received duriDg the whole of his parlialnoutury career. Mr HutcLison'a speech was a very telling one. The debatiog on the whole was much above the average of the last three sessions, and altogether the House is much improved, and luxfc session promises to be a more than usually interesting one. JOTTINGS. Mr H. S. Fi^h was sworn in and rook' his seat in the House this afternoon. He wenfc round the House shaking hands with members and renewing old acquaintances. Mr Fish hn.s nofc yet r. covered his voice fully, but expects to bo able to take part in debates next session. There is much curiosiby as to the correspondence with the Secretary of State for the Colon'es ob the subject of the recent appointments to the Legislative Council, but Mr Seddou refused to pioduce ifc meantime. We may se? Ib Lexb session. r i he Minister for Railways is not prepared to give linemen on tbe Government railways a ha,lf-holiday every Saturday aiteruoon. The safety and welfare of the travelling public must, he says, bo considered first. The Premier says the Government are not prepared to posfcpoue the regulations providing for increased chai\;ei for telephone communication. The New Zealand charges are the lowest in the world., Mr Scdbie Mackenzie was in rare form last night, and after the dreary debutes which we have been u*ed to durii g the past three years his keen humour came like a refreshing shower in summer time. He chaffed the Premier most unmercifully in regard to tho inference in his Danevirke speech tbat he c^uld nofc leave his colleagues in charge of Parliament in his absence, and soon had tbe House and all the galleries convulsed with lauchter. Whea ho

■went on to refer to the t»ot, tbe gentleness, and suavity of tha Minister for Lands there was a ro&r of laughter, which was repeated as he pointed to the other members of the Cabinet and charged them with vigour and aggressive virility. Mr Gilfedder, the member for Wallace, has a fluent but somewhat ponderous style of speaking. Mr T. E. Taylor, of Christchurch, made a very forcible speech last night. He was most attentively listened to, aud Ministers must have squirmed while listening to his c*ustic remarks. It ever they had a candid friend they have one in Mr T. E. Taylor. FRIDAY, APRIL 9. In the Legislative Council to - day the i acceptance of Mr Chamberlain's invitation to the Premier to attsud the Record Reign, cele- j brations was approved, as also a congratulatory address drawn up by a committee of both Houses to her Majesty. The , bill making provision for the Speaker of the j Council retaining his position until a successor j is appointed was pßsssd, and the Wellington j {Sanitation Loan Bill was read a second time. The Council met at 11 a.m., but at once j adjourned in order to allow of the Address-in- ; Reply being presented to the Administrator ol j Government, after which the Council resumed. THE COUNCIL SPEAKERSHIP. | Some discussion took plac? on the motion for j the commitment of the Legislative Council Act ' Amendment Bill, and ultimately the dtb&te j was adjourned till the afternoon. < LAND SETTLEMENT. In reply to questions troni the Hon. Mr Ormoud, what is the number of Crown lands settlers in Wellington laud district in arrears with payments for holdings, what acreage do j they hold, what is the amount of their indebted- ; ness, how many of such persons iv arrear have j paid nothing, what is the acreage held by them, and what amount is due by them ? ! The Hon. W. C. WALKER said that the | information would be furnished as soon as pos- ! sible, but it would take some time. THE KECOHD HEION". On the motion of the Hon. W. C. WALKER, I the Council concurred iv the resolution trom : the House relating to the representation of the j colony by the Premier at the Record Reigu j celebrations. At 11 40 the Council adjourned till 2.20 p.m. On resuming, ■ The Hon. Mr BAILLIE brought up the reporb of the select committee appointed to consider the best means of ce iebrating the Record Reign of Queen Victoria, which was iv the form of an address of congratulation to her Majesty. The report was adopted. ( Iv the House of Representatives to - day ', Mr Guinness was appointed Chairman of Com- j mittees aher a very close division, the Govern- j ment majority being only three. The bill amending the Public Revenues Act was die- > cussed at length in Committee, but the Premier had his own way. The time tor making appropriations was extended to the 14th October, and a clause was introduced authorising the expenditure of £4000 in sending to England a ■ military contingent and a rifle team. The ' debate on the third reading was proceeding at 2 a.m., when the telegraph office closed. -»i THE RECORD RUfiN. j The Hon. Me SEDDON brought up the ! report of the Joint Committee appointed to draw up an address to her Mijesty on the completion of the sixtieth year of her reign. The [ report was ordered to be printed and considered j at a later period of thfi Hession. The Hon. Mr SEDDON moved that Mr Guinness, member for Greymouth, be elecbed Chairman of Committees of the House for the present Parliament. He thought momber3 on ' both sides of the Hou^e would lvcognise Mr Guinness's impartiality in the chair and his ability to perform the duties of the office. There might be a difference o' opinion on these matters, but he felt sure Mr Guinness had never •wilf dlly acted in a partial manner. They would all admit that Mr Gunme.-s in la^t Parliament, whether as Chairman or Acting-Speaker, was eminently fitted to preside in the chair ; and he had also an extensivs knowledge ot the Standing Orders. In again asking the House to appoint Mr Guinness as Caairman, hs felt sure he would give satisfaction to the House. It might be urged that the appointment should bs deferred till mxfc cession, but he felt it was well j their parliamentary officers should be appointed as soon as possible. Mr G. J. SMITH moved as an amendment the postponement of the motion for a forSuight;. That would mean the p.stponement of the question till next session. Taere were a good many new membsrs in the House, and he felt it would be desirable the Chairmanship should ! be not filled at present. Captain RUSSELL hoped the Hou3e would agree to the postponement of the motion. The Premier had spokeu of conducting the business of tbe cbair impartially. Mr Guinness may have wished to act impartially, but there were some persons who were not constituted so as to ac'i impartially. Mr Guinness may have been a good advocate, but he thought he would not ■ make a good judge, and he felt bouud to say I that tbe last session and the previous session I there was a> strong feeling on the Opposition benches that his side of the House had not received fair treatment from Mr Guinness. Besides, last session Mr Joyce, member foe Lyttelton, was almost as often Chairman as Mr Guinness, and made a very capable Chairman too. He (Captain Russell) felt there were other members in the House quite as qualifi.-d to sit in the chair as Mr Guinuess. He hoped the motion would be postponed. The Hon Mr SEDDON said it was reported JM* Smith himself was desirous of being elected Chairman, and, although that may have been mere rumour, his present p.ebion laid him open to the imputation. He defended Mr Guinness from the charge of unfairness made against him by Captain Russell, and he hoped that a grave charge of that kind was not shared by tho general body of member*. He felt that the Chairmanship should be f.lled as soon as pos- j eible, and as to the charge tbat Mr Guinness i last year was frequently absent from the chiir he was performing the duties ot Speaker. Mr PIRANI regretted the Premier of the colony had imported a personal element into the matter, and he said nobody who knaw the member for Christchurch would impute any such motive to him as had been dene by Mr Seddon. It seemed to him the Chairmanship of Commitfees was a very high appo-ntment, j and they should not regard it iv the manner j alluded to by the Premier. What harm could j be done to the position by deferring the appointment till next Bession ? Mr WASON said the Premier had not said a i wprd as to the necessity for this appointment. As a new member he did not feel called on to express an opinion es to the merits or demerits of either of the gentlemen mentioned, but he felt that they should go on with the business for which they were called together. • Mr CROWTHER regretted that what happened last session should have been dragged into this debate. He had not been consulted with respect to Mr Smith, but he had been consulted about Me Cruiaaess, and had replied that

he -had worked so long with Mr Joyce (who he knew was an applicant for the position of Chairman) that he could not overlook him, and if he were nominated he should support him. Mr G. J. Smith, in personal explanation, said he had no intention of standing for the position, and he had suggested the postponement in order to get out ot a difficulty which he knew existed. It at any time he felt inclined to stand for the Chairmansh'p he should not do it by intrigue. Mr TAYLOR was strongly in favour of postponing this matter till nest session. He strongly objected to the Cabinet of the day making appointments of this kind, and the House should make these appointments. For that reason it would be wise to postpone the matter, in order that the best man might be chosen for the position. Mr R. M'KENZIE was surprised at Captain Ru'sell's action over this matter. The officers ] of the Housa were always appointed by the j House, and he hoped this question would be : settled at once. j j Mr MONK moved the adjournment of the ' j debate, as he thought in five or six months ' members would be in a better position to judge ! of the merits of the candidates for the Chairmimxhtp. ; Mr MOORE seconded the adjournment, and I said his reason was because there were a good nanny new members iv the House who WouM ; later on have a, better opportuu.ty cf p.Feing ' j who was the best man for the'-position. They ' were further brought there for a special pur- j po*e, £iid they had no idea that this matter i would be brought on. Mr CARNCROS3 objected to the adjournment, and asked what better position the House would be iv if the appjintment worn j held over. Hij recollection was that the first; ] i trouble the pres^ni Liberal party had in the ] I House wa3 over the Cbairmausnip of Com- ■ ! mittees. ! j The motion for the adjournment of the ! (' debate was lost on th^ voices. ' Mr Smith* amendment was lost by 37 to 32. j The Hoa. Mr Seddon's motion for the elec- j I tion of Mr Guinness as Chairman was carried ] i by 35 to 32. j Tne following is tbe divVon Hit :—: — ' Ayes (35)—Me*sr* R G. Allen, Cad^iiin, Cam- ' cro^s, Carroll, Dunca-, Field, FUta, Gilfedder, Graham, Hall-Jones, Ho;g, Holland, Hjuston, J. Hutcheson. lOuhau, Larnach, Liwry, jM'Gowan, M'Guire, j. iM'lienzie, R. M'Kenzie, Meredith, Millar, Mills, Morrison, O'Me-\r j ,O'Kegau, Paratn, Pere, Seddon, Stevens, Sjmet, T.tnner, rhorapsou, AVnrd. Noes (32)--Messrs J. Allen, fSollani, Brown, TJuctaauau, Cirsou, Orowthtr, Fisher, Fraser, Heke, Herries, Hunter, G. Kutchisou, Kelly, 1 Lang, Lethbriilgo, Lewi?, M. J. S. Muckuuzie, I M'Lean, Massey, Monk, Montgoraeiy, Moore, | Pirani, Russell. Rolleston, Smith, Stout. Taylor, I R. Thompson, J. W. Thomson, W.ison, Wright. , j i Mr FISHER .jxplained that he voted with i the noes to ensure a division. ; ! Mr GUINNESS returned fcba-ik* for thy! J resolution carried by the House. He regretted that aiiy section of Iho House should have thought his action ia the cbair in the ia*t ' Parhimeut was in any way of a partial , j cbariutsr. He gave an assurance that in every i case in which he had ti give his casting vote he 1 had done to to the best of his ability and ' judgment, also in accordance with what he J considered to b« p-ir!i*men(ary U3a:'e ami the i Standing Orders. He hoped no fault would be ! iound with him in this Parliament for being absent from the cha : r It was in some cases'a ; piece of good nature on hisipart ti absent himself, and in oth<r cases owing to illhealth. He again thanked the House for his election. THE VOLUNTEER CONTINGENT. | The Hon. Mr fcEDDON said Mr Rolleafeon ! had yesterday ask' d him to stit-j Ihe intentions ' of the Government witlx respect to sending | Home a volunteer contingent, in accordance | with the invitation of tho Sesretary of State. J He purposed to bring down a clause iv the j Public Revenurs Bill asking the House to agrae ' to a vote of £3000 for sending the cintingent ' Home Tae contingent would coasisb of 30 Europeans aud 20 Maoris. They were g:>m2 I without fee oc reward, giving their lime for notbiug, and the Government would simply ask for £3000 for their passages. Ha should also ask for a subsidy of £500 to enable a title team to go to Kuglaud, which he believed | would be able t j give, a good account of itself, j If the House desired to vote against the rifle team going to Bisley, a motion would have to b j moved to redure the vote of £3500 by £500. ] In reply to Cautiin Russell, The Hon. Mr* SEDDON said he estimated that the whole of the pas-sjges of the men going to England would amount to £2000, and £500 would bs req-iired lor contingencies. He knew there were nuny of those selected in the csn- , ! tingtut who would lie able to meet any con- , tingeneie-s that wero required. ' | Mr J. ALLEN ask<,-d (,ub of what vote the . Premier would pay tha amount already speet , for uniforms au-J »jquinments for the men going , Horn". He had alreidy stattd that the, passages j would amount to £^000, with £500 for cjh- , tiu^c-ucie? aud £500 »r the rifle t^ain. The Hon. Mr SEDDON said they would be ! p»id for out o': fcho ill fence vote. J Sir R. STOUT ssid he understaod that tha j coat of this bjdyjiuu'd was now to amount tc £5000 instead o; £3000. He wa* not aware out of what f-pecial detenc vote it c">uld be paid. The Hou. Mr SbDDON denied that he was misleading th-j House in this matter. He had already stated that it would cost £2900 for passages and £500 for contingencies. Sir R. STOU T asked what vote Mr Seddon relied on in tbe defence vote. i The Hon. Mr SEDDON said, "Suppoße we say contingencies."' Sir R. STOUT said the Premier wa? not treating the House tairiy. He told them this contingent was to cosi £3000, whereas it would probably co-t £5000. This was uot givitig any control to Parliament. If the Premier wis to I ba allowed to spend mo- ey in this way without ' any control, the contingent v*t3 should be i struck out altogether. i The Hon. Mr SIiDDON said if he wished to j j make out a more favourable position for him- J ! self he would have asked for n. vote of £4000 ' instead of £3000, because £1000 had been ! already spent, aud would not swell the surplu« I this year. This £1000 had been spenb out of . the ordinary defence expenditure. ' Mr J. ALLEN complained that the Premier j was misleading the House iv telling it that the contingent was going to cost £3000, when it would coat £5000. He did not object to £5000, as he was a volunteer him3elf, but he wanted tbe Premier to be boneßt with them. The Hod. J. M'KENZIE said Mr Allen professed to be a volunteer, but he now raised this question in order to make political capital ag-unsb the Government and distort facts. j Captain RUSSELL would like to have some info.mation as to the discipline of the^e men when they got Home. He denjed Mr Seddon's ( imputation that he wished to disparage the | volunteers at all, but he submitted they would have to be under the discipline of the Home ! military authorities, and as they would wear ' | uniforms that was mrely reasonable. , The Hou. Mr SEDDON said the men would ' j be uuder the regulat.ous lhat >you'd bo drawn up ! for that purpose, and after further discussion

j he said he should ask that the vote be increased ! to £4000. j The new clause was agreed to. : THE COUNCIL !iPEAKi:RSHIP. [ The Hon. Mr SEDDON moved the second [ reading of " The Legislative Council Act, 1891, I Amending Bill," to provide for extending the i term of office of the Speaker of the Council for I 14- days after the opening of the next session. — ! Agreed to. THE PUBLIC REVENUES BILL. The Public Revenues Act Amendment Bill was committed. Clause 1, duration of the act. — Captain Rdssell moved to amend the clause by striking oub tho date 14-th October and insert 30bh September. He should nob again debate the matter, but he should divide the House on the question whethor or not the Premier should be allowed to spend money without the sanction of Parliament. — The Hon. Mr Skddon said he was prepared to split the diffeiMtcs and accept the 7ch October. His only fear was that a protracted dtbite might arise uexb session over the Addrese-in-Rcply, which might prpvent supplies being voted in time. — Captaiu Russell slid he had already split tbe difference by agreeing to an extension to the. 3O' u h Septombsr. His proposal, in the first instance, was for the 31st August, whereas the Premier wanted tho 31^ October. He now refused to make any further couce-'sion to the Premier after 1b.3 way Mr Soddon had ! rouatautly treated him. — Mr Buciianan said j ha was one of the members who were consulted by Capta"n. Russell, and he hoped Mr I Soddon would treat the Opposition leader moro ' generously. — The Hou. Mr Seddon denied that ' he had made any agreement such as that repeatedly asserted by Ciptain Ru«sell. His I (Mr Seddon's) party were willing to vote for | the 14th October, a:id he Ihe.reforo considered . he waa generou? in accepting the 7th when he j was strong enough to carry tho 14-th. Ho i hoped the Opposition would not divide the j House on this question, as they were shortly about to part, aud he believed the Housa generally wanted to send him Home in good spirits — The Hon. Mr Rollvston said he felb very strongly ou this mailer. The Premier h*d now conc-idf"! peve.i 'Isys, snd it wa<i a great matter whether or run tuo people fhould not bo rt-pressnted in Parliament ou the 30'h of Septeiaber instead ot the 7bh of October. Ho again expressed the stroLgest disapproval of Parliament being called on to entirely abrogate its functions becaive the Premier was going to England. — Sir R. Stout hoped the Premier would agree to the 30th of September. He felt Parliament should not adjourn at all, but so on with the ordinary business. — Mr Wason" thought the Premier by agreeiug to the 7th had admitted he was somewhat in error. He reBent^d the argument that the House could not transact its business in the summer. Wellington was not the West Indies, and if they hid to meet in hot weather they were very well paid for it. — Mr i-coniE Mackenzie agreed with Mr Wason, and naid the ousiness cf tha country should re the firbC consideration with members. Th^y we.ye called on to suffer quite enough loss , ;iud inconvenience already because the Premier i was going Home in having to altend two ■ fl'.-3sijns. If they postponed the ee«ion too long the consequence would be that the work of Parliament would not ba done ■ at ail, and no criticism cou'd ba mide of j tha Government policy. The. Premier had told ! thbm h». -was afraid of not getting a Supply Bill passed, bub Mr Seddon knew perfectly well ha could get that done on the second day of tho session by moving the postponement of the fV-bate on tbe Address-in-Repiy. — The Hon. Mr Seddon asked whst guarantee he would have ! that aa advene vot2 would no 1 ; be proposed on j the Addrees-in-R^ply next session. Ht> had sat . in the Hou«e for 20 sessions, and he had never ■ known au Imprest Supply Bill passed whilst a j vote of no-confidence was pending. He had J already agreed that the House should meet in ; tha last week iv September, about the 25th, ( nnd thit would give ample time for supply j biing passed b.-fore the 7th Oatober. Ha thought he had gone as far as he could be expected to go ou this pDinr.. la Committee on the Public Revenues Act < Amendment Bill a lengthy discussion ensued on , Captain Russell's amendment to extend the • Public Revenues Act ouly to the 30th Sepiern- i ber instead of the 14th October as proposed iv | the clause. Captain RusaeTs amendment was ' finally lost by 39 to 27, and the 14th October | carried. ; The following is the division list : — i Ayes (39).— Messrs E G. Allen, Cadman, Cam- ' cross, Carroll, D mean, Field, Flatman, Graham, (-iilfedder, Hall-Jono, Hogg, Kjlland, Houstju, J. Hutcbesju, Joyce, Knihau, L.iniach, J. M'tJowan, .1. M'Kepssx, 11. M'fvcnzie. Meredith, j Millar, Mills, Morrison, ' I'Meani. O'Regan, Peiv, ! P<»r,ita, I'iraui, Seddon, SimMi, Steveus. Steward, ' Sym<">. Tanner, Taylor, it. Thomp<ou, T. Thornp- ; .-jii. Ward. I Nor'S (27).— Messrs .T. Allen, Lollard, Brown, Riich'tuun. Carson, Crowther, Fraser, Ileke, < Homes, Hviuter, G. Hutchison, I aug, Lathbrid^e, Lewis, M'Guire, M. J. S Mackenz o, M'Luan, M'assty. Mouk, Moore, Ricbuubnn, Rolleston, K'lhsell, Stout, J. W. Thomson, Wason, Wright. The Hon. Mr Seddont withdrew his offii: to iiuerfc 7th October as a compiomise. Clause 3, £150,000 for upauthori«ed expendituvo, el'citrid a lengthy debate. — Sir R. Stout moved that the clause be struck out. — Lost by 41 to 21, and the clause was carried. The remaining clauses were agreed to. Tne Hon. Mr Seddon moved a new clause as fo'lows :—": — " Ai incident to the representation of <be calony in England ou the occasion of the celebration or Ihts six'ieth year of her Majesty's rc-ijn the Colonial Treasurer may is^ue out ot ibf consolidated fund ary sum or sums nol J txceeding £3000 for the purpose of defraying the expenses of sending to Eng'and a contingent • of the military or volunieer forces of the colony j and also a teamt c am of marksmen." — Mr Mooke atr.-ngly d'sapproved of the volunteer contirigenl, j huh approved ot the rifle team going to B'sk-y. j He moved tint. £3000 b? struck out and £500 ; inserted to fend Home a rifla team. His opinion was tbat tbe money meant to be \ dfivo'.ed to this contingent cou'd be better I spenc on the voluoteers iv tha colony. — Mr G. j J. Smith thought the whole proposal waa a : fraud, aud he hoped the House would strike ' the clause out. If the Premier were to go to Eogland, there was nj occasion fo- tbe-se voluntsers to go to — Mr Tatlor pointed out that the Bisley meeting was au annual ;iffiir, and it had no connection with the Queen's celebra- , tions. He wished to mike a final protest against the expenditure required for thi3 contingent. — ' Mr Wason supported the proposal. He said i those men were not going Home as a bodyguard j to the Premier — they were gjirjg to do honour i t3 the Queen at the coming celebrations. — Mr ; Hogg opposed both the new clause and Mr ' Moore's amendment. He felt that the Queen was the last woman who would seek a military masquerade This money waa required for a more useful purposes. — Mr M'Lean deprecated , the idea that the colony could not afford to spend a few thousand pounds t3 take part in the Queen's celebrations. He thought the contingent should accompany the Premier, and he regretted the House had not recognised this waa a great Imperial question. — Mr Gb vhaji complimented Mr M'Lean on the manner but j not the matter of hi? speech. He could not

agree that the Queen commanded anyone to Attend her celebrations, but they had received a cordial invitation to do so. Ho opposed this contingent because they could not afford it. 1 — Mr Phaser twitted the Government, supI porters who opposed the contingent going Home ! because the colony could not afford it in the ' face of the Eutplua of £340,000 claimed by the Treasurer. It seemed to him (Mr Fraser) that those supporters of the Government did not at ! any rate believe in the existence of the surplus ' He would not support the amendment. — Mr j Tanner would oppose both the amendment aud , the dkune itself. He regardul the whole busij ness from beginuiug to end as unmitigated tomfoolery. They heard a great deal about loyalty, but what could they say about loyalty to New Zealand. — Me Carson wanted, to know what justification there was for the Piemier going to England. There was no cry there about {'O3r starving people iv Christchurch", and those gentlemen ou the opposite , side were willing that £1000 should be spent for this purple. He did no 1 ; think anybody else should go except the Premier and the volunteers. He wanted to see tho vo y e ot £3000 reduceM, and did not wish to see thn Maoris go Home, not beciusa he waß opposei ' to the Maoris, bub because they were not part of our colodul forces. — Mr Buchanan did not agree with the pirsimony that would prevent . the volunteers going Home. Ho regretted !to find 8) many little New Zsa'auders | in the House. — Sir R. Srour said that was not the question at all. This contingent would be I no representation of the colonial forces, but 1 would be a bodyguard for the Premier at the ! Queen's celebrations. — The Hon. Mr Seddox said ths.t as it hid been decided there should j be a niareh-pasi ab the celebrations, it was a great honour -to New Zealand to be asked to take part in it. Ho thought the contingent should go Home, bub he would not fore* ib on the House. — Mr Wright woald vote against the clause, and would ask the Premier what provision was to b<* made for th« unemployed in Ohriatchcurch ? — The Hon. Mr Seddon said the spasmodic Qndiug of emuloymeut for those men would not settle the difficulty. It would take £300.000 to settle these men on the laud, and tliab was the true solution of the difficulty. — Toe Hon. Mr Rollksi'on said no one in New Z-=a'and was more ai.xious to settle the people ou the land thau he was, but he did not think ib would settle the diffieu.ty of the unemployed to put people on the land without capital of any j kind, which would only cause misery. — After further discussion Mr Moore's amendment was lost by 4-1 to 21. — The following i« the division list :— Ayes (-11).— Messrs E. G. Allen, Gadtnan, Carnovoss, ('an oil, Orowther, Duncan, Field, Flatman, CJiiftfdder, Graham, Hall-Joues, llojjjt, Holland, Houston, J. Hutcheson, Joyce Kaihau, Kelly, l.arnatf). M'Gownu, J. M'Ke zie, K. M'Konzie, Meredith, Millar, MilK Morrison, O'Mcirn, O' Regan, Parati, Peie, Pirani, Seddon, Smith, S- evens, Steward, Syines, Tanner, Taylor, R. Thompson, T. Thompson, Ward. * Noes (;U).— Messrs J Allen. B illard, Brown, Hcke, Harries Huut-r, Lanjr, Lethbiidge, Lewis, M'Lean, Ma-^ey, Monk, Montgomery, Moore, Itichardaon. Rollestoa, Russell, Stout, J. W. Thomson, Wright. Mr Millar moved to strike ou'., " also a team of marksmen." — Lost on the voices. The clause us a whole was cariied by 41 to 26. mr.L ■passed : The Legislative Council Ac: Ameudmeoi ! B'll was committed and passed without -amendment, j PUBLIC IiBVENUKS HIIX. j On the motion for the. tinrd /-fading of the I Public Rivenu^'! Ac' Am Kidmcii; Bill, The Hon. Mr KOLLBSTON said the bill would create :*. very bad precedent. He was in i-ympathy with the iuvitation of the Secretary of State, but it was m\ uJ-fctr fth&m oti Lt nora iism that members professing it should ?ia^o determined to back the Government up in refusing all information to Mie representatives ' of the people in Parliament and iv supporting them iv extending tho operation ' of this act (.ill the 14-th of Oet/o>ir He disliked this bill apart from the pi - ooo;«*.l io do honour to her Majesty, and S'da it was o-ie of the worst, pieces ot democracy he had ever ; heard of. The bill marked ft new dpparture in I the constitution of our government inasmuch j as it showed tbat one man only could carry on ! the government, ani that Parliament must ! wait till that man returned frura Ecgland. ( Mr G. J. SMITH was *rauzed at the speech of the member for Riccarton, *» this «ejsion waa called for a special purpose. Mr Rolleßton had • said he was glad he was not associated with • Liberals on the other side of thr House. He ; (Mr Smith) regretted to hear that, aud probabls" when the House met again in SeptenGcer Mr Rolleston would see reason for altering thi*; oj.irji in. Mr -SCOBIE MACKENZIE thought n a disastrous mistake when a. G-iverameufc wjs formed which deuended ibiolutciy on one man who entirely overlooked the other .^embers of his Government in laa't'ics of Julmiuistrafciou, He contrasted (be c«se ot the Atkinson Government when Sir Harry \va« laid up for s. wholb session, mid >c"; the was Rarr.ed on by tbe other Ministers. He could aoc Le!p thinkmg thatthtQueen's Record Keign cuuld be celebrated iv tais colony wifihont the Pi ernier going Home a", fell, but, -the invitition having been given, Sic Beddou was no doubt right in accepting it and taking a contingent with him. J3e sympathised with Mr Rolleston when he complained that the Government refused to furnish any leturns to the House, and said ib s»as iietfectly jnonstrou-i the way iv which Uie present Governnvr.t refused to give any information to the rejriesentatives of ihe people which they had a perfect right to receive. He advised the Premier to keep his mouth closed in London, as if he made a similar speech to that which he made iv Dunedin they would imagine that a live nsca nad come amongst them. Mr MONK referred at some length to tbf financial position ot tbe colony, and poiuttd out tb.*.t when the Atkinson Government ltfb ofiice the public debt of the colony wns £37,000,000, whereas it wa? now £4-3,000,000 ; and the" settlement of the people on the land was done now in an extravagant and profligate manner. If the Government would ] only buy large tracts of Native land they would get five times the area for the same money. He had vol,ed against the contingent ; going" Home as a matter of principle, as it was contrary to Liberalism that money should be expended without the sanction of Parliament. Messrs BUCHANAN, GRAHAM, and MOORE also spoke on the bill. The Hon. Mr SBPDON was surprised to ' hear the unwarrantable attack made on the bill | by Mr Rollestou, especially us his leader and many other members of the party had voted for ib. Hd replied in detail to the several charges mule by Mr Rolleston, and *aid if there had ' been any bauk scandals he (Mr Seddon) should not ba allowed to go Home. The Bill was then read a third time. The Legislative Council Act Amendment Bill passed through all stage*. THE SPEAKER AND THE OPPOSITION. With the excepbion of the few words spoken by Captain Russell there was a significant silence on the part of tha Opposition in regard I to the election ot Sir Maurice O'Rorke as '

Speaker, and Captain Russell's remarks might oven be regaided in the light of a back-handed compliment, for ho made it very plain that there never was a time in the history of the Parliament when there was more need for an impartial Speaker. Ib now transpires that Mr Stddon had Asked Captain Russell to provide a s-econuer to the motion for electing Sir Maurice O'Rorke. The Opposition, knowing that the Premier had made the Speaker question a party one, while not proposing another candidate, felt very strong objections to Sir Maurice O'Rorke on account of a variety of things they did not care to mention, and very largely for his conduct lasb session (especially the apology to the Hon. John M'Kenzie). No one therefore would undertake to Becoud Irs nomination, and it was agreed that Captain Russell, on their bshalf, should say nothing at «11. Mr SeddonJ therefore, gob two ot his own men to move and second the motion. When tho selection was made, and when Sir Maurlca was installed Mr Seddon said a few words of eulogy, and then there was a painful pause for the same eulogy from Captain Russell. The latter was toj good-natured to carry the programme out and sib out the painful silence, co he got up and s»id a few vary guarded words to pass current for congratulation. If nothing had been laid the soene would have bten painfully dramatic, and Sir M. O'Rorke seemed iutensely relieved when Captain Russell got up.