DUNEDIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 173, 1 June 1871, Page 5

DUNEDIN.

(From a Correspondent.)

You will have received before this time a copy of the Superintendent's Address at the opening of the Provincial Council, and it now only lies with me to give an account of the debate which ensued in reply.

Perhaps first I may make allusion to the election of Speaker, which indicated the strength of parties in the House. Possibly it was not the case that each independent member voted for the candidate who to the greatest extent represented his own party feeling or interests. In fact, I may conclude from what I have heard out of doors, that the election was "on its merits," and not on party. Mr. Reynolds could not be charged with a wiilful act of partiality, but he may at times have acted in such a way as to raise the suspicion of his friends and the ire of his opponents. But I must admit that not one in the circle of the supporters of the present Government regrets the rejection of Mr. Reynolds as Speaker, excepting Messrs. Seaton, Galbraith and Co., for although he could not be charged with willful impartiality, he ofttimes identified himself too much with the party with whom he was supposed to be in symp ithy. At the same time, the election of Mr. Gillies as his successor will not relieve the office from the charge of bias, as the speaker-elect said in his valedictory address he hoped he would do as well as his predecessor. On a division, Mr, Reynolds was rejected, and Mr. J. L. Gillies unanimously elected as Speaker.

The debate on reply to the address was opened by Mr. M'Glashan, member for North Harbour, who, having read the reply prepared for him by the Government, said that in regard to the land policy those in opposition to the Government would tind the Government policy more liberal than their own. It was not the intention of the party with whom he was connected to destroy any existing interests, but rather foster aud develop them. He regretted that so small a sum should be available fur the goldfields out of the Public Works Act, but hoped what could be got would be at once made of service. As an omission in the Address, he noticed the non-encouragement of native industries. To this matter the attention of the Council should be specially directed. He could not expect unity in the Council, as his friend Mr. Barton was like his countrymen, fond of amusement and skirmishing for lore.

Mr. Lumsden, member for Itivercargill, in seconding the reply, considered the Government rather sarcastic in introducing progress. That was a catch word ; from it they leaped bo railways, and ia one other jump to the Wakatip. Emigration should be attended to differently from now, and economy exercised in every branch of the service. He agreed with the complaint against the General Government expenditure.

Mr. Reid, in moving an amendment to the reply to the Address, said he complained more of the fault of omission than of commission. The omission to which he principally referred was the resignation of the late Executive. There was no sacrifice on their part. It was not on account of a contest. There was no party move, nor were they in any dilemma. The question simply was to allow his Honour to select a Government holding views similar to his own. After referring to the Acts of the Assembly, he noticed the individual members of the Government. Mr. A'Arthur he .had nothing to say about, as he did not know him. Mr. Haughton he respected, and had hitherto worked in concert with. Mr. Tnrnbull he could not admire or support for want of his straightforwardness, and Mr. Cargill having such opinions on the Hundreds Act, and Hundreds Amendment .Act, he could not support, The idea of pasturage was introduced after his Honour's Address was printed, and must have been an afterthought, or gathered from the opposition.

After a very desultory debate, ending in the last place by a speech from Mr. Cargill, Provincial Secretary, who protested against the introduction of the Hundreds Regulation Bills into the reply, wishing the land question brought up by a substantive motion in opposition to his land resolutions, which I believe you have already had forwarded to you. Mr. Haughton — excuse me — allowed to be the leading goldfields member, tried to obviate the difficulty of Mr. Reid's amendment by a motion for adjournment, but as it should be, " was adjourned to the tomb of all the capulets." Dinner hour having arrived, honourable members took each their several ways to meet again at 7.

These small amenities being over, Mr. Barton addressed the House, and in a scathing speech, sparing neither friend nor foe, neither one land law nor another, and enunciating a policy which would suit both one party and another, brought the Address to an adjournment. On Provincial matters you will cry enough !

On the House resuming, Mr. Haughton, on behalf of the Government, said that if the House did not consent to an adjournment, the Government would consider it an adverse vote. After a little more spai'ring a division was come to, resulting in 25 against and 15 for the adjournment.

Mr. Cargill announced that the Government would resign, when, suiting the action to the word, they clapped on their hats and left the Government benches.

The House having decided that no motion for adjournment could take precedence of the original question, the debate in reply to the Address was resumed and closei by Mr. Graham, when Reid's amendment was carried on the voices, which wilt necessarily result in Mr. Reid being sent for to form a new Government.

To-day there has been a meeting of the unemployed headed by a Mr. M'Laren. Judging from his physiog, no man or body of men would employ him for one day's work.

The discussion on Scholastic affairs still continues. Dr. Moran will hold his own. Sunday desecration and preservation has each its advocate, but the ultimatum will be as formerly, no one will be satisfied.