WELLINGTON

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 528, 10 July 1869, Page 2

WELLINGTON

PROCEEDINGS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. (prom our own correspondent.) June 29th. The Stafford Ministry is a thing of the past, and the Fox Ministry of 18G9, such, as it is, has begun to reign. The change, although expected, was brought about some days sooner than was anticipated. Indeed so little was a division on Thursday evening looked forward to by most people that even the Colonial Treasurer was surprised by it, and, when sent for to record his vote, was preparing his speech to be delivered, on the debate, a few hours afterwards. It came about as follows : On Thursday last the House met at three o'clock, and, after the transaction of a little uuimportautbusiness, the No-Confidence Debate was resumed by Mr Williamson, who blamed the Ministry for departing from their original straight-forward policy, and for desiriug to put down the present Native disturbances with a strong hand. He advocated the system of handing the Native difficulty over to the Superintendents of the four Provinces in the North Island where it existed—a system which Mr Fox presented to the House last session, and which did not increase his reputation for ability. It would, doubtless, be a pleasant thing for Mr Williamson, the Superintendent of Auckland, to have the carrying on of a war and the distribution of commisariat contracts in his own Province, knowing that, if the worst happened, he would be able to fall back on the General Assembly to relieve him from a difficulty, and to pay the debts of the Province ; but this is a state of affairs that the remainder of the Colony would scarcely see the amusement of.

After Mr "Williamson came Mr Kelly, who, in a short speech, stated his intention, of voting with the Government —an intention, however, which he did not carry out. Mr Fox, then, in accordance with the wishes of the House, or, rather, his party in it, rose to reply. He found fault with an opinion which had been expressed by the Ministers to the effect that he was unlit to take charge of the affairs of the Colony, and considered that opinion a strange one, as ho had been asked by two members of the Executive, since his return from Galilee, to take office with them. He evidently failed to see that, though he might be a desirable addition .to an Executive, it by no means fallowed that, therefore, he was fit to be the head of one. lie complained of being charged with wasting the three million loan, and stated that of these three millions his Ministry had only actually expended £1,200,000, the remainder having been spent by the Weld and successive Ministries. He prudently forgot to remind the House that though he might only have actually spent the sum named, yet he had entered into engagements which his successors had failed to be able to discharge with the balance of the loan bequeathed them. In a light and witty style he alluded to various speeches that had been made during the debate, and particularly dwelt on the fact of having been charged with not having enunciated a policy. He explained that having, last session, expressed his views to the House, he found them unwelcome, and that he was not going to to be caught so this session. He then alluded to Mr M'Lean's dismissal, and was waxing warm and eloquent on this subject when, observing that the hands of the clock pointed to twenty minutes after live (the House always adjourns at u.30 when it meets at three) he suddenly broke off, and said that, perhaps, he should be consulting; the convenience of the House if he stopped there and called for a division. Mr Carletou's amendment having been put and negatived on the voices,

The original motion was put and a division taken, with the result of which you are already aware. The result was received with great cheers, Mr Fox clapping his arms to his sides, and crowing like a cock. Thus ended a debate which lasted some days, ana in which twenty-five members took part. AVith regard to the division I may mention a story which has gone the rounds here, and which is generally believed. Mete Kingi went to Mr Fitzherbert, and said he did not care much which Ministry he and other Maori members voted for, but lie wanted a new house built for himself. The reply was that the Government could not help him in the mat'er. Mete Ivingi, Uict-ciVji..., went to Mr M'Lean and made the same observation, to which that gentleman replied that houses had been built, and houses might perhaps he built again. The result was to be seen at the division. On the Friday after the division very little was done. Mr Stafford announced that, in consequence of the adverse vote recorded by the House on the previous evening, he and his colleagues had tendered their resignations, to llisExcellcncy.who had been pleased to accept them. They, therefore, only held office till the appointment of their successors. lie desired to take that opportunity of expressing the sense of himself and his colleagues of the cordial and friendly relations which had existed between Ministers and the Governor since His Excellency's assumption of the government of the Colonv.

Mr Fox then rose and s?ai<l lie had been sent for by His Excellency, and had been requested to form a Ministry. His Excellency had given him every encouragement to undertake the arduous task, which he had, therefore, accepted. Some petitions were then brought up by the Petitions Committee, the only one of any public importance being those referring to the case ot Henry Smythies of Dimcdin, respecting which the Committee did not recommend the House to take any action. The House then adjourned till to-day. The result of Mr Fox's endeavors to form a Ministry I have already acquainted you with by telegraph. On Saturday Mr Julius Yogel and Mr IVPLean were sworn in as members of the Executive, and further than this our new Premier has not been able to proceed. His overtures to certain Canterbury members caused him to be told truths which must have been very galling. Among others ho was informed that votes wore recorded, not for the purpose of putting him in power, but to get rid of Col/ Haultain and Mr Richmond, that no sympathy was felt for him or his views, and that the presence of Mr Vogel in his Cabinet was a mistake. Of the truth of this last there can be no doubt. A mere political adventurer, with no stake in the colony, he is not one in whom the House reposes any confidence, in spite of his possession of a certain class of ability. He is a fluent speaker, and is not troubled with much modesty, but he carries no weight. His reputation as a financier is small indeed, as all who remember his schemes put forward some years ago for the payment of the debt of the Colony, and for the assumption by the Middle Island of the colonial debt in the event of separation taking place, must admit. They were plausible, and almost inviting, but utterly wanting in practicability. It is generally thought that no stronger proof of Mr

Pox's weakness in tb.9 Heus 3 could be shown thau his being obliged the accept the services, of such a colleague. This afternoon the House had the pleasure of listening to a general outline of the policy of the New Ministry. It is as follows : _ As regards war and defence, to retire as much as possible from aggressive operations and to remain on the defensive; and to avoid if possible any rupture with the Maori King. The present Government have no sympathy with a large standing army ; and will endeavor to give the colonial force as much the character of constabulary as possible. Imperial assistance is to be applied for, the 18th retained if possible, and the services of another regiment, enlisted specially for New Zealand, obtained. The actual war is to be a burden on the revenue of the whole Colony (query, has it not been so up to the present time.) If necessary a loan is to be raised, but it is to be devoted to opening up roads and "other improvements" (whatever that means) if possible, in which case it is to be borne by the North Island. Should it be absolutely necessary to devote the loan to the conduct of the war, then it is to be a charge on the whole Colony. Towards Provincial Institutions a warm regard is expressed so long as they can support themselves, but should they fail in- this Ministers will not carry them along. Rebel prisoners are to be treated with justice, guided by the principles of humanity. This all sounds fair enough except where it is absurdly contradictory. Our war for a long while has been as much a defensive one as possible, unless chose to let arch villains like To Kooti come down and murder as they like, and then retire in safety to their bush homes. The Colonial force has been assimilated as much as possible to constabulary, and is no more like a standing army thantbe tracking and punishment of murderers and the defence of our out-settlements require. The mention of Imperial assistance looks formidable, were we not aware that it will not be granted, and the raising a regiment specially for New Zealand sounds plausible, but I fail to see the advantage of disbanding forces already accustomed to bush warfare, only to enlist one wanting that experience, at Home. The general impression here seems to be that- Mr Fox, in spite of the threat of the dissolution already hinted, will be forced to surrender to the Opposition. And it is hard to think otherwise. There can bo no doubt that when the Canterbury members who voted for his motion are struck out of the list of his supporters, his party is small in numbers and weak in talent and weight. rne nouse aireaaj °ui«, fact, and Mr Stafford's party are preparing to do battle for the purpose of putting him in again with a reconstructed Ministry.- Mr Fitzherhert would be in it, but 1 doubt much if Mr Hall will again accept office. A few days more will show which way the wind sets. I must, however, do Mr Fox the justice to say that he has lost no time in showing his colors, such as they are. I witnessed a scene on Saturday evening which amused me much. I was in a butcher's shop when one of the members of the House entered and purchased three pounds of mutton chops. When leaving the shop he remarked " These will do mo for two days." Ho evidently lives on the cheap while in Wellington, and saves considerably out of his bonorariuin. The chance of goldfieldsbeingopened up in the neighborhood of this city is causing considerable excitement here. Two companies have already been registered for the purpose of working ground at Terawiti aud Makara, while numerous parties arc out in various directions prospecting and quietly working. Nearly every person one meets is in some small company subscribing to the expense of a prospecting party, and great confidence is felt in the tiltimate success of the efforts being made. Experienced men have informed me that the indications in several places are extremely good, and I know that towards Makara three men obtained two ounces of gold in little more than a day.