WELLINGTON.

Southland Times, Issue 909, 2 March 1868, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

(Correspondence to the ' Oamaru Times,') February 17. As might have been expected, the late weather his played fearful havoc with the lines of telegraph throughout the colony, but I understand that the Government and all connected with the Telegraph Department are making the most strenuous exertions to restore communication. It is anticipated that . before this reaches you temporary repairs at least will be effected south and west of Christchurch, and for the north, surveyors, inspectors, engineers, telegraphists, and linemen are at work everywhere. On inquiry, I learn that, fortunately, material sufficient for the construction of fifty miles of line, was landed at or near Kaikoura, for the reconstruction of that part of the line, only a few days before the storm and havoc occurred. All that cau be done is being done. To pass on to a pleasanter subject. The interest in the approaching visit of Captain Guelph of H.M.S.S. Galatea, alias the Duke of Edinburgh, waxes warm. We have two Committees sitting on the poor man, and a vast amount of talking is being done, which, however, will result, I believe in his receiving a

hearty welcome, aud one which, if not so magnificent as our Australian friends gave him, will still send him away with kind remembrances of us. The Royal Reception Commission have taken in hand to arrange the programme for the Prince's visit to the colony, to provide for the accommodation, equipages, and travelling appliances of His Royal Highness and suite ; and to make arrangements which will aid the local efforts for public entertainments at Auckland, Wellington, and those other parts of the colony to be visited by the Prince. I hear they have arranged for bonfires, fireworks, and a night demonstration in Wellington, have laid in a most tremendous stock of flags ; and are prepared to provide appropriate buildings for the purpose of a ball and supper and other entertainments. The programme already sketched out for Wellington, and which will probably be carried out, is a public procession, a levee, and evening display of fireworks and bonfires, a public ball and supper, a day of open air sports, and an entertainment to the sailors of the Royal Navy. Besides the Royal Reception Commission, there is a Wellington Reception Oommitte, at present at work getting in subscriptions towards the expenses of the processions, balls, fireworks, sports, entertainments &c, in futurem ; and from the number of fifties, forties, and even hundreds already on the list, they won't do badly, I'm thinking. Talk of spending £5000 on the visit, as some did, and grumblingly so, too, daring last session ; why £25,000 or £35000 will be nearer the mark. The Royal Commission are quite cooly talking of the Government spending £15,000 or £20,000 on their share of the work ; and if the Provinces don't double the sum it will be surprising tome. Our new Governor, His Excellency Sir George Ferguson JBowen, is quickly getting into harness. On Saturday, the Bth inst., he held a levee in. the Chamber of Representatives, which was chiefly remarkable for the resurrection of old tail coats it evidently had caused. The eftect of this upon the spectators may be imagined. A more melancholy sight can scarcely be seen or pictured than a collection in the open air, in broad daylight, of a • promiscuous assortment of swallow tails, broad tails, narrow tails, horse col lars, flat collars, of various tinges, and illuminated with elegantly curved bluish white lines about the back, and withal giving one the notion that they never were made for the men in them, and who are not wearing them, but acting as dummies to air them. A funeral, a wedding of some wealthy old uncle who was just going to get married to spite his relations, or any scene of superlative misery, it was easier to imagine myself at on Saturday, then at a first levee held by a new Governor. The attendance was scanty, not more than two hundred, there were not as many as are generally seen at a decent fune . I'm sorry, I cant help it, the levee seems to call up nothing but mournful scenes. Really it was a very poor affair, and only relieved by the Volunteers in their bright uniforms, formed in a line outside the building, and the marines inside. There will be a ball at the Government Buildings, given by the people of Wellington to His Excellency on Thursday evening next and " everybody" is expected to be there. Besides this His Excellency seems to have begun work. He has disallowed an Act respecting gunpowder passed by the Auckland Provincial Council, is already taking steps to fill up the vacancies in the Legislative Council, and has sent twenty guineas to the Wellington ' Benevolent Society. Mr Fox, the coming man, the one who is to heap on. Mr E. W. Stafford's head rewards for his unconstitutional blundering Premiership, next session, and for •w 10m Mr Stafford has expressed his desi c to move out of the way (he may as w j!1 make a necessity with an act of grace), is being Jeted, and dined, and speechified all over Wellington. In Rangitikei he had to undergo the infliction of a public dinner, when numbers of rustics listened, open-mouthed, to his Delphic utterances. Again he has suffered a similar attack at Wanganui, where, on Wednesday, the 12th instant, he was entertained at a public dinner. Aiter dinner — and I presume a fair allowance of wine — he made a speech on many things, and among others, Provincialism. He said he was a devoted Provineialist, but that Provincialism as at present working, might require alteration to suit the " new circumstances." " The salvation of the colony, he thought, depended on that part of the Constitution which provided for Provincial Institutions." He then warned us against the men who were destroying Provincialism. This was the subject of a clever speech which might easily be twisted to suit any party in JN ew Zealand. Provincialism, as provided by the Constitution Act, is nothing but local self-government, such as Timaru has obtained, and Westland asks for. Provincialism modified to suit " new circumstances," may mean any form of government under the sun. If he can give an outline of his proposed modifications, then we could understand him. But he is too old ?a statesman to do more than deal in generalities.