WELLINGTON.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2723, 8 November 1871, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) November 4. The great J. C. Brown is waxing uneasy about the Tuapeka Railway, the session of the Supreme Court at Lawrence and other local trifles. Be is beginning to realize that “To the victors belong the spoils.” Poor Brown, he is not the only one sold amongst the Otago team. The overthrow of the Ministry, we are now aware, was considered a settled thing, it was only a question of days or weeks. A fond delusion, the dissipation of which, if it has not made “angels weep,” has had a cognate effect upon spirits of a deeper dye. Your Provincial Treasurer, Mr Bradshaw, preserves well his character as the “ mystery man.” One never knows exactly what he ii at. He is always deep in Blue Books and statistics of every country and colony, hut never favors the House with the result of his labors. One thing to his credit, he is always in the House, and never by any chance misses a division, but has this session most consistently voted on, what I may be allowed as your correspondent to call, the wrong side. He has evidently cast in his lot with Mr Stafford, and is perhaps the most respectable in every way of that gentleman’s supporters. Another Otago celebrity, Mr Shepherd seems either wilfully or by force of circumstances to have taken a rather extraordinary course ; he has come out in the full role of an independent member, “ sworn to no party, of no sect is he.” He has declined to support the Government, an 1 has not been summoned to the councils of the Opposition. His general cheerful practice has been to walk out and decline to commit himself upon important divisions, whilst he never loses a chance of indulging his rather coarse attempts at humor, the laughter raised at which he never fails to appropriate as a high compliment to his abilities. He will join with no party, take no advice, and is utterly impervious to satire and reproof. Probably, in hi* own mind he looks forward to some day when he may lead a party himself. 1 take leave to think that day is far distant. The Legislative Council are kicking up their heels rather more than usual this session, and seem hardly to be able to keep their hands off any measure submitted to them from the House of epresentatives. They are for ever raising questions of privilege as between the two Ho 'Ses, and are fast subsiding into a complete nuisance A very general opi ion prevails amongst members of the House that the Constitution must be altered, and with out any considerable lapse of time, and this troublesome caucus of elderly gentlemen

superseded* by a Council elected by th e people upon a basis to be hereafter dis' cussed. They hare already this session in' terfered, and endeavored either to muddle or throw out altogether every Bill which has been introduced haring for its object the promotion of settlement upon the lauds of the Colony, and are now doing their “little all” to mangle the Government bills, and so, if possible, mutilate the policy of progression which has now in two successive Parliaments received the sanction of the representatives of the people. Quem Dens vult perdere jn'iue dcmentatl It is expected the session will be brought to a close this day week, but it seems to me at the lea«t doubtful. Although all the heavy work, as far as the Mouse is concerned, will have been finished up, consider, able delays may occur owing to the attitude taken by the Legislative Council in muti a f * ing Bills, as conferences between the two Houses will be necessary, and frequently those occupy considerable time. Everybody is wearied out with the late hours and hard work—3 and 4 a.m. day after day ; and the prorogation will be looked upon this year in. deed as a happy release.