THE Wellington Independent. "NOTHING EXTENUATE; OR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." SATURDAY MORNING, sth DECEMBER. SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1992, 5 December 1863, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent. "NOTHING EXTENUATE; OR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." SATURDAY MORNING, sth DECEMBER. SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

" Fobced to live bj their pens, to extract from their brains bread and beer, clothing, lodging, and income tax, I am not surprised (says a modern writer) tbat literary men are oftentimes nervous, querulous and impatient." The Auckland newspaper writers are just now " nervous querulous and impatient " in the extreme because of the recent decisions of the Assembly in reference to the removal of the seat of Government. To answer seriously the rbodomontade in which the Auckland speakers and writers alike indulge would be idle, nor would it be much better to extract the numerous vituperative articles which have appeared on the subject, as they are couched in too random, and manifestly absurd a style seriously to hurt us. We cau make every allowance for our Auckland friends: the retention of the seat of

Government is a very important matter to tbem, and is quite enough to make them " nervous, querulous and impatient," without our attempting still further to irritate or annoy them by exposing the wickedness of some of the statements they have been guilty of uttering. We would rather throw oil on the troubled waters than fan the flame, and are not therefore disposed to excite the risible faculties of our^ readers by presenting them with choice mor* ceaux, culled from the New Zealander, Herald or Cross, All we think it prudent to do is to resume the narrative ofthe proceedings supplied us by the Wonga.

Oa the 25th, Mr Fitzgerald introduoed the Address to the Governor in a speech which is called " very able "by the advocates of removal, but is characterised by the Cross as il. lustrative of the couplet

True wisdom is with folly near allied. And thin partitions do their bounds divide.

On Mr Cargill seconding the Address, Mr Gillies took objection to its containing a money clause, conteuding tbat the House could uot theu consider the Address, but that it must be brought on in _ Committee of Supply. The following was tbe clause objected to: —

"We farther pray, that immediately upon receiving tbe report of tbe commissioners so appointed, your Excellency will be pleased to

cause the necessary steps to be taken for procuring the site recommended by tbem, and for erecting tbe buildings required for tbe residence of thejjGovernor, the offices of Government, and the meetings of tbe General Assembly, to be forthwith erected ; and the House hereby undertakes to vote all such sums as your Excellency shall direct ta be incurred for the expenses of the commission, and for the establishment of the seat of Government in the locality thus to be selected."

The Speaker ruled that the debate could continue on the above clause being omitted, but this ruling did not satisfy Mr Gillies and tbe .House divided, supporting the Speaker by 25 to 12. Mr Stafford then moved the following amendment in a speech which of course has made him the Northern idol of the hour : —

" That, in the opinion of this House, in the preseut critical state of the colony, with a dangerous native insurrection raging within a few miles of the seat of government, it is highly inexpedient to takeany steps for remoring the seat of Government, baying especial regard to the effect which such a proceeding would have upon the native mind and upon the Imperial Government."

Mr O'Neill seconded the amendment, and was supported by Messrs. Gillies, Yogel, Brodie* Wood, Williamson, and Colenso, while Messrs. Bichardson, Fox, Eeynolds, Thomson, and Patterson spoke in favor of tbe Address. Id Tuesday's issue we gave tbe result. Ayes, 24, Noes, 17; majority for Mr Fitzgerald's Address, 7. We now give the names, together with a numerical and a provincial analysis of the votes. For Mr Fitzgerald's motion, 24. ; viz., Bran- I don, Cargill, Carter, Cox, Domett, Eyes, Fitzgerald, Fitzherbert, Fox, Harrison, Joilie, Ormond, Paterson, Renall, Reynolds, Rhodes, Richardson, Taylor, W. W., Thomson, Wayne, Weld, Wells, Walker, Wilkin. . Pairs— s, Curtis, Featherston, Mantell, Richmond, J. C. Saunders.

Against Mr Fitzgerald's motion, 17. Brodie, Butler, Colenso, Gillies, Graham, G., G.aham, R., Mason, Munro, J., O'Neill, O'Rorke, Russel, Stafford, Taylor, C. J., Yogel, Williamson, Jas., Wiliiamson John, Wood.

Pairs — 5, Atkiuson, galdwin, Henderson, Nixon, Turton.

Numerical Analysis. For the Address ... 24 Pairs ... 5 — 29 Against the Address ... 17 Pairs ... 5 — 22 Absent (Carleton, Richmond A. J. and Ward) ... 3 Declined to vote (Bell and Wilson*) ... 2 Sneaker ... 1 57 *[Mr Wilson O. E, said he could not vote for the resolution under the circumstances, nor could he vote for the amendment, 373 of his constituents having petitioned in favor of a removal of the seat of government ; and on the division he should leave the house.] Provincial Analysis. T 3 'S • o o •^_ i—i For Against. „ g © including pairs. <« Auckland ... — 14 1 15 Tahanaki ..,1 2 — 3 Hawkes' Bay ... I 1 — 2 Wellington ... 9 — — 9 Nelson ... 5 1 1 7 Marlborough... 1 — 12 Canterbury ... 6 — 2 8 Otago ... 5 4 — 9 Southland ... 1 — 1 2 29 22 6 57

No one can complain of opposition being made to any measure by those who do so fairly, and it was only to be expected that next day, (26th), when the money vote came on, tbat it would not be allowed to pass without opposition : —

Mr Fitzgebald moved "That tbe following paragraph be added to the address to be presented, to bis Excellency the Governor." " That, immediately upon receiving the report of the Commissioners so appointed, your Excellency will be pleased to cause the site recommended by tbem to be forthwith procured, and the necessary buildings for the residence of the Governor, for the offices of Government, and for tbe meetings of the General Assembly, to be forthwith erected ; and the House hereby undertakes to vote all such sums as your Excellency shall direct to be incurred for the expenses ofthe Commission, and for tbe establishment of the Seat of Government iv the locality thus to be selected."

Mr O'Neill said he must oppose the motion. It was sought to throw the expense of erecting a government house, upon the whole colony, whereas he was sure tbe provinces to whicb the seat of government might be removed would be very glad to eiect buildings at their own cost There was a Government building in Auckland, and buildings were placed for the use of Government at Wellington during tbe session there.

Mr Fizgebald said it was not his intention to reargue the question of the seat of Government, as that had been done on the previous nigbt, sufficiently to suit all parties. The erection of' Government buildings were not proviocial charges, and the province of Auckland had been repaid the expense of the erection of a Government House.

Mr Wood said be might ask the hon. mover whether it was bis intention to leave the motion as it stood if it should be carried. If so it would place tbe Government in somewhat of a dilemma, as the House might mean one thing, and the Government carry out another. He thought something out to be said about the kind of building required, and its cost.

Mr Brodie considered the resolution was a work of supererogation ; as most of the provinces had already offered to build Government bailddings should the seat of Government be removed tbere. Tbe expense ought therefore not to be thrown upon the colony. Mr John Williamson would like to see tbe question answered, were the buildings to be of stone, wood, or irou ?

Tbe discussion was continued by Mr Gillies, Mr Fitzgerald, Dr. Monro, MrFit_;herbert,and Mr Brodie.

Mr Fox thought tbe hon. member had stated that the Wellington Provincial Council bad offered to erect Government buildiugs bad been misinformed ; such a fact had never come to his knowledge.

Mr Stafford said, it was a fact Auckland had built a Government House without waiting for the Assembly to sanction it ; but the cost was repaid upon valuation. The use of buildings had been offered by the Province of Welliugton for the sitting of the General Assembly, and tbat promise was honorably fulfilled. He objected to tbe voting of money in such an unconstitutional mode as proposed, and which would place an unlimited spending power in the bands of any Government. A certain maximum sum ought to have been stated.

Dr Monro thought it quite in accordance with the practice of the House of Commons, where certain sums were necessary to be voted, to go to the crown, the House promising to make good the expenditure. He would give a precedent from the proceedings of the House of Commons. (Precedent read).

The House divided on the motion. Ayes, 23; Noes, 13.

The motion was consequently agreed to,

The address to the Governor, was postponed in the Upper House until the Ist inst, and a majority in its favor was confidently relied on ; all that the Assembly can do will then have been done, and it is scarcely possible tbat his Excellency can refuse to comply with its terms.

The Auokland people, naturally enough, intend to leave no stone unturned to prevent the removal and while their Provincial Council proposes seuding an address to the Queen ; they meanwhile threaten to do all that they possibly can to urge on the separation movement. " We henceforth go in for separation, (says tbe Cross). We ally ourselves with tbe progressive Victorian element in tbe South, confident that with them we can come to'an equitable arrangement touching (he present difficulties of tbe country, and which we cannot expect from the Cook's Straits clique. If Wellington choses to tack herself on to the Middle Island settlements, be it so. It will be their loss and our gain. Nothing could be more deplorable than the financial condition of tbe Province of Wellington ; and we would much rather her public debt, which must some day be undertaken by the colony at large to preserve us from the odium of repudiation, should be defrayed from the revenue of the Middle Island Colony tban from tbat of Auckland." Now we dont intend to take the Cross to task for the silly bit of spleen which the later paragraphs manifest ; but remembering that Auckland is just now raising a provincial loan five tinan as large as ours, we think this ground of attack is a somewhat ticklish one for it to draw attention to. Not less ticklish, however, is that of the following further declaration of war which it and the " Victorian element" intend to wage :—- --" If a change is to be decided on, let it be a rational one; and let Auckland be the capital of the Northern Colony as she is the centre of wealth and population in '.he North Island ; and let Dunedin be the capi'al of the Southern colony, because Dunedin is the centre of wealth and population in the Middle Island."

Whichever way we turn, this "separation" bugbear is sure to threaten us. If the seat of Government remaius at Auckland separation is sure to find many adherents down South, hence those of the Otago members who are in favor of separation were the most staunch opponents to the proposition for removal. Now that it is decided to remove the seat of Government to Cook's Strait, Auckland threatens to throw herself heart and soul into the separation movement. Mr Fitzgerald put the separation bugbear in its true light when he said

'♦They had been told in Auckland, a»d they would be told iv that House, that the carrying out of tbis resolution meant separation for the colony. (Hear.) Was that the first time on the proposal of such resolutions that they heard the cry of separation, and was it not true that every one who was supporting this resolution was supporting it solely because he knew, and believed that if tbese resolutions were not carried, separation could not be staved off any longer. (Hear, hear.) It was most curious how the House had disagreed on one point. One party said do not carry these resolutions or you will have separation, and the other said if you want to avoid separation carry these resolutions. Separation was the bugbear which they wished to avoid."

Wbile the agitation relative to the removal is going on, separation will perhaps be the staple for the Auckland Cross and the Otago Times ; but when the commission has reported and the removal become un fait accompli, that cry must die from inanition.