WELLINGTON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 493, 20 April 1869, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

THE SEPARATION PETITION. THE DUKE'S VISIT. (EROil OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) April 9. It is a painful task to record the sudden death of a brother journalist, and such is mine to-day. On Wednesday morning last Mr Edward Bull, the late proprietor of the New Zealand Advertiser, was found dead in his bed. He had been slightly unwell for about a fortnight previously, but it was only two days before his death that his illness was thought to be at all serious. Then three medical men were called in to attend him, but at nine o'clock on Tuesday evening he was found to be rapidly sinking, and at one o'clock in the morning his attendant going to look at him found that he had quietly passed away. As a journalist he had not many friends, but in his private life he was warm-hearted, and he has left many behind him to remember many kindnesses silently done, and forgotten by him immediately afterwards. He has been connected w T ith the journalism of the province for the last ten years, and with his brother started the Advertiser to advocate the cause of those who were opposed to Dr Featherston and his clique. That paper, you may remember, passed from the hands of the Messrs Bull about one and-a-half years ago, into those of Mr R. S. E. Parsons, who changed its name to that of the New Zealand T.mes. Under this name, however, it lived but a few months and then ceased publication. A lapse of four or five months took place when Mr Edward Bull again brought out the Advertiser under the protection, it was supposed, of the Ministry. Either this protection was not sufficiently strong or was withdrawn latterly, and a few days ago the Advertiser succumbed to hard times, and died a natural death. The labors of your Separation Committee seem likely to be crowned with glorious success. Mr William Pitt, who has been on a visit to AVellington, has worked incessantly and with great tact and judgment, and leaves here with the pleasant intelligence for you that your petition will be taken care of, fostered, and presented at the next session of the Assembly by the Hon. the Premier, who graciously promises all the help to you in your work that he can render. You may, therefore, look forward to the pleasing prospect of a speedy release from the trammels of Provincialism as exemplified in sleepy Nelson, with her easy-going Superintendent. There is no doubt that the wants of a mining population are very different from those of a quiet Provincial town undisturbed by pushing new-lights or sharp men of business with Victorian experiences. Besides the requirements of a large town only two or three years old cannot be allowed to wait for distant legislation without serious detriment to the interests of its inhabitants. This, I suppose, Nelson cannot see, and you cannot forget. Of the Superintendent of Nelson the quiet sleepy Nelsonites might perhaps sing " He done his level best," if indeed the song would'nt horrify them, but his "level best" scarcely can come up to the level of your wants, and so he must give up the most profitable part of his little kingdom. Sic transit. The preparations for the Duke's visit have by this time become nearly completed. They include the erection of flag-staffs in every imaginable jflace where such things can be fastened, and of them there certainly is a curious selection. Tall poles of every description have arisen all over the city, and the sight from the harbour is one of the most singular views I have seeD for a long time. Down the beach, alone, from the Government house to the Bank of New Zealand I counted, this evening, 78 poles, not including those stuck up at the houses on each flat and on the terraces. These poles are of every conceivable kind, from the tapering painted natty main and topmast of the orthodox pattern, with its stays and halyards complete, to the rugged unbarked clothes-prop of many years' service. I estimated that al over the city not less than five or six hundred of these signs of the times have suddenly appeared, and the one thought they suggest is, where all the bunting they will require will come from. Then we have preparations for

a procession, for bon-fires, for a ball, for a pyrotechnic display, for Maori feeds and Maori war-dances, and for a dinner to the men on board the Galatea. For the procession a troop of volunteer cavalry came down from the Wairarapa, at their own expense, on Tuesday last, and have been waiting in town for the last four days, the Government objecting to pay any of their expenses. "Waiting in vain, and being slightly disgusted to find that while they had to bear all their own expenses the G-overnment were feeding and housing, in the barracks, Maories by the hundred, they started up home last night, but the Government wisely recalled them, and told them they should have nine shillings per man per day towards their expenses, I I have mentioned that the Govern-' ment are keeping about 200 Maoris in free quarters at the barracks. The news of this has spread through the country, and now the Natives are arriving in swarms, in hopes of getting lodging and tucker free. The city is absolutely overrun with them, and I cannot say that as a race I like them. They seem to have an aversion to soap and water. JEn passant the Government have given away among these Natives thirty tickets for the ball, so that the company will be mixed indeed. Theirpresenee in the supper-room at Sir George Grey's parties was simply disgusting. Whole dishes of jellies, lobster salad, trifle, fowls, and such varieties of delicacies they would seize, mix, and devour without the use of knife, fork, or spoon. And at the coming ball our dusky guests are not likely to show better manners. It was only last spring at the Assembly ball that Meti Kingi, M.H.8., who was present one night, in not exactly becoming dress costume, and in a delightful state of rum hot, went up to a lady whose evening dress displayed her well-round-ed arms, and poking at her arms with his finger, said, with a disgusting leer, " Kapai, Kapai, Fat." Then at the close of the ball, when the ladies were withdrawing to their cloak room, he made a frantic rush in upon them, and had to be summarily ejected in no very gentle manner. Forty essays have been sent in by claimants for the prizes offered by the Government, but as yet no decision has been arrived at. I suppose as this addition to the literature of the colony has been obtained at so small a cost the Government will consider themselves justified in going to the expense of printing the whole collection. They will form an interesting volume, not, I should think, on account of the ability displayed, but from the original ideas w.iich are certain to be put forth on this difficult question. Among the visitors in Wellington now are Captain John Vine Hall and Col. M'Donnell. The latter has. contradicted the report which has gained currency of his having accepted an appointment as Commissioner of Police in New South Wales.

The adjustment of the debt between Canterbury and Westland has arrived at a dead lock for the present, Mr E. C. J. Stevens, M.H.E,,and Mr W. IT. Harrison, M.H.R., the arbitrators, differing as to the amount of debt fairly chargeable to Westland. These gentlemen are now in Wellington for the purpose of referring the matter in dispute to the decision of the umpire, Mr J. E. Fitzgerald. At length there seems some prospect of the line of telegraph between Wellington and Wanganui being commenced. Tenders for the supply of poles for the whole distance were invited by .advertisement a short time ago, but iu consequence of the opposition of some Maoris about Eangitikei through whose land the line must pass, the advertisements were withdrawn. Subsequently, however, tenders were invited for the supply of poles forthirty-eight miles of the line, andone by Messrs W. Anderson and Co. of the Wairarapa has been accepted. The erection will be commenced immediately, and it is probable that by the time the first section of the line is advanced towards completion, all difficulty as to the remainder will have been removed, and that six months will see us in telegraphic communication with Wanganui, if indeed we do not enjoy that advantage earlier.