OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 3570, 1 August 1874, Page 2

OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

July 25. Your readers will have learned long ere this letter appears in print the details included in the Financial and Public Works Statement, Even yet neither has been properly digested, but the general impresiion in regard to both is satisfactory— eminently so, and that such is the fact is demonstrated by the knowledge that the most envious and dissatisfied of the irregular Opposition can. find nothing either to carp or gird at. If the Governor’s speech was void of, tho Ministerial -tatements are pregnant with interest and satisfaction. Peace, Progress, aud Prosperity are the triple blessings they each convey. The main dan er which the Colony has to consider is not to lose its head. Youth and rashness are almost synonymous terms, and when Jeshunm the younger waxes fat, bo is mare apt to lash out vigorously than Jeshunm Pa. emus. Though we had to wait until this morning to know what details were comprised in the Public Works aud Railway statement, it being utterly impossible to hoar what Air Kichardson said, people in Dunedin and Auckland are as well off for news of this character as residents in the Empire City. As I have before told you, a more vilely constructed house for acoustic pmpeities than the House of Representatives is it would behardimagine When lawyers or doctors have difficult cases to deal with they consult th ir brethren The Colonial Architect should adopt a similar course.

A good story is going therounds at the ex pense of Otago. The Premier, it is well known, has all along been opposed to Provincial borrowing even last year only Provincial pressure induced him to assent to and battle for the carrying of the measure. This year we wanted half a million, which of course was not to be got. It is said that alter much chat and cogitation the Premier asked Mr Macaudrew, “ Have you anythin** to sell ?” whereupon replied Otago’s intendeut, “ The Bluff and Win’.on railway.” “ Will yen sell it at valuation ?” continues Vogel. “Yes,” replies the other. A bargain is struck, and so the difficulty is got over, and Otago’s wants are provided for {vide Financial Statement.) What a short-lived triumph was that of Dunstau’s member, and how unmercifully was ho treated when he thought he could rejoice. In moving the second reading of the Bill, which he had spent “ months of valuable tjmo” in maturing, he lectured the Goldfield members properly, and was particularly severe on bis boa. “friend” Mr J, C. Brown. Thus be spoke in conclusion ; Ibe Bill had met with very large support from the Goldfields Press in Otago, and had received no censure. He had watched the papers sincp last session, and he did not remember having seen a single article adversely criticising

any feature of the Bill, with the exception of one which appeared in a paper published in an agricultural district. The writer of that article accused the framers of the Bill with being grossly negligent of the interests of Otago, in doing away with the existing law with regard to the taking away of laud on the goldfields. But the gentleman who wrote that article was certainly incompetent to express an opinion on the subject, as was proved by another article published in the ‘Tuapeka Times,’ which clearly showed that the clause, as amended, was very much more favorable to the goldfields and to the cause of settlement than ffie clause as it originally stood. That article was never replied to, so that the gentleman who wrote the first must have been conscious that he had made a mistake, and' knew nothing about the matter. Nor only did the Press of Otago support the Bill, but ho found a leading article published in the ‘Nelson Colonist’ of 16th July, strongly in its favor. The article was as follows ;

“The new Bill may not be all that is wanted, and further abridgement mjght be desirable ; but we must be thankful if we can substitute for the thirteen existing laws one even of the present bulk. It will rest with the representatives of the mining districts to sink their political jealousies aud work for the common good. _We have hoard that it was owing to their disunion that no improvement has been made,_ and the slight was put upon them of referring the question of legislation to the Provincial authorities. If what wc have heard is true, the implied censure was well deserved.” But there had been much stronger articles written in support of the Bill, aud censuring the action of certain members, 'last session in

the ‘ Wakatip Mail ’ and ‘ Tuapeka Times,’ in Otago. He trusted that that opposition, which was pot openly expressed last year, but which was carefully used in the lobbies, especially by that—he would not say celebrated, but talented and eloquent member for Tuapeka, who, he understood, had been going about boasting that his efforts prevented the Bill from passing last year, and that he would prevent it passing this year—he trusted that that opposition would not be evinced. If, however, the eloquence of the honorable member for Tuapeka, and his knowledge of mining matters, of which he had given such able proof in the House during the last three years, induced honorable members to take his counsel in preference to his (Mr Shepherd’s), then lie would say to them, “ Throw out the Bill," He trusted, however, that when they remembered the time he spent over the preparation of the measure, merely fyom a conscientious sense of duty, from a desire to benefit his constituents, 1 and • the goldfields at largo, and also considered it upon its merits, they would not throw ft put. He firmly believed that fjie BiU was one which, if passed, would be calculated to confer a lastingbenefit on the mining interest : not only be" cause it would consolidate the geldfields law *i ® VCi T miner to understand it, but also because it would remedy many existing defects; He hoped the opponents of the measure if there were any, would explain their objections iq detail, and would not go to the lobbies, to the smoking-room, or to the streets of Wellington with them, but come forward and meet hjin f.ace to face. If they would honestly point out what they really thought were the defects in the Bill, instead of opposing it by secret cabal and machinations, he would endeavor to meet them, with a desire to remedy the errors of which they complained ; but he trusted there would be no unworthy attempt to throw out a worthy measure, aud one over which he had spent many weeks in the interests of the "oldfiekls. *

“One good tarn deserves another,” and as it had pleased Mr shepherd to say of Mr Pyke that “ no hop. member could give more valuable assistance than the member for VVakatip, if he pleased,” the latter told the ‘ .ouse with the greatest unction that he seconded the Bill with “ great pleasure,” because it was a great improvement-much simpler and less cumbrous—on the Bill of Jafi. session ; and then he went on to say, in a tone that smacked “muchly” of sarcasm—

He did not pledge hiinself to abide by all its details. He believed it could'be so amended in Committee as to render it acceptable to the mining community. He supported the Bill upon another ground. He had such confidence in the Government of this country that he was satisfied they would not have allowed a measure

affecting so important an industry and such a large proportion of the population to hare bean launched unguided upon tue political ocean. He was sure, therefore, that the Bill had their assent and their support, although silent support, and was, in fact, a Government measure ; and as such, and also in deference to the good points in the Bill, he would second the motion. Of course the moment the opportunity offered itself, Mr J. 0. Brown was on his feet to reply to the member for Dunstan, but he contented himself with quoting the Otago .Provincial Council’s proceedings to show that it was m cessary to circulate the Bill before considering it, and Mr J. P. Healey, chairnaan of the Otago Miunrs’ Conference, that the Bill was obnoxious to the miners. “Who’s Healey?” Hunstan’s member inquired a day or two afterwards ; uit on this evening the mention of his name was sufficient ta stir up the wrath of the “ gentle Shepherd,” such as even the Auckland ‘ Star’s ’ attacks had not done, and he launched out upon poor J. C. B. in this style If the honorable member thought it was such a bad Bill, why did he not, in the Goldfields Committee of last session—where he sat day after day without ojiening his month, without

making a single suggestion—endeavor to improve it? Why did not that honorable member—who said that he represented the Goldfields of Otago, and that he (Mr Shepherd) did not who said that he represented the intelligence of Otago, and that he (Mr Shepherd) did not—bring forth his wisdom to effect some amendment and improvement in the Bill which he so much censured ? He was very glad the honorable member had spoken, because Otago would now know the extent of his wisdom. While a man remained silent, he might pass as being a very clever man ; but when he spoke, he could be gauged. He had no doubt the honorable gentleman’s dear constituents—whom he was always talking about- would read his valuable remarks, and would estimate them very much in the way he (Mr Shepherd) did. He trusted they would now have the benefit of the honorable member’s superior wisdom in bringing forward amendmeuts, and pointing out what clauses were objectionable and not for the interests of the goldfields. He trusted the honorable member would come forward iu a manly manner in the Committee, and not oppose the Bill in the lobby, in the smoking-rooms, and iu the streets of Wellington, and also in other places that were not to be mentioned.

How the House roared at the insinuation contained in the last eight or ten words of the quotation I have given; and 1 really thought Mr Viervya would have required medical a’sis*auce. ■ As yon know, the Bill was referred to the Goldfi lis Committee, where it was mercilessly strangled. Its fate had been decided on many hours before ; for one or two members of the committee, who did not care to play the part of executioners, received, a hint chat it would be just as well if they did not atteud. As soon as the committee met, and Mr Curtis took the char, ivlr Brown proposed the resolution which was teh-graphed to you on Friday. Mr Macandrew, Mr O’Neill, Mr Thomson, and of course Mr r-hepherd, were for considering she Bill; but the other seven committeemen would not. It is said Mr Shepherd seemed as if he would never tire of pointing out the good points of his Bdl. To conciliate Mr Steward, he said it met fully the question of riparian rights, but the member tor Waitaki was not to bo convinced. At last, finding that it had been determined to sit upon the Bill, Mr shepherd bounced out of the committee room, and the process of strangulation was completed. Bub Hunstaa’s member had what, 1 presume, be will call his revenge on Friday afternoon, when on the Goldfields Committee bringing up their report, he moved that the bill should be committed next week, and went in for a triangular duel. Mr J, C. Brown he described as a “pillar of goldfields’ wisdom,” and Mr u’Conuor and Mr White as “incapables.” Warming up as he proceeded, he passionately exclaimed • As the representative of a goldfields constituency for seven years he was not disposed to sit down quietly and accept the ruling of seven members of the Goldfields Committee as a means of vetoing legislation by the House. If such things were to continue, he must request that his name should be immediately struck off the Goldfields Committee, and never again be put on that or any other committee, because he looked upon it as a farce for a Bill after passing its second reading, to be defeated by seven gentlemen. And on what grounds ? Because they were not competent to understand

Mr O’Conor gave Mr Shepherd a Roland for Ir.s Oliver. He said no one but Bunstan’s member would have made such a personal attack on any other hon. member, aud charged him with not possessing the confidence of his constituents; and said hia Bill, as originally introduced, was “one of the most absurd, old-fashioned pieces of legislation ” eyef brought into the Assembly. Mr White followed suit, charging Mr Shepherd with being “coarse and vulgar ”; and the latter, when be replied, retorted by saying the member for Hokitika and the Haller better understood the terms “ coarse and vulgar” than any other member of the House, if you except Mr Vogel’s speech the debate was anything but embtatoie, though the House seemed to enjoy it very much. The Premier made a veiy long speech, the burden of which was that is was highly necessary the Government should have some control over the goltUields, Hp does not desire to go the length Mr Stafford wanted to go in 1860, aud assume the entire control; but he thinks—aud rightly so —tjiat the General Government should know more t-han it apes of what is done pader the delegated powers. He iuoliues to the bplief that it would be very advantageous to apply to the goldfields the plau he has lately introduced in regard to immigration : To Ml intents and purposes the goldfields were entirely passed 1 out of the hands of the General Government, and no responsibility could attach to the latter in respect of them. He was not prepared to say it was desirable to make a change, but during the present recess a plan had been adopted in regard to immigration, which was, to his.mind, much more satisfactory, and would have worked well had it been adopted in regard to goldfields matters. 'The position in regard to immigration was that the assistance of the Superintendents was sought in the liiariagemeift of immigration, but the Government continued responsible, and was in a position to lay before the House full particulars of all that took place in reference to immigration:—

And this did the Premier say in respect to the immediate subject of discussion. There was not before the House, nor in the mind of the Government, any evidence of the necessity for a Goldmining jiill to make it desirable in the face of the committee’s report to endeavor to pash it through this session. In coming down with any proposal to amend the goldfields law very great care must be observed—nothing be hastily adopted certainly not adopted haphasard in the middle of a session, Goldfields matters coiild be dealt with by the Provincial Councils, as they were really within the keeping of these bodies. Seeing that such was the case, it would be extraordinary action to alter it, unless with the approval and knowledge of the Province, Mr Yogei th*n recommended the withdrawal oi the Bill, and advised the Goldueida Committee, if it thought a new Goldfields Bill necessary, to employ its time in ■ i raw mg out in specific terms and under different heads any legislature which they couaiuered was called lor, aud promised that if these were put before them m a clearly defined shape, the Government would take action. After the Premier came Mr Macaud ew, who said it now appeared plain that the sooner the House abandoned all attempts to legislate for the goldfields the better, as it was clearly incompetent to do so (whereat Mr Shepherd

said plainly, “ Them’s my sentiments.”) ifour years ago the cry was that goldfieds legislation was necessary ; but he believed himself that levi lation was necessary in the direction of consolidation, and especially in reference to riparian rights. After alittle more talk, Mr Shepherd withdrew his motion, and consented to the discharge of his Bill, And thus has the work of the session been curtailed by several days at least.

The Licensing Bill came on for its second reading on Friday evening, alter the Public Works {Statement was detirer-d. Mr Fox was in his element; and certainly sooke very vigorously. x