WELLINGTON.

Southland Times, Issue 715, 26 August 1867, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(EBOM OTTB OWN COEBESPONDENT.) August 16th. "Since - the defeat' sustained- ijy--. the Ministry on the " Local Government Bill," matters have assumed""' a far more ..satisfactory aspect, and several important measures introduced by Government have been carried. The ".Goldfields Act Amendment Bill," winch provides for the security of the . *g6ldfield' officials in Otago against further vindictive action on the part of the Pro-vincial-Executive of that Province being allowed to visit them for having adhered to the side of law and order, was publicly announced by Ministers as a question on which they would vacate office if defeated. They carried the second reading without difficulty, and in committee the House divided on an amendment, proposed by Mr Yogel, purporting to destroy entirely the very intent for which the Bill was introduced. The result of the division showed a majority of seventeen m favor of the Government, and therefore Mr Vogel's amendment was lost. It is believed that there is no "probability of the present Executive being turned out this session; . Although strong in numbers, and warm in the upholding of their opinions, the Provincial] sts are divided on certain important political elements, and will have little or no chance of being the immediate cause of defeating the Ministry__should .ihellatter ever place., themselves in the position of calling for a distinct expression of opinion on any particular vital measure! Several members of influence , and weight: — Mr Travers, the member for Christchurch, for instance — men who have not joined any of the two defined sides of the House, seem to carry ; with.- them moderate men, who . begin to feel quite disgusted with the expense and results of the continual changes of Government, so .detrimental to the interests and welfare of the colony. Mr Travers- instead of advocating, or at least taking any direct part in the various measures bronght by ministers, with a view of gradually diminishing the powers of theprovinces; faced the question boldly, and moved a resolution the pur-port-of-which was to-cause- all- administrative powers in the ease of police, gaols, wharves and quays, to become entirely vested in the hands oTtFe .General Government. - The honf gentleman made a mostbrilliant speech .-.on, the motion and ventilated at length the various causes which ought to convince any one of the desirability of doing away with the unsatisfactory state of the various" departments, administered as they ■at present - are on totally different and opposed principles ; the debate lasted some hours, and a few very good speeches were made oh the occasion. Ultimately Mr Travers obtained leave to withdraw his motion. There can be no doubt that although expressing the views of the large majority of the colonists of these Islands, this resolution was perhaps too prematurely brought forward, and dealt with too great a freedom with some of the most cherished privileges of provincial authorities — as yet very ;, strongly represented in the House. A feeling seems to prevail that as long as Superintendents and executive officers of provinces are allowed to take their seats -in the Assembly, so long will the; unfortunate, preponderance of provincial institutions and ideas be felt in pur Parliament, notwithstanding the undoubted general feeling to the contrary existing outside ,its walls. : One of your members, Mr Dillon Bell, has done this session what he never was known to do ever since he began in New Z ealand his long and eventful political career. He has run up his flag to the mast head, declared boldly his views and opinions, and in amost energetic and vigorous manner has proceeded to carry: them out to the best of his ability. The hon member for the Mafcaura has : to the regret of his numerous. friends and advisers, changed his opinions in a most prompt and extraordinary manner. For years past a strong supporter of centralism, and one of the most bitter arid active opponents : of provincial institutions, he has diametrically altered his ways of thinking, and, strange to say,.has.-.ehosen the unfortunate moment in which Messrs M' Andrew and Yogel were virtually men of mark among the foremost representatives of the : opposition, to join provincialism, and indissolubly connect himself with men whose opinions he so ,long professed to detest and combat; Mr Stafford seems to have felt keenly the loss of one of his oldest supporters, arid has never lost a single - opportunity of letting the member for the Mataur a feel it. Some curious antagonistic displays of - political convictions on the part of Mr Bell Were brought to light by ministerial efforts, arid it must be admitted that the reasons adduced : by that gentleman in endeavouring to explain ; the curious contradictions therein distinctly established between his addresses of former days to his Invercargill • con- ' sfcituents, and his professions, flf political ! sfaith5 faith of to-day were feeble and at the most inconclusive. The " Municipal Corporation Bill" has been read a second

time andis undergoing-the -visual process at the hands of the Committee. Many of its clauses have already passed. This Act was much needed, and will prove of great benefit to almost every Province of the Colony when local enactmentsbearing on matters of local administration have generally been passed by Provincial Executives "ultra vires." A considerable number .of measures have been pushed forward, amongst which may be noted the '• Army Constabulary Bill" and the "Native Eepresentation Bill." The Upper House introduced a Divorce Bill some time ago, and it has every prospect of passing through the other branch of the legislature. The Legislative Council passed a series of resolutions, thanking Sir G-. Grey for the able manner in which he vindicated the honor of the colony from the implied charges contained in the despatches of the Secretary of State of December last, and for the way in which the Colonial Secretary also took part in such vindication. In local affairs there is little or nothing to narrate ; the general business is dull. The" Ashley" brought no further news of the rumoured gold discovery near Auckland, but on the contrary, news of the Auckland members having received information by private letters that there were little or no chances of a payable goldfield being established. The "Charybdis" left Wellington a couple of days ago for Auckland, there to await the arrival of the Commodore. The Dunedin " Princess Street South Maori Eeserve" question will probably be settled before long. A writ was served on Mr M' Andrew a few days ago, and he will have to show cause why he should not re-con vey the native land so long possessed in error by the Dunedin Corporation.