WELLINGTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 183, 8 July 1854, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

We have received by the " Eagle" files of the New Zealand Spectator to the 28th of June, and of the Wellington Independent to the 24 th of June. The mail from Wellington never brings us the latest number of the latter paper. We regret it the more in this case, as the only event of any importance since our last intelligence—the election of Mr. Fox to a seat in the Provincial Council —took pluee on the 26th ult. We are indebted to the Spectator for an account of the election. Mr. Fox was returned without opposition for the town of Wellington, Mr. Bethune having resigned his seat on his departure for England. Very little interest seems to have been taken in the proceedings, a very small number of electors being present. In thanking the electors Mr. 3?ox took the opportunity of making a declaration of his political principles. He presented himself as the representative of the " Settlers' Constitutional Association," and pledged himself to the advocacy of Responsible Government, and of the freedom of the Provincial Government in " all matters relating to its exclusive welfare" from the control of the General Assembly. In doing so, he took" occasion to censure Col. Wynyarcl's address in very strong language, regarding it in the light of a "declaration of war thrown down to the Provincial 'Government." An observation which he makes upon the subject of the price of land is very remarkable, as tending to show how difficult it is for the advocates of a low price to maintain their opinion in the face of any large sale of land. The first alarm shakes their principles. " He believed the leading principle was so to administer the waste lands as to bring them into speedy cultivation and occupation, whether Ivy rich or poor it mattered not. He would not commit himself as to the method, at present he believed a low price to be the right onej but by and bye it might be the very means to prevent the poor man from obtaining cheap land. Tie thought already he saw a little cloud rising, 'one'millionaire hud bought 48,000 acres in a Province, another* millionaire it ■was'said intended to invest most largely in the 'purchase of waste lands in this' Province, so that they might suffer from the evils of an absentee community." '; We believe that this Province sees its way to a shelter ere the " little cloud " becomes a deluge. On the subject of the election of the Speaker in the House of Representatives the Independent remarks:— " We were gratifield to learn that Mr. Clifford, on the motion of Mr. Bartley, the Speaker of the Auckland Provincial Council, seconded by Mr. Fitzgerald, the Superintendent of Canterbury, was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives without opposition. It was a graceful act on the part of the representatives of these two Provinces thus to unite to do honour to Wellington. It will, we feel assured, not be forgotten by the representatives of the latter; and it, moreover, augurs well, if the members are left to themselves, for the harmony and success of their future proceedings." His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington went up to Auckland in the " Nelson " to take his seat in the House of Representatives. The " Nelson" arrived at Wellington on the 21st, and sailed on the 22nd ult. for Auckland.