GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2611, 7 August 1876, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(From a correspondent of the Lyttelton Times,) Wblunqton, August 6. Mr Rees continued |spoaking laßt night till nearly nine o'elook in tho same style of violent abuse, but ho spoke to almost empty benohes. His allusion to Lady Yogel and other Minister's wives eioited strong indignation, eveu amongst his own party. The Times was vety severe on him this morning 5 the Argus says his spoooh was that of a man insensible to shame, and lost to all sense of deoenoy 5 and the Post condemns it in very strong terms as disgraoeful and degrading to the tone of the House. No one would rise to answer him, and there were loud culls for a division till at length Mr Wason stood up and spoke in favour of complete insular separation, saying it must in the end come to that. Mr Luak spoke at some length but not very much to tho purpose, exoept that in his warning that if Canterbury did not now join Otago and Atiokland it would never again have a ohanoe, and would infallibly lose its Land Fund, Mr Fitzroy spoko at somo length, and pretty well in favour of Government, and Mr Thomson wound up the debate without laying anything very worthy of remark, The Government, it is said, intend to keep absolute eilenee on their side 0! the House as far as possible, only putting up a man < when anything requiring an answer is made by anyone on the opposite side, and then only to answer that particular point. It is thought '. that the debate will, under this system, pro* bably olose on Wednesday night, but it is very doubtful how many members may insist on speaking without consulting the whips. It is now rumoured that, on the Counties Bill, an attempt will be made to enlarge the proposed Counties, so as to xnako them still Provinces, Wellington, for instance, being divided into two instead of five Counties, so that the position of Chairman may be one worth having. A section of the Canterbury men are said to favour this idea. '