WELLINGTON.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 248, 31 October 1872, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

(From our own Correspondent.) October 22.

The -session is now drawing to a close, and many of the members -fcave . left. It has been a most profitless session ; perhaps, the most profitless of the maay profitless sessions of the New Zealand Legislature.

On Monday night, the Government suffered a defeat in the Legislative Council. The Lower House had sent up to them the Railways Bill. The railways authorised by the Legislature are to . cost about J£1, 200,000 "more than was appropriated by the Bail ways Act of last session. In the Lower House an arrangement had been come to amongst the Goveiriment supporters that they would not debate this. Bill. It was a most important measure, and

passed through all its, stages in a thill House in the small hours' of the morn-

ing. In the Upper branch, a division was called "for on the Kecond reading, and the BUI was lost by a majority of one. It is to be introduced to-night again.' The Government will no doubt endeayour to pack the Council and parry their measure. Last night the House passed the Public Works Estimates, There is one item of interest to the extent of

£120,000, The expenses of the department amount to something like " £70,000. These large sums are to be paid out of loan, We borrow money ; and we borrow money to pay

interest on the sums we have borrowed

previously. Of course we shall get to the end of our tether some day. It is impossible at present to stop the career of borrowing on which the colony has entered. The members of Assembly, End the public generally, seem to be enchanted with the visions of prosperity which this schenis is to bring to the colony. It is a thotfs&nd pities that Stafford was -thrown out If ho had played his cards well, he might at present be directing the affairs of the state. There can be no doubt of this, that he

•would, at all events, have administered.

public affairs with more economy than the Government that have succeeded Kirn. There are many expectants of office. A motion was brought forward yesterday to the effect that the Government should, before the close of the session, name three gentlemen who are to fill the vacant seats. But this

motion was negatived . I f the seats were filled, it is quite likely that the Government would lose a good few votes.. The

Goldfields Committee waited on the

Government a day or two ago, and recommended that they should appoint a Minister of Mines, Mr. T. L. Shepherd, of Dunstan, was one of the deputation. He is very hopeful that he will be the successful man — a position to which he considers himself juctly entitle^ from the large measure ot support, he has given to the Government during the session. The t.wo Executive seats aye hung up before members' eyes as '«•' bunches of carrots" . are hung up before the eye of a certain animal. This was repeated over and

over again by Mr. "Wakefield m the House yesterday, very much ta the annoyance of Yogel. The bunches of carrots, in the shape of the two peats, h^ave' the effect of .keeping members' eyes directed steadily to the Government, and of course of keeping them right in regard to their voting. Jjet this talismanic influence be withdrawn, and then the Government might lose their majority

October 4 24 I wrote the above on Tuesday. At the evening silting of that day, thi Eailways Btll was again introduced into the legislative Council. Tv the meantjinethe Goyernraenthad collected .all $beir forces, and this time they succeeded in carrying the second reading of the Bill by a majority of three. The two newly elected Maori members voted,- and thus rendered, valuable Assistance to the Government in assisting them "to pass this -the- most important measure of the session. One of the worst features of this Bill is £hat..jt enables the Government to enter into contracts i'or works very ronsidorably in excess of the amount which they are authorised by the existing Loan Acts to borrow. It will prevent the Legislature considering on jts merits tlje question of the desirability of increasing the indebtedness of the^couatry by. passing a new LDan Act. Moneys largely in excess of bur authorised. loans having been appropriated, fresh loans, . must follow fl,s a necessary eonsequenpe.