WELLINGTON.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2266, 11 August 1870, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

> (FROM our special correspondent.) • Since 1 last wrote, matters (political) here r have been progressing slowly, with scarcely . an episade to disturb the gravity of hon. . members. Otago business from what I can , gather, is about played- out, and although • members regard Otago affairs coldly, still • yonr representatives do make themselves of 3 some importance. For instance, the Union 3 of Otago and Southland Bill has passed both - Houses of the Legislature, notwithstanding ' the unflinching opposition of Messrs Meuzierj Webster, Mantel!, and a few others, who t know nothing of your social or political rei quirements. This Union is to my mind a i very great achievement, and I trust the • Provinces will see it to be mutually ad. vautageous to consummate the marriage," 3 Your Superintendent has also achieved / success by perseverance in the matter of your 1 Otago University, which now may be looked r upon as an accomplished fact, Mr Macanr drew has in this matter untiringly, and itri--1 ceasingly worked to achieve this object, has - had to surmount many difficulties, and to r overcome many prejudices. I believe lam V correct in stating that he has been ably sup. t ported by M ajor Richardson, vice Chancellor of the University. The Representation Bill t has been submitted to a committee of mem. hers of each Province. The committee have e held a caucus of representatives of each Pfoe vincc, to consider the re-distribution of e boundaries. I believe there is some change i s contemplated in the representation by alter, ing boundaries of your Province ; but at prg. sent it would be premature to enlarge. I understand Messrs Birch and Reynolds are very anxious to secure another member for the City, because if wealth and population be the bases of representation, then surely . Dunedin is entitled to one more. I understand the Otago members are opposed to an increase, alleging that the suburban r # districts —such as Roslyn, Caversham, and Port Chalmers—-are suburbs of Dunedin. I do not know what your readers will think of this, but those here who know your City are of opinion that you ought to have another i, representative. The Hundreds Regulation )' Repeal Bill came to an untimely end, being lost on the second reading—Mr M‘lndoe moving, and Mr Reynolds seconding,' that the Bill be read that clay six months ; and -• the hon. member for Bruce has failed in - his first attempt to carry a measure through J the House, I think it would have been easier on the part of the hon. gentleman V bad he waited another session and learned a the rudiments of political science ere he e had launched into taking so prominent a e position as he has done, in attempting to re? 1 peal a Bill which passed both Houses, I trust e it may teach a lesson to him and to. the other “ great men ” in your quarter, who imagine I because they occuuy temporary power, they li can set laws at defiance and impede the. pro* t gress of a country. The following appeared 0 in the columns of the Evening Post; — Poor Brown! —the elect of a confiding constit tuency—the representative of Bruce (not the e Scottish hero), but tho electoral district—- ■ what must be his feelings ; how utter his di?- ) comfiture ; how thorough his disgust. His e first legislative effort—the Otago Hundreds 1 Act Repeal Bill—was nipped in the bud. s Cruel M'lndoe ; and still more san--3 guinary Reynolds. It was not a stranger i that did it, but my acquaintance—my friend,' It is scarcely probable that Mr James Clark r Brown will ever attempt to re-enter Parlia- • ment ;.fter the present session. He has - mistaken his vocation, and will retire into a his native obscurity to mourn over blighted 1 hopes. Alas, poor Brown!” The dissolution i -of the present Parliament will probably , eventuate about the end of the present • month. Members are getting tired, there ■ being no combined opposition to the general I policy of the Ministry. The estimates are ; being gone on with rapidly, and so soon as t supplies are voted, Ministers may consider j themselves safe for another twelvemonths. I There never has been a Ministry in power s possessed of such confidence as the present; , and, if they do not inaugurate great pro ; i jects for the development of industries : throughout the land, then there must be 3 something rotten in the state. The Colony 3 look upon the present Government to devise - means for the encouragement of Immigral tion, Public Works, &c. In fact if a new • era does not dawn upon the Colony now, then is New Zealand for many long years i doomed to great hardships and distress. The only scene really worth chronicling . occurred a few nights ago on the estimates, over the item L7OO for Government Agent. Hawkes Bay. Mr Gillies inquired into thi| item, well knowing that the gentleman who acts in this capacity is Mr Ormond, Superintendent of Hawkes Bay, who was in his place in the House, and'who must have suffered dreadful agony from the sallies of sarcasm levelled atliim hy not only Mr Gillies, but Messrs Rolleston, Hall, and Macau- ' drew. He no doubt brought this array of sharp-pointed and bitter attacks upon himself by tho first and only, speech which. lie delivered this session, wherein he animadverted severely on Superintendents as greedy crews, with other offensive and insinuating remarks. His speech was intended to sting Mr Gillies, who on the finish of the financial statement did unwisely and indiscreetly jump up to assail the Treasurer and his schemes. This gave Mr Ormond the cluq to rebuke Mr Gillies, and however much he might consider he was supporting the Government, they might well declaim “ save us from our friends.” Mr Fox and Mr Vogel came to the rescue, and phid a great panegyric to the great ' tact and, zeal displayed by Mr Ormond in the suppression of the Maori rebellion ; indeed the Premier went as far as-to aver that had it HDfc beenriEorrtbiß gentleman, Te Kooti would still be abroad pillaging and perhaps murdering all and suh- V: dry whom he looked upon as enemies. This" tribute closed, was, to , thtyHouse the only scene this session. "