New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 1871. THE WEEK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 29, 12 August 1871, Page 11

New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 1871. THE WEEK.

The news of the week affords little subject for comment. The elevation of Mr B. Rhodes to the Upper House has given general satisfaction. Indeed every one wonders why it has not taken place long before. The gentlemen gazetted along with him are also all men of independent position, and Colonel Brett is reported to possess commanding ability. Certainly the batch is a much belter one than some we could name of former years. The Provincial Council election, which ended in favor of Mr Seager, has been attempted to be claimed as a victory by the Reform League Association, but a letter from Mr E. T. Gillon has completely shown the absurditv of the claim.

People are wondering what the Provincial Secretary is going to do with the vacancy in the Executive. Many, indeed all, of his best political supporters lament the cause which led to it, but for the sake of the province have refrained from expressing their views. A public meeting was talked of at one time, and a petition to the Superintendent; but both, we are glad to say, have been abandoned. It would be a pity to make matters worse. Wellington will have a hard battle to fight for her railways, and any agitation on this unfortunate affair would have a tendency to injure the usefulness of Mr Bunny in the House, whose earnest advocacy is all important. The gallant stand he made last year will not soon be forgotten, and as the whole of our members will join him this time it is expected he will succeed.

Some of the political quid mines here say that the members of the Ministry are all sincerely anxious to see the railways and public works carried out as recommended by the Provincial Council. One of them whose name has never appeared prominently in the matter (the Hon. F. D. Bell) has done yeoman service, it is stated, in the Middle Island, by removing much provincial jealousy and prejudice against our railways. Dr Featherston also in his late visit used his influence heartily in this direction. The arguments they employed were, it is said, considered unanswerable. The Middle Island could get no railways they urged, except on the credit of the colony ; and it was not likely the North would agree to its credit being pledged for works which could not benefit them. JjQ’> us hope they have done the good ascribed to them. The elections of Messrs Brandon, Pearce, and Hunter were petitioned against, but we have been informed they have received letters to the effect that the petitioners intend to go no further. This is pleasant, and shows that the bitter feelings arising .from a hotly contested election are now dying away. An interesting experiment at Mount Cook Barracks is being proceeded with, for the purpose of testing a new method of smelting the Taranaki iron sand. Great interest is felt in it here, and we believe throughout the whole of the province—some of our settlers in the Wairarppa having had long practical experi-

ence, and whose opinion is worth deferring to, having predicted for it a brilliant success. Mr Smith, the Government Armourer, under whose direction it is being made, is enthusiastic in his work, and is assisted by the willing and unpaid services of five experts—the sum allowed by the Goverment being miserably small. We hope to be able to report some result next week.

A very pleasant evening was spent by our Artillery Volunteers early in the week—their Caplain (Mr Pearce) having invited them to a sumptuous and elegant supper in the Empire Hotel. The cordial relations subsisting between the officers and privates were abundantly illustrated throughout the evening, and sufficiently account for the extraordinary success of this corps. It is evident that if more of our leading citizens were to become volunteers, the movement would receive a wonderful impetus here. As it is, Wellington volunteers are rapidly improving in drill, discipline, and shooting, and we expect to see some of them distinguish themselves at the Colonial Campus Martins next year.