WELLINGTON.

Evening Star, Issue 3931, 30 September 1875, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

[By Telegbaph.]

(From our own, Correspondent.) Wellington. September 30. After the result of the division respecting tho Qualification of Electors’ Bill was nniKunceil last night, Air Sheehan, amid much laughter, asked iho Government if they intended to propose an adjournment to enable them to consider their position; although he had moved the amendment for throwing out the Bill, he did not expect to be sent for. The ‘ Tribune’considers “the rejection ofthe Qualification of Electors’ Bill a blunder and worn* than a crime. It was evident from the outset that hostility on one side and indiffercnceon the other had marked the Bill as their own. Truth to tell, there is not at present in the House of Representatives—save in the case cf Air Reynolds and a few enthusiastic spirits—any wish for electoral refoim. Some of the members an well content with things as they are, others are afraid of the)' know not what, and not a few care nothing at ail about the matter. The carious part of the debate was the opposition given to the Bill by the Alaori members of the Government. It was quite refreshing to bear them pitching into Mr Reynolds -as the letc non' of Mnoridom, and the spectacle showed how well they had been drilled into their part by their friends who talk Alaori on the Opposition side. It is just possible that efforts may be made to reintroduce a Bill for the extension of tlie franchise before the sesdon close.”

The ‘ Pi st’ has a v<ry savage leader and is particularly severe on the Opposition. It says : —“lt sesmed almost to be treated as a party question. A few we ks ago tberc was {.real, talk on lint side of the Hcime about the rights of the people, liberty of the subject, incidence of taxation, and being afnrd to trust the p. oj)!e. AVas this all bunku i!' We are almost inclined to believe ro when we look at hat night’s division list. The Opposition actually u ed the contemplated ex' on Con of the fr incline as a powe ful rr, urn nt-as. imhed, it was—why the question of Con.-ti tutiomil changes should not be ilealt with by the present Parliament, yet the qumV.on of constitutional changes having been practically relegated to the constituencies, the Opposition voted against the extension of the franchise. We have no patience with inconsistency of this, kind ; we tell those on Loth sides of the House who voted against the Bill, or failed to use tiie m-ans at their command to carry it through, that they have made a great mistake. The people will not he played with, or consent simply to he used on occasions as a kind of bogie,” Referring to Mr Reid’s Bill to amend Mr Bradshaw’s Act, the ‘Post’ says;—“ Air Reid is understood to be nedng in the interests of the Aiosyiel AV oollen Factory (Jo. Some few weeks ago it is known cm; of the parties most intimately connected with the Company was up here trying to induce the Government fo> bring in a measure similar to the one now fathered hy Air Reid, but the Ministers declined to commit themselves, and so ungracious a task has devolved upon Air Reid.” In the discussion on the Estimates Air Reid drew attention to the want of Court accommodation at Outrun and the smallness of the sa’ary paid io the Resident Magistrate at the Taieri. >lr Reynolds answered that in the new public buildings to be built at Outram provision was intended to be made for a Court house. Air Bowen said if a representation to that effect was made to the Government they would be prepared to increase the Magistrate’s salary. 'J he Public Petitions Committee reported ,r Dr O’Donoghue’s petition that the Government should cither come to some arrangement with him or allow him to sue. On the third reading of the Abolition Bill, Air Maeandrew desired to say one single sentence before the question was put. On behalf of his constituents, on behalf of one-third of -he population of the IT evince of which lie had the honor to be elected head, he desired in one word to solemnly protest agar st the passage of this Act—an Act being passed and without any warning, without the people’s consent, an Act which, s > fan as the people of the Middle Island were concerned—so far as the people of Otago were concerned—was pa.-sail without any just cause for it, an Act which deprived the people of that Province of institufous under which they had flourished and pr. spared —hail flourished to an extent in a short time which he believed to be wholly unparalleled in the history rf the world. He denounced the whale proceedings as utterly unreasonable, tyrannical, and unworthy of any representative assembly. (Cheers.) A proceeding which, unless he had greatly mistaken the spirit, of his fe’low-colonists throughout New Z iahiml, tlm people would not countcuancc, ami to which they would show a sense of resentment that would, he believed, result in the Assembly being crushed into the dust.— (Cheers.) lie felt very sirongly on the subject—so strongly that lie could hj udly trust hinr-oif to sav wh t ho would like to say for Ear of F-ing tempted to use lUipiirhauiontaty language; therefore, lie should content himself with, recording his solemn p.olest against the proceeding.— (cheers.) _'j he Otago Waste Lands Act Amendment Bill passed through Committee with amendincuts. It was opposed strenouvly by Sir J. L. G. Licuanlson during the c mi'sc- of its consideration by the Council. in Committee that gentleman spoke with much feeling on behalf of tlm' poor iL.rm On the Ah clause, which pro. po.-.ed to substitute Is for 2s lid as the price of land obtainable on the deferred payment system, a division was taken, and resulted bi the amendment being oat vied by g huge imjoritv. As Sir J. L. C, Richardson ’had been contend* rug for u cheaper rate as a vital principle, he doclige l Ip offer iurthev opposition to the Bill, contenting himself with recording his opinion that, as the Bill now stood, settlement in Ola-o was • li’eclua !y stopped. The principal speakers wore Mr V.'atrrh,.use, wiio^ thought nib,lag the price to Lff per uoro Would check capitalists and not Lava a deterrent effect upon men pf moderate means ; Mr Ffolmeiq who considered U would prevent duuimynm ; and Mr Ackhuul, who held that tko deferred payra* nt system wan a mistake.