WELLINGTON.

Evening Star, Issue 3013, 15 October 1872, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(from our own correspondent.)

October 7. As tbe next mail will not proceed southwards for a few days, 1 will keep tbia letter open so as to furnish your readers with any fresh phase in the present position of pa.ties, as mostly all other matters are absorbed in the consideration of .the next turn of the cards. Before closing, however, I may as well allude to another case of privilege, in which Mr Harrison, member for Greymouth and editor of the Wellington Independent, and Captain Holt, private secretary to Mr Brogden, are concerned. A Committee of Privilege has been appo nted, including Sir D. Monro, late Speaker of the Mouse, and Mr OMlorke, Chairman of Committees, to investigate into the circumstances of the case--tlje Committee to have power to take evidence upon oath, and to send for papers and r. cords ; committee to ieport within a week. The newspapers by last mail-will have put you in possession of the facts. It is a pity that the eccentric member for Hokitika, Mr White, should have been so persistent in endeavoring to get Mr Harrison to speak, whilst cries resounded from all sides for Mr Harrison not to do so, seeing that the matter was Judicially before the House and the Committee suggested.' Mr White, however, does not sail in the same political boat, and is rather violent in his pavtizanship. Mr Gillies was also injudicious in his remarks, when he said, “the subject should never have been brougnfc before the House,” seeing that it was by the advice of tbe Speaker that it was done. He thus cast reflection on tlio Speaker, for which he was properly brought to task ; and the excuse he afterwards made in saying it was no intention on his part to cast i ejections on the Speaker, but that in the remarks he made he meant to apply to the member for Greymouth, did not mend his case in the minds of members, as be showed a bias against Mr Han Eon. To say the least, ho was indiscreet. Several members reminded the Hqus{? that this was not a party question, and they should not make it appear so. The matter has left a painful impression on the mind of the House, but it will not be right or proper to make any remarks upon it, until the facts are brought out by investigation of tbe Committ&. Jt wilj. oppn UP a future question, whether railways should be retained by Government, or placed in the hands of capitalists or companies. October 9. In both Houses, to-day, the resignation of the Ministry was announced, Pe <ce to their ashes ! for such an incongruity of mind has never yet been scon sitting on the Government benches. The memoranda which had passed between Ministers and His Excellency shows the ardent disposition to retain tbe grasp of power on the part of Stafford and Go. His Excellency states that the country has not spoken out sufficiently between tbe contending parties ; besides, >be policy of the one party is that of the other, and, under the circumstances, he sees no necessity why a dissolution should be granted. Altogether, the corresp:ndence shows that His Excellency has stated the case on broad grounds, and that it cannot be gainsayed. To the doubt expressed by His 4 ExceHe icy “ that no supplies w'culcl be granted unless Mini-iters i\ signed,” the Government had the hardihood to say that they had no don t the H use would gr;.nt supplies, and asked if, in the event o supplies being granted. His Excellency would give the dissolution. His Excellency repli cl to ibis that ;.e would give no promise. Ministers, therefore, were placed in a corner ; and, it having come to the knowledge of their party that at a meeting of the Opposition in the for. noon it had been resolved to grant no supplies to the tlnn c.ccupmts of the Government benches, they thought discretion to be the bust part of valour; hence their retirement. In Mr Staffoid’s usualnasty way—when checkmated he declined to answer the question put by Mr Eox, “ Whether the Premier bad recommended any member being sent for”; a strong contrast to that of Mr Fox, who announced to th i House that he had recommend d Mr {Stafford to be sent for. Should Mr Stafford, with two or three cf his present associates, grasp the reins of power again, the House may rest assured that tyranny and arrogance would reign supremo.