OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 4018, 12 January 1876, Page 2

OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

(From our own Correspondent. ) January 8. The' return of Sir Julius Vogel and Mr Bryci for Wanganui, which came off last night, closed the elections for the Province of Wellington, with one exception, that of Mnnawatu, which is fixed for Monday. So far, and very unlike most of the other Provinces, there has been no change whatever in the personnel of the membeis returned, and Manawatu is not likely to bo an exception. People at a distance would feel littlfe interest in the details of these elections, but there is one prominent fact in connection with most of them which may be referred to by way of warning and example. That fact is this : the utter want of any definite ruling political opinion amongst the public men of Wellington. They are manifestly guided by a spirit of clannishness or ringism, which leads them to regard political men and measures either from a purely local point of view, or simply as they cross their personal likes or dislikes. The overwhelming difficulty of carrying on Government amid such heterogenous elements may easily be imagined. Messrs Pearce and Hunter, the members for the City, for example, were returned as, and because they were avowed and very strong supporters of the Ministry, and especially of Sir Julius Vogel. Mr Hunter, who had last Session opposed the Abolition Bill, entirely abjuring his previous opinions and prejudices on the subject This gentleman is a respectable settler, pompons and 'opinionated, but really well-inten-tioned in the main, and no one would think of questioning the sincerity of bis change of point, if he himself had not gone a considerable way to case doubts upon it. He was no sooner elected th n he set about moving heaven and earth to secure the return for the Hutt of Mr Fitzherbert, the enemy of the Government and the arch-enemy of Sir Julius Vogel—the enemy, indeed, of all men and of all Governments that cannot be made subservient in one way or another to his purposes. Next, Mr Hunter must seeds labor for the return of Mr Brandon, another high and dry Provincialist, and one of the most useless members in the House, which is saying a great deal. And yet again he made himself conspicuous in his efforts for M> Bunny, of whose antecedents the less said the better. He even tried his hand at Wanganui in favor of the direct opponent of Sir Julius Vogel, but happily there with no success My remarks on Mr Hunter are applicable in a less degree to Mr Pearce, but they do apply to n certain .extent, and to a “ring ’ of the supporters of the two, although they opposed Mr Travers chiefly because he would not be thoroughly reliable as a Ministerial vote. Something perhaps may be set down to friendship and old associations, but singularly enough the concession is all on the one site, and with men occupying prominent positions it has always been underwood that public duty should overrule private feeling; and how they reconcile their ardent support of tho Ministry and Ministerialists the one day, with their equally ardent support of the sworn enemies of tho same Ministry the next, is a problem that no plain man can solve. Vet such is a sample of our Wellington politics, 111 fortune has hitherto waited on the efforts « to repair the broken cable between the two islands. The getting the spare piece of cable into order, and the fitting up of tho necessary apparatus took more time than was at first anticipated, but for some days the preparations have been complete, aud the Luna lying in the harbor waiting for moderate weather to start upon her important expedition. lam glad to say that she steamed away this morning, and unless some unforeseen circumstances arise a few cKys should see the lostoration of our telegraphic communication with you, the want of which has been sadly felt during these stirring election times. •peaking of the weather reminds me of tho fact that up till to day, when we have a pleasant change, qhe weal her for more than a week h j s been of the m vst urgenial character—more i like what one • x v'cls in the biown days of a : far-gone autumn-than - in the golden, summer, but it is to be hoped we are now fairly in for I bright and sunny days. t