WELLINGTON

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 116, 18 May 1863, Page 3

WELLINGTON

[From a Correspondent.

27th April. There is little to note in the Empire City. The Provincial Council are in Session, hut being chiefly composed of out-and-out supporters of the Government, his honor Isaac the first may rest easy. In his opening address he announced that some land has been acquired from the natives during the recess, which is so far satisfactory. The Land Purchase Department was the one above all others on which the Wellington members of the General Assembly were wont to display their talent for criticising ; now that “ his honor” is the Land Purchase Commissioner, he does not omit to inform his obedient commons that “ native title is in some cases so complicated that it is doubtful if the purchases can be concluded within a reasonable time,” and that caution and prudence are necessary', as land cannot be had so easily as other merchandise, &c. He also intimates that deposits have been paid on some blocks which are not likely to he ceded at present, another method of working the “potato planting” system for which Mr. M’Lean has been often taken to task by the three Fs and their allies. Yerily if landpurchasing is so difficult now with the alliace existing between the “missionary party” and the Land Purchase Commissioner, what was it when the missionary party and the Provincial Government were leagued againsi the Land Purchase Commissioner and the (General) Government by whom he was employed. However, the office of Land Buyerbeing held by the Superintendent is an improvement on the old system, in which jealousy and often covert opposition, neutralized the labors of the officer who happened not to be in the good graces of the leading men in the Provincial Government.

From Otago we have the result of the election ; the hon. John Hyde Harris, Esq., M.L.C., is the chosen man. A number of electors have presented a purse to Major Richardson, but he has in his own manly, straightforward way, declined to accept it for himself, as some of the donors were political opponents who had been (in his opinion) more severe than necessary in their criticisms on himself and his administration. The major has intimated that the money will bo applied to endow a scholarship, than which no better use could be made of it. Last Escort, 13,0000z5.

28tli April. Per Lady Bird we have Auckland and Taranaki news to the 22nd inst., hut nothing of importance. Governor Grey having reoccupied the Tataraimaka block, it only remains for him to secure the consent of the conquerors to its peaceable occupation, an event to be expected ; a few hundreds judiciously expended in all probability will secure this end. Then the believers in the peace-at-any-price may sing a Te Deum in honor of Sir George Grey, and John Bright may accept iiiui as a most experienced member of the fraternity that believe in “ paying for peace, rather than “ fighting to secure it.” Of course the Maories do not want to fight ; only let them do as they please, and never seek redress for injuries inflicted, and they will be only too happy to continue the present delightful state of affairs indefinately ,• but interfere with them in any way, and they are “ready, aye ready” for anything you please.

The Lord Ashley arrived without the mail, hut the Storm Bird being expected, I detained this. The Lady Bird from Manukau and Taranaki, and the Storm Bird from Otago both arrived last night, but there is no word of the mail. Nothing important

from Taranaki, the natives maintaining a sort of sullen reserve, and doubtless waiting for the pakeha to fire the first shot, an event not very likely to happen just at present.