NELSON.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 685, 16 July 1870, Page 2

NELSON.

PROCEEDINGS IN THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. (from our own correspondent.) Nelson, July 2. It is only left to your correspondent to refer to the crowning incidents of the session. Your columns will then be left for some time unburdened by the dry details of Nelson Provincial Council proceedings. And your readers will be left to ponder witb probable pleasure on the fact that " there is an end of all things," proceedings of Provincial Councils not excepted. Those who find pleasure in thecontemp'ation of that fact have your correspondent's warmest sympathies. The crowning aud most discreditable incident of the whole session was an attempt made, while the Council was still sitting, to subject its members to subordination and coercion through the medium of a party public meeting. For fully half the session the threat of a public meeting was, in more or less subdued form, held out against sections bers, now over others. The source of this brilliant idva, or one of its sources, your local experience will suggest. Tour experience may not have taught you that any attempt at intimidation of a representative body, while in the discharge of its duties," is one of the last things reso.-ted to, if ever resorted to, in a free country ; but your reading has, no doubt, long ago informed you that such is the fact. It will, at any rate, have informed you of this—that for members of a representative body to ally themselves with a party assuming to reproach and reprove"the actions of that same body, while their work is incomplete, is as uuparallelled as it is atrocious in taste and principle. It will not surprise you, therefore, to know that, some weeks a«-o, when Mr Gibbs, with an "ashy paleness " suggestive of his inward sensations, got up to propose that the Council-room should be vacated for a night, so that the people of Nelson might have an opportunity of expressing their opinions on its proceedings, there were other members who got up, and got up pretty high in their moral stirrups. It will not surprise you to know that Mr O'Conor saw no objection to the proposition— he was not afraid, et cetera. In fact it would seem as if he rather chuckled over the idea, as if it were to him something novel and unfamiliar. But ths manner in which the proposition was received by others would probably have made your hair stand on end, if you have the slightest appreciation of melodrama, or of what a quiet man can become when he is really in a tenper. Such are and were Reid, Donne, Luckie, Shephard, M'Mahon, and the Proyincial Secretary—all of them men somewhat accustomed, for years, to give and take public comment, and not likely to stick in the taking, when so free in the giving; but you have probably realised in your life-time when you should feel insulted, and how you should feel when insulted, not so much as an individual man as an integral part of a family or a corporation. I have uot the slightest doubt that during your experience, you have had occasion to encounter, and throttle, on the part of yourself or others, that ugly creature —Bounce.

The meeting was not subsequently heard of, until close to the conclusion of the session. At least its advocates were not blatant. They were, instead, somewhat backshopish and silent, but circumstances were accumulating in their favor. Friends of the old Government gathered in, sincere wellwishers of Mr Kynnersley and Mr Harris associated iu their minds two circumstances altogether dissociated—the dispensing with Mr Kynnerslev's commissionership and the new Executive Act. V* ilkie, Gibbs, O'Conor you know the alliance between the two first-mentioned, and the uncertain sympathy of the last— made common cause. What cause, and how common,

will probably bo suggested to your superior intellect without auy extravagant amount of suggestion from your correspondent. A few innocent representatives of the Nelson side were induced by their curiosity to go to the meeting, and some of them—sad to say, even the Speaker —were seduced by the winning voices of " the people " to go on the platform, as soft men will sometimes do under the seductive influence of popular applause. How much or how little of the intellect and intelligence of Nelson was represented did not appear from the speaker, or from the record of names, and the fact of tiie Carandini's clas&ical entertainment having been given on the same evening to a full house indicated that all the educated intelligence was not represented at the public meeting. The reports of the meeting, as they appear in the Jselson papers, are various and contradictory. It was called for the prophetic purpose of " eliciting an expression of opinion on the probable working of the New Executive Act and other matters." A Mr Haddow was in the chair, and Mr D. M'Gregor was the first speaker. The said Mr M'Gregor is a gentleman long associated with Nelson Governments, and to whom your overland correspondent referred to, in one of his letters as a " would-be squatter," near the Matakitaki, enjoying a rare reputation for inhospitality. Tour correspondent happened to discover afterwards that Mr M'Gregor was a fellow-townsman, and it is possible that he unfairly traduced his towns-man's fair repute. It is equally possible that Mr M'Gregor's sentiments were not affected by the circumstance. In his speech he was poetical and funny. He spoke of the Councillors as " chaps who were great in slippers, cigars, and sherry cobblers and ready for anything between pitch-and-toss and a Premiership. Others were ready to use their tongues to admiration—for their own ends ; and were prepared for anything—men who followed the diggers simply for the prey, and who would prey upon us too, if they were permitted to do so. (Uhers would get up a row in the Council just for the purpose of getting a billet, regardless of the cost brought upon the country." It is sincerely to be hoped, for the sake of truthfulness, that Mr M'Gregor referred to the East Coast members, and not to those from the West Coast. He moved : i " That in the opinion of this meeting the new Executive Council Act, introducing into so small a Province a system of semi-responsible Government will i increase the departmental expenses; i be a fruitful source of corruption ; deatmy H.o U4op«nJoo 00 CVH<I Hoof 111 UOOS r of the Provincial Council, and other- , wise add to the burdens of the people; and that the Council, in passing this' ; Act, has failed to consider the true interests of the Province." Mr Joseph i Paul seconded the motion, and, in the s presence of not a few Councillors, expressed his, no doubt, honest opinion ; that " many went into the Council for . what they could get out of it —namely, a billet." He spoke feelingly about old servants, as if this Executive Act were designed to • injure them instead of breaking up a strong family faction, and he said what nobody denies—that Mr Kynnersley is able, and Mr Harris respected. So says your correspondent, but to have that belief and to do crocodile sympathy on the platform are two different articles. Crocodile—aye, alligator sympathy—was chiefly illustrated by Mr Wiikie, junior, whose references to past administration on the West Coast are recorded, whose first vote in the Council was for a £SOO official, and whose acquaintance with systems of government is so intimate that, after ten days in the Couucil, he moved this in the meeting: —"That this meeting consider that an Act so mischievous should be repealed without delay, and resolve that the Superintendent be requested to introduce a bill for that purpose before the prorogation of the Provincial Council." Mr Gibbs followed, and once more "jumped Jim Crow." Mr O'Conor followed, and him you know. Calls for other Councillors brought out Mr Henry Adams, a Citv member, and Mr Barnicoat, the Speaker, who spake as a Speaker, but who would have become his office better if he had spoken not. But Nelson Council etiquette is not severe, and faults and foibles manifest, if not manifold, are excusable or, at least, excused on the plea of " usage."

One of tbe immediate results of this meeting was the scene which occurred in the Council on the following day, and which is thus reported. The report is a bare aud bald one, but it will be sufficient to indicate what was, in details and effect, the most striking " scene" of the session. This you will gather from the results : — FEEEDOM OF REPRESENTATIVE DEBATE AND ACTION. Mr Gibbd was about to move for leave to introduce a bill to repeal the Executive Government Act, when the Speaker said he had a letter to read to j the Council. Mr Donne : What is the letter, sir ? To what does it relate? The Speaker: It i 9 f ro m Mr Haddow, chairman of a public meeting held last night. M r Donne said : Sir, before you read that letter I wish to object, to such a course. This Council has no right to recognise a communication comitx' in such a way as this, and is not to" be dictated to by a mere handful of people. If that letter is read I shall I

regard it as an insult offered to this chamber in solemn council assembled, and to myself individually, as representative of an important constituency. It is perfectly true that people have a right to criticise the actions of their representatives, but it is an extraordinary and unwarrantable circumstance that their opinions should be thrust upon the Council in such a manner, and at this particular stage of its proceeding. If the constituency of Nelson has any grounds for finding fault with the proceedings of their representatives, there is open to them the ordinary course of action. I altogether object to a few people who choose to meet to debate or to consider a question ■which has already become law, transmitting through you such a letter, with the idea of subverting the action of the representatives of the Province when they are still in session, 1 believe it to be a circumstance unparallelled in the history of representative institutions. This meeting has thought proper to bring this letter through the Speaker, who is the mouth-piece of the Council, but not of any other section of the public ; and the Speaker has thought proper to permit himself to be put in that anomalous position. I am surprised at such a circumstance. My respect for you, sir, has hitherto been of the highest, but I must say that by this incident it will be seriously shaken, should you persist in placing the Counc'l in such a false and unbecoming position. I desire to be temperate, but I feel strongly, and when one feels strongly one's instincts are commonly in the right direction. I know nothing of the letter, or its tenor; what I say is entirely spontaneous. There are occasions which, being great, require public representatives to endeavor to be great, and this occasion is one of these. If the Council is not disposed to become as pettifogging as any parish vestry, they will support mo in refusing to have this letter read. I have no idea what the resolutions were that passed at the meeting. I care not what they were. Mr Ileid : I rise to a point of order, sir ; I object tothehon. member alluding to outside proceedings, the consideration of which should not influence us in any way. Mr Donne: The hon. member is right. I should not even influence our proceedings by the mere mention of such a thing, but I am taken by surprise, and I am most surprised by learning that hon. members, while the Council is still in session, took part in anything which might menace the actions of this body. There is a resolution on the paper occurring in curious connection with the reading of thia letter. Let them debate that resolution if it is worthy of debate at thia stage of the proceedings, but do not let this letter be read or received.

i Mr Reid : I second the motion, sir. i I regret extremely that I should have to do so. Since I entered this Council I have endeavored, sir, to conduct myselt towards the Speaker with that propriety and respect which his high • and honorable office entitles him to re- , ceive, and which, in your instance, sir, have been especially deserved by the : temperate and straightforward discharge of onerous, irksome duties. I should regret exceedingly if, at any time, I have failed in the maintenance of that high and, I believe, deserved respect. It was not my intention, sir, if I, at any time, failed to do so. But I am hurt, grieved, shocked by the fact of vou being placed, or allowing yourself to be placed, on this the last day of the session in a position which is unfair to yourself and insulting to this Council. It is grievous to think that a minority in this Council or any other Council should, by any outside agitation, endeavor to coerce the majority, or in any way to subdue the freedom of action or spirit on the part, of their fellow members. It is lamentable. It amazes me—it alarms me for the freedom of representative institutions; and if you are made the medium of that influence, I altogether dispute your right, sir Mr O'Conor rose to order. Mr Reid: I trust, sir, I know who is in order, and what is in disorder, but I shall bow to the ruling of the Chair. I do not desire to reflect upon the Speaker. I raise only a technical question. I deny that the Speaker is the medium for the transmission of any letters or addresses to this Council. They may come, and must only come, as messages from his Honor the Superintendent, or as memorials to this Council, presented by private members ; and with these alternatives open there is no necessity or excuse for a course involving, even by accident or insinuation, the fairness of the Speaker, and perilling the proper action of tbe Council. The Speaker said that it was unquestionably his duty to bring before the Council any communication addressed to him in his official capacity. The Blue Books gave numerous instances (both in the time of the late Speaker as well as more recently), of letters addressed to the Speaker having been read in the Council. No doubt the House of Commons could be approached only bv way of petition, but this Council was (as laid down in Standing Orders) guided by its own usages, and not by those of the House of Commons. Unless otherwise ordered by the Council, it would clearly become his duty to read the letter to the Council. Mr Siiephard took the liberty of differing . from the opinion of the bpeaker as to the admissibility of any communication being made to the Council except by the two modes

mentioned by Mr Beid. "Whatever might be received by the Speaker, they were simply his private correspondence. As to the contents of the letters, he knew nothing, and cared the same. The letters might be full of good sense or the contrary, but if such an irregularity as reading it were persisted in, he should leave the room. Mr Shephard retired from the Chamber, and several other members withdrew, or went outside the bar. Mr O Conor contradicted any assertion as to coercion. As far as he was concerned the members might, after they had heard the letter read, tear it up and dance upon it in the middle of the hall, but tbey had no right to show there was any danger. Mr Gibbs thought the Speaker was bound to read the letter, and it was for the Council afterwards to say whether they would entertain it. Mr F. Kelling thought it most insulting to the Council, and presumptuous on the part of a few electors to attempt to dictate the course that should be pursued. It was not to be supposed that a section of the electors in the town should govern the whole Province. It would be strange and sad indeed if the electors in the country and on the Coast were to be controlled by any party or even by all the electors in the town. The Provincial Solicitor said the proper course would have been for the meeting to have framed a petition to the Council. He did not, however, see any objection to reading letters, such a practice had been very usual. They had read one from the Auditor, and the course had not been objected to. Mr Reid said he had objected at that time, but he thought the case was widely different. The Speaker stated again that it was the practice of the Speaker to read letters addressed to him to the Council, and he considered that he was bound to do so now, unless the Council refused to hear it. The pracitice was frequent, and not in itself [irregular. Mr Wastney and Mr Baigent confirmed the statement that it had been [the practice to read letters, but the [latter deprecated the reading of such ;a letter in this instance. Mr Donne, in reply, said that some members seemed to be utterly incapable of judging the principle involved |in this question. What he protested against was not the fact of the handful of people assembling, as they had done, in conjunction with a few members, though only a handful compared with the whole Province, but their attempt to reach the Council as they were doing. With equal propriety they might come into that hall, and usurp the functions of the Council. Mr O'Conor rose to object to the hon. member referring to the fact of members taking part in a public meeting. Mr Donne, after the Speaker had ruled that he was m order, said the member for the Buller, no doubt, would and should feel sore, if he could, for such action as he had taken. The Speaker then put the question, there being only present, Messrs O'Conor, Gibbs, Wilkie, C. Kelling, and the Provincial Solicitor. The motion by Mr Donne was negatived by their voices, and the letter was read. Mr Gibbs then moved the resolution standing in his name, for leave to bring in a bill to repeal the Executive Government Act. Mr Wilkie seconded the motion. The Council divided : Ayes, 4 —Messrs Wilkie, O'Conor, Gibbs, and Wastney. Noes, 4—The Provincial Solicitor, the Provincial Secretary, Mr C. Kelling, and Mr Donne. The Speaker gave his casting vote against the motion.