WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3706, 10 November 1880, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day. At the Magistrate's Court, the charge against the captain and steward of the ship St. Leonard, for being concerned in the recent smuggling case was heard. The steward was fined £25, and the charge against the Captain was dismissed. The Australian Cricketers. A gentleman in town reoeired a letter from Alexander, stating that the Australian team were-anxious to risit New Zealand and play two or three days in each of the principal towns if suitable terms can be arranged. Their leare has been extended.

(FROM OUE OWN COBBEBPONDENT.) WELiiiNGTON, This day. JPACEI'EBE PBOCLAMATION.

As I predicted,'; the Acting-Governor refused to sign the Gazette notice withdrawing the proclamation over the Patetere lands until the new Governor had an opportunity of reviewing this gigantic Jand job, r Of course the removal is farther delayed until next' February, and it is somewhat curious that the Government, without even consulting His Honor- Judge Fehtony should have specially fixed the date of the sittings for the adjourned hearing of Patetere lands. The truth, I think is that the Native Minister daro not take upon himself to recommend the abandoning of the liens,

and you may take my hint that th ] Ministry will seriously consider every: j surrounding circumstance before they i advise the revocation of the proclamation to Sir Arthur Gordon. Nearly all the 1 colonial journals with any independence 1 have, like yourself, denounced the, ! whole thing, and strongly reprobate its '. action in going out of their way to benefit* i a number of political supporters and* i friends—the land sharks—at the expense of the whole body of. New Zealand colonists. ANOTHEE BBEEZE IN THE CABINET. j The, new method adopted by some I Ministers in giving all the smooth matters i dealt with in Cabinet is already bearing j fruit. Of course your readers would i notice that such and such important! questions were decided on by Ministers, but they take good care to abstain from giving any details^ about the row conseauent on the appointment of Sir Dillon Bell to the Agent-Generalship, the retention of the. Auckland District Engineer, Doctor Pollen's pension, gazetting of Legislative Councillors for Nelson and Napier, the removal of the Auckland manager of railways, the unfair treatment \ meted out to several of the police ■ officers and a host of other matters which have caused such a rumpus amongst the "happy family of advisers," some of which is already raising a hornet's nest about their ears from one end of the colony to the other. It is the first time' in the history of the colony that deliberations in the Executive Councir have been supplied or telegraphed to newspapers from " information obtained" from re* sponsible Ministers of the Crown. THE PEOPBETY ASSESSMENT ACT. ■ The fiat has gone forth .against the collection of the property tax, and as I informed you some time ago, I do not think it will be ever collected. The more out spoken of the colonial newspapers are already sounding the war .cry,,. whilst another portion prefer to remain quiet until the date of payment is gazetted. Public opinion will be then almost wholly diverted against the Government, and your readers may reasonably conclude; that Ministers will have to "cave itu'' They will, however, hare the inward satisfaction of having saved their friends and followers from the quota of taxation for general purposes for a couple of years. In a slashing leader against the provisions of the aot which appears in the Lyttelton Times to hand, it calls. amongst other things, the property tax, " a penalty ou truth, nd a premium on falsehood." THE COLONIAL AGENCIES OF THE PBEBS. In Wellington, like .other Southern places, no newspapers unfavorable to the present detective Ministry, as Mr Moss called them, can get any official news unless they side with the Powers that be, and should the agents wire anything disagreeable to the North they are gently reminded that such a course is very injudicious, and may prevent other Government favors in the future. Northern readers are therefore deprived of a considerable amount of real telegraphic intelligence, and that of a character which establishes beyond doubt the growing feeling of distrust in the present advisers of the Acting Governor, IMPOBTANT SUGGESTIONS. Your readers should take time by the forelock and adopt a memorial to the new Governor praying His Excellency .to interfere in the matter^iJJjeproclamatiorf his consent, and assent to its removal. The Thames people when they take any pressing matter in hand generally succeed, and as this is one which so largely effects the miners of the Thames, I hope to hear of their having a monster public meeting, and doing what is here suggested. \.j TABDY JUSTICE. ~ " II hear that "the claim* of Mr Hugh McllhonejWhp was' Inspector, Q^Mineri!,, Bights at the Thames for many years," but whose office was abolished in consequence of the retrenchment process, have been favourably considered by the Native Department, and that a settlement hat been come to. It is to, be hoped that the he"ad of the •* mystery qffitfe,'*l or rather the under head of this branch of the public service, has meted out impartial justice to Mr Mcllhone when finally adjusting and closing his just demands.