WELLINGTON.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1613, 22 September 1874, Page 366

WELLINGTON.

(FEOM OUE COEBESPONDENT.) [BY ELECTEIO.TELEQEAPH.I ! ' 21st September. The Wellington portion of the Seventy Mile Bush has hitherto been open for sale, but the restriction has now been withdrawn by the'Provincial Government, and the land can be selected at ten shillings an acre under the old land regulations. ■ Sir Donald M'Lean has no present intention of addressing his consiituents. The following Wellington letter was held over from our last:— s [FEOM A COEBESPONDENT.] , - 13th September. The curtain has fallen on the last act of our annual dramatic political performance, and the actors have one by one stolen away, until only the few stock, hands remain to rehearse their parts for another season. The season, can hardly be said properly to have closed until the chief tragedian took his departure in the Luna last Saturday morning. He chose the small dark hours of the day to steal away, united and unobserved, for that bourne from which no one knows when he may return. Auckland first—SydneyLondon—to perhaps his old comfortable quarters in Charing Cross—upstairs in that well-known Company's Hotel—until he has determined by circumstances what his future course of action shall beeither to return to the place he has left in. the dark—join a money changing firm at home after negociating the four million loan—obtaining a seat in the House of Commons, and possibly serve in some capacity under the Jewish Conservative leader. The betting in Wellington is about five to one that the Hon. Julius Vogel will not be seen in New Zealand in time for the next opening of Parliament, and perhaps after all, the affairs of the Colony can as well be administered in his absence. When Sir Donald M'Lean was absent in Australia for several months, Maoridom suffered not—the peace of the Colony was not imperilled, and all the affairs under the control of the Native and Defence Minister went on smoothly as though the Makarini had never left our soil —and, doubtless, although Julius Vogel may leave New Zealand, and be absent for a year or more, the course of events will march along evenly as if he were here—the Governmental machinery will run as smoothly. No new policy has to be brought forward which has not been initiated administration, and attention to details being all that is necessary for the Government to achieve. The return of the Premier will depend, there is little doubt in my mind, on two considerations. Should there be an opening for him at home in a mercantile or money-lending house—a knighthood—a seat in the House of Commons, he will remain there, and exercise his influence over New Zealand from St. Stephen's. Should such not be the case he will return to New Zealand, abolish next session Provincialism in both Islands; annul the Compact of 1856; make all land fund Colonial revenue, and under one Government administer the affairs of the Colony. Either role affords plenteous scope for ambition ; but I believe our Premier would prefer to have his influence felt and appreciated in the Imperial rather than a Colonial Parliament. The same motive that carries home Sir James Fergusson also carries home the Colonial Treasurer. The ties of blood among the Jewish race are closer than those of political partisanship. And here let me speak plainly, from a good knowledge of the debating power the Imperial Parliament possesses, that there our Premier would take a stand and hold his own better perhaps than any representative man the Colonies have yet sent home, save, perchance, Robert Lowe. There is no one in New Zealand with whom the Colonial Treasurer can be measured—he appears in Parliament like the leading tragedian in a tragedy, and tho play next session, should he bo absent, will be like that of Hamlet with the part of Hamlet left out. Not an intimation was given by the Premier to the Parliament of his intention to proceed either to Sydney or Great Britain ; I am in doubt whether his fellow-ministers knew the fact to a certainty a week before he left Wellington; but this I would not positively assort. It should be clearly borne in mind by all classes of tho community that no fresh necessity has arisen for the Premier's absence from the Colony since the prorogation of Parliament—that the same causes which induce his present course of action existed, and were known to him, when members wore dismissed to their, homes, and that ho gave them no intimation of his intentions, but has taken the lino of action ho has determined on without tho sanction of Parliament or the Colony, by virtue of his irresponsible wil* —verifying tho old adage, "Jeshurun waxod fat and kicked." There are many people in Now Zoaland who think as your correspondent does, that the Premier has no right to absent himself for twelve or moro months from the Colony without acquainting tho Parliament of his intention, or resigning his office. If his presence can bo dispensed with for twelve months it surely can bo dispensed with altogether. Objoctors exclaim—" Who is going to fill his place?" Tho answer is plain | if his presence is not necessary for twelve months it Barely can bo done without entirely. The Promior ovidontly looks upon Now Zoaland as a runholcler does upon his stations. Wool is high, and money is abundant with the wealthy squatter; he listens to the voice of his wife and tho whispering tones of ohange and pleasure; so one day ho culls his various overseers together, and informs them of his intention to proceed to Europe for a year, or more ; and issues his instructions to his representatives individually and oolleotuelv : so many stock sheep to be sold from one station—so many to be weeded from another—what half-breeds wo to bo \\\\w duoed—how many aro to bo kept on tho different rune, and all tho detail for offi-

cient management. The Premier calls his Cabinet together, and after some slight fencing says bluntly: " Gentlemen, I am going to Sydney, and thence to England. I hope to be back in time for next session. I shall try. I shall arrange the telegraph business in Sydney, and negociate the four-million loan in London. Of course, M'Lean, you'll look "after the Maoris. You can have what money you want; so I need have no trouble ou that score. Atkinson, look sharp after Featherston; take none of his nonsense; if he proves refractory telegraph to me—either Sydney, Galle, or London, and I will put the matter right. Reynolds, you have not much responsibility, only departmental work, and in that you need no instruction ; you know your work, and will do it. Richardson, do what you like about public works, only push them, and give the immigrants employment. Pollen will preside in my absence; and I hope you will have a prosperous and contented time while I'm away. Wire me once a-week, Pollen, and let every Minister write me fully every mail. I trust, gentlemen, I have made all my wishes plain to you; that you understand me thoroughly; and I have the pleasure to wish you a very good morning." In some such manner the Premier treated the Colouy, and in some such language his colleagues. This is the one fact of paramount importance at the present time, and I therefore make no apology to your readers for descanting on it at such length. It should be viewed in every possible aspect; possible' and almost impossible contingencies should be imagined to occur, in which the presence of the Premier would be almost indispensable. Mr Russell is in Sydney, arranging the San Francisco Maii ServiceCould he not also arrange about the cable between New South Wales and our shores ? Dr Featherston is in London as our AgentGeneral; could he not place our fourmillion loan on the London market? if not, he should be recalled incontinently. There is no one in New Zealand at all acquainted with Parliamentary affairs, but knows that the Premier is about the hardest-working man in New Zealand) that he wants a rest from his incessant labor, and that had he stated such a fact to Parliament a large majority of both Houses would have approved of his taking a holiday ; but it is this wandering away on important negotiations without authority of any description that is inimical to Constitutional Government, opposed to the liberty and rights of the people and Parliament; affording a precedent and practice that should be put down, with a high hand. The weather has been something fearful the past week—perhaps worse than it has been all the winter; and there seems no chance of any speedy change: rain and wind, and wind and rain alternating daily. People walk on the wharf with fear and trembling, both for their hats and lives. Some of our ships have had narrow escapes on entering our harbor, in illustration of which I may cite the case of the Strathnaver. She was in danger of shipwreck on Barrett's reef until one of our local steamers took her in tow. A claim for salvage to the amount of £IO,OOO has been made, and will afford cause for employment of lawyers. A singular incident cropped up m this case on Saturday last. By the regulations of the Admiralty the claim for salvage has to be nailed to the mainmast of the vessel rescued from danger. When the Wellington authorities proceeded to nail on the citation, they found the ship's masts were iron, aud were unable to fulfil the Admiralty enactments. Both the Times and the Tribune have been sorely exercised about what they term "sensational telegraphing." They termed the wiring of the fact that Mr Vogel was going home after Parliament was over " sensational " at the time, and doubtless it was a sensation to them, but it was nevertheless true. They scouted the idea of Vogel bringing down a measure for the consolidation of the Northern Provinces ; and yet it proved true, although the fact was wired nearly a fortnight before he brought down the resolutions to the House, aud so with several things and measures that have taken place during the session. Startling political changes are doubtless sensational—how can they be otherwise ?~but when they prove true, all the odium of sensationalism that the world can cast upon their senders avails not; as it only proves that one man has means of knowing more, and obtaining earlier information than others. When the news was wired through New Zealand that the Premier was going home after the session was over, the statement was met by blunt contradiction. Where are the perverters of the truth now? The Times and the Tribune are both behind their day, so their irate castigation passes away, iuducing pity at their querulousness, from their being uuable to discern tho signs of the times, or compete with those who occasionally can see behind tho scenes. The Post on Saturday eveniug stated the existence of a rumor in well-informed circles that prior to Mr Yogel's departure uot only had Mr do Pastoral* of the Governor's household, been provided for in tho Native Office, but that the Governor's brother, aud his Excellency's chaplaiu, were also to reap some of the spoils pertaiuing to office. The Times this moruiug does not contradict the assertion, so there are probably grounds for belief in its being well based; Tho appoiutineut of the first-named of these gentlemen to tho Native Office over the heads of more able and deserving men has caused no little heart-burning and auuoyauoe; but it is only an appointment aualagous to one made bug siuee, where a man uot koowiug a word of the Maori lauguage was sent into the iuterior of tho Proviuee of Auoklaud to purchase native lands—an interpreter paid by tho Goverumeut, acOompauyiug him. It matters not how tit or how unfit au aspirant may may bo for the billet he solicits* interest is th» only thiug that is taken iuto consideration—unless a mau is mischievous and requires to bo silenced*