WELLINGTON.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1647, 31 May 1879, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

[PBOH OUB OWN COBEESPONDKNT.j May 26. Mr Drar.sficld’a resignation of the Mayoralty, caused by his having to compound with his creditors, and the consequent necessity of electing a new Mayor, has fortunately given us something to talk about lately besides bankruptcies. To-morrow is tbe election day ( and ere this reaches you it will bo known who is the winning man. The candidates are the irrepressible Mr William Hutchison, who has been so often beaten as a candidate for the honor of a seat in the House of Representatives, and Mr George Hunter. Mr Hutchison goes in for being the working man’s friend, and as such is supported with great vehemence by the “ Evening Chronicle.” All the other papers support Mr Hunter. It is to ray mind a great pity we cannot get a better Mayor than either of these gentlemen, Mr Hutchison ia undoubtedly a clever man —at any rate lie is a clever speaker—but whether rightly or wrongly, he is not a man whom many people trust, except Presbyterians with a strong Scotch accent. He is shifty, plausible, vindictive, and too fond of toadying to the masses, which latter is as much a vice as toadying to individuals of position. Still he is an energetic man, and has a considerable capacity for work. Mr Hunter, on the other hand, though wn- 1 doubtedly a very honorable ' man, is old, crotchetty, not capable of much work, not possessed of much ability, though ho has been and is a very good colonist, and is a very kindhearted and generous man. He is a man also of very progressive views as regards improvements and public works. In fact he is perhaps a little too fond of discounting the future by advocating loans. Should Mr Hutchison he relumed as Mayor, it may bo taken for certain that he will stand lor the city at the next general election, and with every prospect of success. Wellington, as far as its represent ition goes, will then have sunk as low as Auckland.

Referring again to the election, I venture to predict that the result will not show a great majority either way. If Mr Hutchison is beaten this time by anything like a decent majority, he will not have the effrontery to stand for'the city again. However, he has audacity enough for anything. The only other matter of much interest lately has been the Easby- Anderson episode. Anderson has been committed for trial, while the cross case against Easby has been adjourned. In all probability the Magistrate will rid himself of all responsibility by committing Easby too. Of course, according to Easby ’a account of it, the assault was a brutal one, but it is only fair to suspend judgment till the jury have decided. Anderson’s version is certainly both a plausible and a po-sible one. Since I last wrote you there has been a great many bankruptcies and deeds of arrangement, but none of much importance save that of Mr Dransfield, and Mr McOredie, the ironmonger. Mr Dransfield carries on his business and compounds for 15s in tho £. McCredie’s creditors have not yet decided what to do. Ho had only just oporedhis magnificent new shop at the old club house. It was tho great expense of building this, besides his going into speculations outside his business which have brought him to grief. Messrs Eddie and Jack, the wine and spirit merchants, have also assigned, but they are carrying on their business as heretofore under the supervision of the trustees, and there is every probability of their paying everyone in full, Like many others, their troubles have been occasioned by land speculations outside their business.

Very little business indeed is being done, and money ia still very scarce, though I am sanguine that there will be no more large failures here. The news about tho wool sales gives great satisfaction. The Manawatu sawmillers have just begun to feel the effects of the depression. They have reduced the price of timber, and also the rate of wages, very greatly. Of course they are laying the blame of it all on the removal of the timber duty preventing their competition with American and Tasmanian millers, whereas they ought to blame their own greed.