The Invercargill Times WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1863.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 14, 9 December 1863, Page 2

The Invercargill Times WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1863.

The political intelligence just to hand by the Phoebe is important, although we are sorry to say the interests of the Middle Island, and particularly of Southland, are likely to suffer from the manner in which several important questions have been decided. In the first place, the Ministerial proposition, relative to the appointment of a separate Executive for the Middle Island, has been shelved, and, owing partly to the treachery of several Middle Island members, and partly to a Very discreditable piece of trickery, a motion has been carried for the removal of the seat of Government to " some place in Cook's Straits," which, of course, means, Wellington. How this was brought about may be briefly told : — On Mr Fox moving for the introduction of a Bill for granting a second government for the Middle Island (only an Executive), Mr Cargill moved an amendment against any division of the colony, and in favor of removing the seat of Government to some central position. After an adjournment of the debate, the subject again came on for discussion. In the interim, the Wellington party, strengthened by certain members largely interested in the Wellington Steam Company, had held several secret meetings, and the question came before the House with a strong coalition, deter- | mined to carry their pomt — the adoption of Wellington as the seat of Govern-

meet. A special correspondent of the Oiago Daily limes thus describes what f jllowed : —

On Friday last the question of tho removal of tun seat of Government to Wellington was rariewed under very discreditable circumstances. It came on as one of the notices of motion, and the debate was prematurely stopper! tit three o'clock by the standing order that tnaikcs it necessary at that, hoar to proceed with the orders of the day-. "These were not disposed -of -till just midnight, and the House under ordinary circumstances, would have adjourned ; but the Wellington, Nelson, and Picton party; reinforced, I am sorry to say, by some of your members, determined to have the question on a<jain that night, fearing the loss of supporters by departures with the next steamer. The resumption of the debate was carried, a motion for adjournment was lost ; and then when absolutely only one member had spoken against the resolutions; when an amendment which it was intended to bring forward was not introduced; Mr Fitzherbert talcing advantage of a disused standing order, it was intended to repeal, moved that the house do now divide. This prevented any farther discussion. Mr Stafford protested against the Unfairness of the proceeding, and walked out of the House before a division, followed by about twenty other members. His words were ordered to lie taken down, and are likely to be made the subject of discussion to-day. Meanwhile, the Wellington, &«.,_ party of course carried their resolutions, and the next day held a meeting to give them effect. You will readily understand from what I have saiil how much personal interestis felt in this matter. In fact this is the only question Hint has excited any general manifestation of interest. The plan proposed is to leave to a Commission the selection as between Wellington, Nelson, and Pieton. The members of these places, therefore, excepting Mr Stafford, are working together, and, strange to say, they are aided most warmly by Messrs Cargill, Reynolds, Piiterson, Wayne, and Major Richardson. Auckland is willing to assent to separation, and the same could he affirmed tin's session if these five members entertained different views. The trickery and dodgery with which the resolutions were carried, as also the unscrupulous organisation that has been made outside the House, excites general disgust. Steamboat interests are suspected to be at the bottom of the whole matter, and more or less to be the bonds of union between most of the confederates. There are. of course, exceptions — Major Richardson, Mr Wayne, and Mr Fitzgerald are on principle opposed to separation ; but it is odd to find Mr Reynolds, a. whilom member of the Separation League, an active supporter of the very measure to defeat Reparation. The pnrty are not likely to stop short in their demands, and amongst other windfalls 'here is no secret made of the intention to get Wellington fixed as the terminus for the Panama route. I do not know if your recalcitrant members go so i'ur as to advocate this, but their confederates do.

We have since heard that a resolution ias been carried, leaving the choice to be

decided by the Governors of New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania. We quite expect Wellington will carry the day — for the present, for no one can suppose this w(|l finally dispose of the question. Auckland will now join Otago in the demand for separation, and sooner or later it must be obtained. Our representative, Mr Dillon Bell, has seconded the demand of Southland for increased representation. On his Bill being first brought in for granting six extra members to Otago, and two to Southland, the Government, jealous of any further Southern predominance in the House, opposed it ; but the feeling of the House was so strong in its favor, that the Ministry asked for an adjournment. Subsequently, the matter was

referred to a Select Committee, charged with the consideration of the whole question of remodelling the representation. On the report of this Committee, a Bill has been brought in, giving two members extra to Southland, skven to Otago, viz., two to Molyncux, two to Tokomairiro, two to the Lake District, and one to Oamaru. Albert Land, in the Auckland Province, is to have a niembev ; Canterbury is to have another member ; and two members are to represent the Native population. A resolution proposed by MrJßrodie, 'requesting Sir George Grey to bring to the notice of the Imperial Government Mr Pvke's report on the Orago goldfields, has been carried. There is to be no revision of the tariff this Session. The various ports are to be surveyed with the view to their defence b) batteries or other works. The " Suppression of Rebellion '' Ri.l has been passed, and the " Military Settlement" Bill has been denuded of its objection- i able feature?, and carried. A Bill for I making Superintendents nominative, instead of elective, has been thrown out. The financial statement of the Colonial Treasurer is a very clear one, and shows most unmistakeably the enormous strides the colony is making. We may refer to i f s principal features, leaving a full consideration of the subject until a future occasion. The gross general Revenue of the Colony had exceeded its estimated value, for the pnst financial year, by 20 per cent. ; the amount received being£s49,sG3, against £458,000 estimated. S >uthland, which was estimated to produce a Custom's Revenue of £9500, returned £3G,7H! and Otago, which, it was thought, was over estimated at £180,000, produced £215,623. The other Provinco keep pretty close to the Estimates. The Ordinary Revenue for the ensuing year, is estimated at £691, G00, of which the Customs revenue is expected to produce £603,600. Southland is put down for £60,000 ! Otago £270,000 ;-— and the Middle Island is put down to contribute over two-thirds of the whole Colonial Revenue. A loan of three millions is to be raised, mainly for the purposes of crushing the rebellion, and tor electric telegraphs, lighthouses, and other purposes. The Militia Act is to be brought partially into foroe in the Middle Island. Such is a briet sketch of the Parliamentary proceedings, upon which we shall have more to say in a future issue.