WELLINGTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 85, 24 June 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

♦ (I'UOM OVR OWX CJBRE3I'OXDKXT. THE LATE FIBE. A good idea of the extent and fierceness of the lale Hie is to be obtained from the fact that although it occurred on Sunday evening, and nominally was put out then, still the ruins were smouldering actively ou the succeedin j -Thursday evening, notwithstanding the copious showers of rain that had fa'len in the meantime, iu addition to the deluge of water poured on them by the firemen. It is unlikely that the Opera House, which cost £ll,U<.iO, will be rebuilt; | at any rate at present, as the Company has not proved a successful one from a, business point of view. The number of shops and buildings totally destroyed is about twenty-five, and the gross loss is estimated at something like £100,000. The saving of To Aro House was little short of a miracle, but was a most fortunate matter, as if tliathad gone, nothing but blowing up several places could have saved Culm-street. The work of re build ing these fine structures, is expected to be a rather slow one, as owing to the stringency of our present building regulations, all the now erections must be iu brick, stono, or

concivfcj, and this circumstance, together with tlu 1 - present tightness ol' money, will prove 1 a barrier to many. Tiin: nun eujctiox. Sir Williau Fi<aherbert ha3 resigned his seat in the l.ovrei' 1 loii^e. l\vo local gentlemop are seeking the honor of succeeding him— 'lenry Jacksdn, and Thomas Mason. Tlio frfrmer name is familiar (o all -your readers as the lute Chief Surveyor of the Province of Wellington, and the latter is a highly-respected Quaker gen'lemnH, who is now Chairman of the Hutt County Conneil The Chronicle, the organ of the Governtnent, *e'come3 Mr Jaiksonn* a pronounced Liberal, but if the Chronicle" thinks that Mr Jackson will be a supporter of the present Government, I am afraid a very bitter j disappointment will bo the result, as, con-. i sidering certain little matters which have recently trampired between Mr Jackson and the Government, I should expect him to be an Oppositionist, of the very first water, and that from deep-rooted motives, too. THE ATTOBNEY-GIiNERAL. The Mem. Mr Stoilt contemplates resigning shortly, on account of 1 tile large amduht \ of wn'k incident upon his Parliamentary and Government duties, compelling him to seriously neglect his dngagdmeilts with his , busiilesi partner. Mr Sievwright. Great [ pressure is being brought to bear, uiging . iiiin ? to retail his seat ami posil : ."n, but lie lias not yet decided that ho will do so. , Mr Stout's resignation would be a loss to 1 the codntiy, us although he in comparatively a young man. and has only sat in Parlia- , ment during tvvo session^ still he hts shown ' himself to be possessed ot far more than [ aver ige ability, aM(^ has wo i the esteem . and respect of the whole House. 2 DISSOLUTION. ' The opinion U gaining 1 ground here that 1 on tile meeting of Parliament the Govern 2 inens will Hud the Opposition a fow toi * many for them, and that jf^they can only 0 manage to get the Electoral Bilfand a Bij] 3 for the ru-dist,ribution of seats safely through, Q they will apply for a dissolution, and proa b.ibly get it. H In this case, Wellington expects to have 0 tln'ee scats at ht*r disposal, neither one oi 1 which .Mr Barton i3 likely to occupy. Mi 0 Hunter will dbubt'ess come forward again e and probably Mr Fearce; Mr Walter Johiv *' ston is also expected to run in the Catholic 5 interest, and doubtless the " Working Man'f Friend " — Mr Hutchison, will pnt up. ] n hear that Dr Buller will Depressed to stand ! " but I think he know.s of a more likely fielc ? a little furl her off. However, lime will tell