WELLINGTON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 515, 10 June 1869, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(froli our own" ooeeespostdknt.) Juste 4. The fourth session of the fourth Xew Zealand Parliament was opened on Tuesday last by Commission, and already the reply to the address has been moved by Mr Edwards, the new member for Nelson, seconded by Mr Swan, r.nd passed almost without discussion. The mover in his speech carefully assured the House that it was not to suppose him pledged to support the Ministry because he accepted his then position. In like manner Mr Swan explained that on several points he disagreed with the address, although seconding the reply to .it, and pointed out the rather glaring omission of any allusion to the Duke's late visit. On the whole the Ministry cannot congratulate themselves on the reception, by the House, of the address. It was accepted almost without comment, and replied to in the "oh yes, say anything you like to him," stvle that a merchant might use to a clerk when alluding to an unimportant letter. Only four members spoke on it, and they found fault with the policy and grammar of the address, but in the absence of financial and other information they permitted it to pass, reserving to themselves tho right of opposing opinions expressed in it at a future time.

Of tbe policy sketched out there is not much to say. It is simply " selfreliance," which was advocated by Mr WeM, and forced upon the present Ministry. The intimation of the Joan might have been expected, and could scarcely have been omitted if we are really to be committed to " selfreliance." But there arc parts of the address winch will scarcely meet with ready acquiescence, namely, those sentences which describe in glowing terms the successes of our Colonial forces. It is, I think, unfortunate that so much stress should have been laid on the management of the war, for decidedly the part of tbe administration of the present Government which will be most severely questioned is that connected with the war, and the weak point of the ministry itself is the Hon. Col. Haultaiu. By praising up our Colonial forces, Ministers seem to invite, almost with hardihood, criticism on this question, and no ore who thinks calmly on the matter can agree with the Ministry when they say that our forces have encountered the enemy wherever lie lias appeared. Surely we all can remember several instances where tbe enemy showed himself with disastrous consequences to our country-men, and where our forces were in safety elsewhere. But perhaps we may agree with tbe statement that our forces have with " indomitable zeal and energy" tracked the retreating enemy It is about all we have done. When ho advanced wo were generally carefully out of the way. There is one feature in the address I will first draw your attention to, namely it 3 grammcr. I enclose you a copy issued from the Government printing office, and which I have marked. Tbe Independent before reprinting it in yesterday's issue bad the kindness to correct some of the most glaring errors. A boy ten years of age who might write such slovcnlv English would deserve a good canin". There is a rumour about town that Mr McLean iuteuds very soon moving a vote of want of confidence on the native question. Indeed I fully expect to send you the news that the motion is tabled before you will receive this letter. The impression seems to be that if the Ministry are beaten they will dissolve and not go out, and many people expect a dissolution early in the session. The criminal session here of the Supreme Court is over, after having lasted only two days. The calendar was very light, there being only two cases of importance, one for horse stealiug and one for rape. In the former case an alibi was established, so I need not give you the names of the accused. Iu the latter, however, Patrick O'Rourke, a young man bo, longing to the No 1 (Mounted) divi-

sion of the Armed Constabulary, was sentenced to four years' penal servitude for committing a rape on a married woman at night at an hotel at Itanjitikei. The shareholders of the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company had a meeting yesterday, and they adopted a resolution favorable to the acceptance of an offer from the Circular Saw Company for their plant. Already the latter company have offered £3 5s per share for plaut, debts, and everything, and yesterday one of the shareholders proposed that if arrangements which would yield £3 10s per share clear of expenses could be made, they should be. This, Mr John Martin, one of the shareholders of the C. S. S. Company, said would probably be offered, but till the arrival of Mr Henderson from Auckland ho could not say definitely. Wo have Dr Carr, the mesmerist, giving seances here now. Did he not have a pretty exposure somewhere on the West Coast ? The Governor is still in Auckland, and is not expected down here till the 10th. There is some chance of a beneficial result following a visit by his Excellency to the Waikato (at least, so dispatches say) and accordingly to the Waikato he has gone. As yet, the House is not in working order. Members do not seem to have got into harness. Nothing but mere routine work, the formation of committees, the presentation of papers, and the first steps towards the introduction of purely business bills, has been done yet. Eleven new members have been sworn in by the Speaker of the Lower, and one by the Speaker of the Upper House. Speaking of Legislative Councillors, the Gazelle issued to-day announces that E. O. Fenton Esq., of Auckland, has been called to the Upper House.