then already existing rules, for having seconded (September 23, 1865) a motion of an unofficial Member (Th. Sutherland) to the effect that the item of $92,000 for the Military Contribution be struck out of the Estimates until the profits of the Mint are in excess of the amount required. There being only three unofficial against seven official Members in the Council, the community argued that, as official Members were thenceforth compelled either to resign or to vote in favour of every Government measure, the unofficial Members were virtually powerless unless the constitution of the Council was modified to suit the new rules. On the first opportunity (August 27, 1869), Sir Richard gave to Mr. Rowett a seat vacated by Judge Ball, so that there were then on the Council six officials and four members of the community (H. B. Gibb, W. Keswick, J. B. Taylor, R. Rowett) beside the Governor who had, however, both an ordinary and a casting vote.
Sir Richard was at all times well able to keep his Council in hand, and the Registrar General (being on the Council in some acting capacity or other) ably seconded him in the task. Sir Richard was an excellent speaker and keen debater, always terribly in earnest and thoroughly master of whatever subject he took up, and to this was added the weight of his stern personality and a fixed determination to conquer every obstacle. He had but one encounter with the unofficial Members when they, led by the Hon. W. Keswick (September 30, 1869), boldly attacked the Governor's creation of a special savings and excess account. They protested against a manipulation of the public accounts, seemingly intended to enable the Governor to expend public money without the knowledge and consent of the Legislature. The Hon. C. C. Smith, then Acting Colonial Secretary, argued, however, that so long as money voted by the Council was applied to the same kind of object as that for which it was originally intended, it was immaterial whether the particular object on which it was spent had been mentioned in the vote or not. A few years later, during the absence of the Governor, the Hon. Ph. Ryrie entered into a positive
