WELLINGTON.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 131, 11 August 1870, Page 5

WELLINGT ON.

(From our own Correspondent.) August 2, 1870. Debates have taken place during the past week upon the resolutions with regard to the readjustment of the Representation, and the Gold Duty A.ct Amendment Bill. The Financial Bills have been introduced, and stand for second reading this day. With regard to the gold duty, Mr. Yogel proposed that the Provincial Councils should have power to reduce the duty. This at once brought all the Ultra-Centralist parties on their legs, and a very acrimonious discussion took place in Committee. The result was that the clause was carried by a small majority. The Centralists, however, whipped up, and the next day moved the the recommittal of the bill, in order to strike out the same clause. This they succeeded in carrying by 35 to 31. Mr, Hanghton was very angry, and stigmatised Messrs. Swan, Kynnersly, and other Goldtields Members as traitors to their constituents, by the course they had taken. Your member voted for the clause, rightly considering that such a clause was the only practical way of reducing the special taxation of the miner in Otago. Messrs. Reynolds, Driver, and Co., of course, consistently voted against the proposal. They have ever distinguished themselves for their illiberality m dealing with goldfields questions, and in fact seem to have no single idea outside of Duuedin. The further consideration of this bill is adjourned till to-morrow, when an effort will be made to review the. decision arrived at on Friday.

The resolution as to the Representation, which affirms the principle of maintaining the present proportion of members as between the several provinces, was affirmed after a short debate — an amendment, moved by Mr. T. B. Gillies, as to a simple population basis, having been thrown out by a large majority. The other resolutions will be taken into consideration to-day, and the whole subject as to redistribution within the present provincial' boundaries referred to a select comuvttee. As regards Otago, the most important change will be the abolition of the goldfields district now returning two members, and the constitution of two new electoral districts within the goldfields in its place. This will be a decided improvement, entirely preserving to the miners their present rights, while effectually preventing the chance of success by wandering professional politicians, who, under present circumstances, have managed, to get returned by the chapter of accidents so inevitable in a very large and scattered constituency, with hardly a common interest.

That bright genius- and provincial ornament, Mr. John Hay may be obserred continually about the porticos of the House of Representatives. It is supposed he is scouting a billet, and acting as a sort of odd man to Macandrew and friends. It is said he write a some of their speeches,, and has no little trouble in order to coach them up to the delivery. He is also, I believe, the talented correspondent of the Dunedin "Evening Star, J> and is particularly severe in his letters upon your member, Mr. Brown, who ia not a bad sort at all, and will make, after a little experience, a very useful member — at all events he appears to think of nothing but his duty to his district, and to work like a nigger to carry any point he is intent upon.

The Hundreds Bill will be on for discussion again this week. The result ia very uncertain, as it is rumoured the Waste Lands Committee have quarrelled over the matter, and doolined to report one way or the other.