WELLINGTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 208, 1 September 1881, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(Fiom our own correspondent.) j [By Telegraph.] Wednesday, 10-30 p.m. The Post to-night, referring to Mr Hall's | declaration that no compromise was possible and that none would be attempted, but that; ' the Government would proceed with no 1 j other busint S3 until the Representation Bill! I was pissed by tbe House, remarks :— " This is phin speaking enough. The commander of tbe invading force has burnt his trans ; port ships and retreat is now impossible/ There is no middle course between victory; and humiliation, and in either caee wecansee : no hopeful prospect for tbe Government .; Victory wonld be as disastrous in its eonaequetces as defeat, nay more so. By pressing on this Representation Bill in the way they are doing, Ministers are simply rushing headlong to destruction. ■I'bey are beingmade use of by irreconcileable foes wbo are only waiting until the Government are fairly and irretrievably committed to a; fatal blunder to ' turn and rend" them. It is no Parliamentary majority that is forcing: through this measure, but a mere tern-: porary coalition of the flimsest character: which will fall to pieces directly tbe end nirued at is fairly attained, leaving the Ministry exposed and defenceless to the attack of the bitter enemies whose hollow friendship they now enjoy, but wbo then will have as allies the alienated friends whom tbe Government, with their aid, areendeavoring to crush. There was no earthly reason why tbia wretched Representation Bill should have been rushed through at all cost 3 and hazard,; there wes no need for il jo be pag3ed until the Other and more pressing business had been disposed of. It was no surprise that the Nelson members resisted tbeir threatened disfranchisement. Everybody knew, and it was openly stated, that all the forms of the House would be exhausted in resisting such a wholesale injustice attempted to be perpetrated by the mere brute force of overwhelming members, yet, in spite of this foreknowledge, the Government voluntarily courted the menaced blockade. Why did they not, at least, get the Railway Bill and other urgently-needed measures safely out of the way before bringing in tbis miserable apple of discord ? Nay, when they found the intensity of feeling on the part of their erstwhile staunch friends— the burning sense of injustice and wrong entertained by them, and their determination to defend their constituents against that wrong to the last extremity— *hy did not the Government, with the irresistible majority we are told they have at their back on this question, display the magnanimity and generosity which should ever be the "companions of strength ? They migbt with excellent grace have sought to soothe the growing irritation by postponing the Bill for a period and endeavoring in tbe interim tol devise Borne moderate concessions, which' they admit were once practicable, and which might easily have been granted, so as to satisfy every reasonable claim on both -ides. But Ministers refused to be wise in time ;' they have listened to evil councillors like Rehoboam of old, and they persist mi rushing madly to their doom," The Speaker's adoption of the new form! of procedure gave the death, blow to the last; and most troublesome form of stonewalling discovered by "the Ne'son obstructionists.! It was intended by thera to raise the ques-' tion of privilege before be left the Chair on the House; resuming to-night, but be disreJ garded the cries of " Privilege," and marched solemnly out of the Chamber. The point of privilege which would have been raised was tbe publication of Mr Reeves' evidence before tbe ; Council Committee touching his alleged purchase of Councillors' honorarium. This plan, hoivever, was defeated by the action of the Speaker, 'and tbe House got; into Committee on the Representation Bill, where iti? lik?ly to stay all the remainder of the week., I hear the stonewaliers have: brgahiaed tbemsel 'ves into watches of threeeach, and intend' to- continue the obstruction as obstinately as ever. They say- they can keep it: up for two months, but nobody' believes that they will carry it out, for the: Government, side is being equally, well organised, and will kee*p -the * Committee sitting,' if necessary,) until mfdoigbt on Salurday. .It is reported that the. stonewaliers will now follow the example of the Irish obstructionists and table amendments 'by scores, if not by hundreds, and will fight every, word and schedule. It bas yet to be proved whether they .possess the; necessary constancy and power of endurance to fulfil this threat. Regarding ttie rumor about Mr Ormond to which I alluded in my latest telegram yesterday, I am assured authoritatively that he does not intend to interfere until the Representation Bill i. disposed of, but that then he will mc*. likely make an advene move. The case cf the stonewaller. is lodkeci on as hopeless now that the Speaker bas stopped their simplest and easiest course, which involved no severe strain on their poweia of endurance. An attempt will bo made at the earliest opportunity to challenge the Speaker's ruling on this point. Mr Weston, M.H.R., informs me that the annual legal examinations for the colony this year are fixed for tbe 1 7th September, and that he and Mr Allan Holmes of Dunedin are preparing the papers. Tbere are 18 candidates, *•;'■■-.■' This Day 2*15 p.m, There is no chings in the situation. Tbe Home js still sittiug, having been all night in Committee on the Representation Bill. Mr Seddon haa jost fiuished a four hours' gpeech, and Mr Levestam has taken np tbe running. Messrs Pitt, Hursthouse, Reeves, Collins, and Shephard alt rendered good service during tho night aud morning. There ia no diminution of the excitement: or of the determination on either side, bqth declaring their fixed resolution to fight it out to the bitter end unless the other fives' way *', i Tho stonewall organisation appears very'

complete* members being told off in hatches of three to keep the ball rolling or to snatch a chance of adjourning or reporting progress. The Ministerial side are also carefully organised and equally- resolute. It seems certain that the stonewalling will be carried, on without flagging, at any rate to midnight on Saturday. What subsequent events may bring forth it is idle attempting to predict, hut the stonewalling- party, who can now count on 33, profess thfeir ability and intention to con* tinue the resistance all through next week. There is a warm feeling of sympathy in Wellington towards the Nelson people and members, and the only reason this does not find public expression is because it is felt that any agitation of the kind would be improper and indecorous atthe seat of Government while Parliament is in session. [Urgent.] t 4-5 p.m. I hear that Sir George Grey goes south to-morrow to stump the country against the Government. The stonetvallers are meanwhile continuing their resistance.