WELLINGTON.

Southland Times, Issue 1773, 29 July 1873, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

(from oub owir coebespoitdent.) July 16. Parliament hat opened, but as yet of course there ha* been no fighting, nor indeed does it appear likely there will be for a considerable time. Government had a clear majority of one at the close of last session, the minority of two which caused the Stafford Ministry to retire being reduced to a unit by the accession of Major Atkinson. During the recess, however, Ministers have gained three clear seats, Nelson, Lyttelton, and Invercargitl, which, as it represents a clear loss of tkree to the Opposition, implies a gain to the other side of six votes — thus Government may be supposed to meet Parliament with a definite working majority of seven — a highly satisfactory state of things for the Ministry, and, we will hop*, also for the Colony. Still, notwithstanding all this strength, it is tolerably certain there will be some sharp skirmishes before long, if not a battle-royal. Vigorous attacks will be made on both the Native and Immigration Departments, and'un fortunately Mr Yogel is deprived by illness of the pleasure of meeting Parliament in his new and deservedlywon position of Premier. It is unnecessary to enlarge further upon politics in this letter. By the time my next is despatched, if I mistake not, the "savage soul of fight" will have been awakened. Of course you have read all about the arrival and reception of the now Governor, •• His Excellency the Right Honorable Sir James Fergusson, Baronet, a member of Her Majesty's Most. Honorable Privy Council," &c , &o. I need not now describe the arrangements, the surprise, the nocturnal arrival and reception, the fireworks, triumphal arches, torchlight pro cessions, &c. The gushing columns of the Independent and the morv pompous periods of the Post, have long ere this carried most full and elaborate details far and wide. Suffice it to say that the whole affair was unanimously voted a groat and thorough success, the person whose opinion on the subject was most important, His Excellency himself, not only publicly expressing his gratification in much more energetic terms than is customary with so " fine a gentleman" (to borrow the language of the last generation) ■o " heavy a swell" (to use a modern slang) whose air of reserve and dignity was by no means popular in South Australia, but I myself overheard Sir James remark one evening at Go* vetnment House, that he had never in his life been greeted more pleasantly or in better taste. And now you will like to have some description of our new representative of royalty. This naturally you cannot obtain from the Wellington papers, for it would be the height of ill-breeding to publish personal descriptions in a city where the subject of the analysis may daily be seen, and daily see the papers. The case, of course, it altered in writing to distant towns, where some account of the new Governor's personal appearance and manner will reasonably be looked for from " our own correspondent." Well, the most remarkable feature in Sir James Ferguanon's appearance in tbe thorough air of gentleman which marks him. Wherever you met him, you would feel inclined to ask, " Who is that distinguished looking man ? : * It is not alone the fact that he is a well-born baronet, instead of a colonial -plated knight, nor that he is a Bight Honorable Privy Councillor instead of a nobody. No, Sir James io simply and emphatically a gentleman, and no higher compliment can or need be paid him. He has, however, already shown himself to be a vigorous, clear-headed, and decided man of business — in short, the very man wanted. For once, " the round man is in the round hole." In appearance he is not more than 35 years old ; his actual age being, I believe, 42. He is rather above the middle height, slightly built, rather dark than fair, wears moustache and whiskera, but no beard, his style of face being of the class novel writers delight in term* ing "aristocratic." The latter remark may apply also to Lady Fergusson, who is a very charming vice-queen. She looks about 22, is tall and slight, has fine expressive features, very pale complexion, looks, and I fear is, very fragile in health. Our sickly town already has been too much for her, and she has only thrice as yet been able to appear in public, viz., once at the Theatre, once at Mr Hoskins and Miss Cotville's drawing-room entertainment, and once at the Carandini concert. At the grand ball in her honor she was conspicuous by her absence. The ■aid ball was a very grand and successful affair. Some 400 were present, and all the arrangements were conducted in admirable style. It was given in the new Theatre, which was appropriately fitted up, decorated, and illuminated, and everything was satisfactory to a degree. His Excellency opened the ball with the Mayoress, and then completely sunk the Governor in the ladies' man. He danced most vigorously until about- 3 a.m., rarely missing a dance. It was unanimously voted the most successful ball ever yet given in Wellington. The ladies' dresses were, it is needless to say, gorgeous in the extreme, and tbe whole effect was singularly pretty. The only drawback was the limited space afforded by the Theatre pit for dancing. Ibis caused numerous falls, and sad destruction of feminine apparel. The supper was excellent, and Sir James Fergusson, in returning thauks for the enthusiastic way in which his health was drunk, made a capital little speech — his first in New Zealand — full of pleasant bonhomie, which if possible enhanced the very favorable impfession he already had made. The new Governor bids fair to be highly popular, as well as a really good and efficient representative of Her Most Gracious Majesty, and a vast improvement indeed on the , pompous and gushing Bowen.

I ' (FROM A COBHESPONDENT.) July 19. The session so far has been unusually pacific. ( Scarcely even a growl from the Opposition has , yet been heard, and one member, Mr Murray, in p the course of one of the numerous little speeches which he loses no opportunity of making to the House, on every conceivable occasion, even went . so far as to express a doubt as to whether any party that could be called an Opposition could be eaid as yet to exist. The absence of Mr 1 Stafford, ill, it in said, at Nelson, and a rumor, 1 very generally believed, that that gentleman has ! announced his disinclination to take an active part thia session as leader, have no doubt oontributed to this impression. Still, those who have ' observed the formal manner in which Mr T. B. Gillies takes exception to occasional proposals or ; explanations by Ministers, as if in duty bound i to do so, and particularly the semi official manner in which, after the Address in Reply had been moved and seconded, he cautioned the House not to suppose that, because there was to be no discussion, therefore he and those who thought ' with him agreed in the sentiments of the Address , — those who have taken notice of these little matters are inclined to suppose that, whether by consent of other members or simply of his own motion, that gentleman has determined to undertake the duties of leader of the Opposition. Mr Gillies's well-known power of incisive speech may prove a qualification for this office. The announcement made by the Premier, on the secon I day of the session, that the Government would within a fortnight bring down not only the financial statement, but a comprehensive statement of their intentions with regard to the public works to be undertaken during the current year, was received with great approval by all parties in the House. It is evident that if this promise be fulfilled, and the present temper of tho House continues, the session will be. a short one. So numerous and varied, however, are the contingencies on which such a result depends, that it would be very unsafe to hazard any prediction on the subject. The Bill for the reconstruction of the Legislative Council has been laid before that august body, and its contents have excited much surprise, not to say derision, amongst all who, feeling the importance of a reform in that branch of the Legislature, believed that the work was now about to be begun. The total amount of the change proposed is that all future appointments to the Legislative Council shall expire in 1878. By that time it is supposed that the present number of life members (about fifty) will hare been very largely reduced by deaths and resignations, and as those subsequently appointed will then cease to hold office, the way, it is thought, will then be comparatively clear for re-organising the Upper House on an entirely new basis. Some much more sweeping change than this will no doubt have to be made long ere that time. The feeling is strong among the more thoughtful members of the Upper House itself, and the Hon. Mr Waterhouse has obtained a Committee of the Council to consider and report upon the subject. The arrangements entered into with the New Zealand Shipping Company, for the conveyance of immigrants and railway plant from Great Britain to the New Zealand ports, meet with general approval. These arrangemrn a do not affect the ships from the Clyde for Scotch emigration and cargo, nor any existing contracts ; but, with these exceptions, the New Zealand Snipping Company is henceforward to undertake ail the work required by the Government. The j manner of conducting business adopted by Messrs Shaw, Savill, & Co., has of late been so | unsatisfactory that there is every reason to hope that this change will be attended with great a (vantages to the Colony at large, and will, in all probability, secure much increasei comfort to immigrants.