WELLINGTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 169, 22 July 1867, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(from ode own correspondent.) 17th July, 1867. This letter is written in the midst of great excitement iu the political world, for the rival armies of Government and Opposition are drawn up in battle array. Last night the heavy artillery commenced to play, and to-night they are expected to close in the death, struggle. To an outsider it is deeply interesting to watch the game, and to speculate on what will be the next move. The rival chiefs appear to be equal to the occasion. A harmlesslooking, carefully-worded notice of motion was placed on the order paper hy Mr Vogel, the leader of the attacking party, aud was met by the Government chief with a still more cleverly -expressed nmendment; cartridges were served out and fired, some of them ball cartridge, others very blank, and to-night we expect to see the result of this great battle. Members may say what they please, it has particularly since the Government brought forward their ameudment, become a purely personal question as to the fitness of the present Superintendent of Otago to hold the gold-fields powers, and by the vote tonight the House will express its opinion whether or not he is a fit and proper man. It will be a hard-fought battle, and if* the majority of members agree with the member for NewtOD, that Mr Macandrew simply committed "a slight irregularity," the Government, I suppose, must fall. The general feeling appeals to be that, had they adopted the bolder course of disallowing the election, Ministers would have been backed by a majority of the House. As it is, the Opposition have put such a coloring on the action taken by the Government as to make it appear an attempt to curtail the powers of Superintendents generally. The debate haviug been adjourned on the motion of Mr Macandrew, he will reopen it to-night, aud it will be interesting to hear his rejoinder to the stinging attacks made on his character, more especially by the member for Coleridge. It is amusing to see the large amount of button-hoieiug that goes on out of doors ; any unfortunate member who is supposed to be wavering, is pounced upon, talked to, argued with, bullied or cajoled, until his life, or his vote, must be a burden to him. I shall add a line on the close of the debate giving the result of the division. I can do no more as the mail closes at 9 to-morrow morning. On dit that if the Ministry are defeated, Dr. Featherston will be Premier. The weather, lam happy to say, has cleared a little of late, aud one can walk about now without floundering through the mud. There are some fine buildings in Wellington, the first place among which must be assigned to the Roman Catholic Cathedral, which is now undergoing repairs and additions, and will, when finished, be a very great ornament to the town. The Anglican Cathedral is certainly not ornamental on the outside, but the interior is well finished ; the twelve stained glass windows in the chancel having a beautiful effect. I was much surprised to fiud

there that relic of the barbarous ages — a clerk — whose shouting of the responses in a most irreverent tone of voice does not add to the solemnity of the service, nor does it conduce to the pleasure you may be deriving from a well-argued sermon to have your atteution distracted by seeing or hearing this official making a pounce upon some unfortunate boy, whose love of play may be too strong for his taste for sermons, and standing him in the middle of the aisle as a warning to similar culprits. 10.30 a.m. The House has just adjourned for a quarter of an hour, after some very fine speeches, but the most telling speech has just been delivered by the PostmasterGeneral ; the question has been put by him in the most forcible manner — Are you going to disgrace yourselves and the colony by statiug that you have confidence in Mr Macandrew, a man against whom such evidence exists as that now on the table ? July 18, 12.30 a.m. The House has just divided, the Government having beeu carried by four votes only — 28 to 24.