WELLINGTON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 531, 17 July 1869, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(FROM OTTE OWN COBEESPOXDEXT.) July 1. There was a rumour some time ago, which was generally believed, to the effect that Sir David Monro had signified his intention of resigning the Speakership of the House, and that either Mr Carleton or Mr Dillon Bell (aecordiug to which party was in power) would succeed him. This rumour has been once contradicted, but is still believed. In the mean time Sir David has obtained leave of absence from his duties, and has gone oyer to Nelson, the illness of one of his family being the cause. His intention to go away from Wellington for a short time during the session may have given rise to the rumour. At present Mr Carleton acts as Speaker, and Mr O'Borke as Chairman of committee.

The weather during the past week has been unusually bad oven for Wellington. Gales first from nor-west and then from south-east have followed each other in quick succession, and heavy squalls of rain have made the streets almost impassable on account of the mud._ While lam writing a sou-easter is blowing across the bay in a perfect hurricane. The Beautiful Star and the Keera, which came in today, had their cabins flooded by heavy seas which rolled over them. The Airedale, which left here yesterday for Lyttelton, is reported to be lying for shelter under Capo Campbell. The preparations for raising the Taranaki, now lying sunken in Queen Charlotte's Sound, are progressing favorably. The Company formed for the purpose are advertising that they will be in a position to commence the attempt of raising in a few days, and they advise persons concerned to be prepared to remove all their property as soon as the vessel shall be brought to the surface of the water, the company having no means of transport at their command. The capital of the company is, I believe, £2OOO, and if they succeed at all in their enterprise they should make a handsome profit. The New Zealand Steam Navigation Company will soon be a thing of the past. On the 2nd of June (as I have already informed you) a resolution was passed in favor of the sale of the plant _ of the company to Mr John Martin on certain conditions. Those conditions seem to have been complied with, and a conditional contract has been entered into by the directors of the company with Mr Martin. A meeting will now be held on the 13th instant, when it will be proposed : That this conditional contract he ratified by the company; that the company be wound up voluntarily; and that liquidators be appointed to carry out the said contract,

If these are passed—and there is no doubt they will be—the company will speedily cease to exist. It will possibly be a good thing for the shareholders who have already lost at the rate of £6 5s per share (£lO ones) but for the colony as a whole it will be a matter for regret, as its steamers baue done good service at a time when the fleet plying on our coasts was much smaller than at present. Besides, we shall be left at the mercy of the Circular Saw Company, who will have nearly the whole of our trade in their hands. [Our latest telegram stated that the company is to be continued under its present name.] Among the buildings being erected in Wellington is a Jewish Synagogue, which, standing on the Terrace, will be a conspicuous object in the city. It is a plain substantial erection, and decidedly reflects credit on the persuasion and the persuasive powers of the architect. Government House, which we were told some time ago was to be pulled down in order to allow of the new one being built on its site, is in a remarkable state, and certainly can scarcely be said to be ornamental. Part of it has been pulled down, leaving the papered walls of portions of rooms discolored by rain exposed to view, and the general appearance gives the idea of a ruin where a fire has partially destroyed everything. Bound the building—or rather the remnants —a pailing fence about four feet high has been put up, and bordering on the street all round the grounds a galvanized iron wall about six feet high has been erected, which, in parts where the house is not visible, ia strongly suggestive of a mad-house enclosure.