WELLINGTON.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 740, 22 November 1870, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(FROM OUB OW2f COEBESPOSDENT.) Nov. 17. So the colony is to have an agentgeneral at home who is to be the hon. Julius Vogel. I long-believed that he would not delegate to other hands the placing of his scheme on the London market, involving so large a loan ; and for some months I have been almost certain that he had decided to go to England in some capacity. The matter is now no secret in well-infoi'med circle?, and it*is being criticized favorably or otherwise, according as men are inclined to place faith in his practical judgment or not. The salary to be attached to the office is £2OOO a year—a nice little sum; but, perhaps, not too much to secure tie services of a first-class representative for the colony at home. Are you jubilant, or mistrustful ? i | The only public step yet taken here with, respect to the coming elections, is. an active canvass to be made by Mr Ludlam of the Hutt constituents. The Hutthas, till recently, returned two

members—the hem. W. Fitzberbert and Mr Ludlam, both of whom belong to the one party, and have generally worked consistently together. Under the new Act it will lose ofie member, and as there can be no doubt as to which of them would be the right man in the right place, everybody believed that Mr Ludlam would withdraw or seek the suffrages of another constituency. He has however surprised and annoyed his friends by starting an active canvass in opposition to Mr Fitzberbert, and will, without doubt, come off second best. The one man has acquired a colonial reputation, while the other is noted for his prosy speeches which clear the House. A good honest well-meaning man he is, and he" does his duty conscientiously to his constituents according to his light—but that light is faint and dim compared to the brilliancy of his opponent. While I am writing all Wellington is flocking down to the Odd-Fellows' Hail to see the first flower show that has been held here for five years. I went round with the judges early this morning, and consider it very good, though not large. Geraniums and ferns are the feature, and are equal to anything I have seen in the colony. They were grown by Mr Huntly, the Government curator of domains, who sold off all his stock a short time ago, so they are not exhibited by him. There is one magnificent scarlet double geranium that, were a favorable opportunity to occur, might upset my honesty. Has Mr Buckley, a Wellington resident, any chance of the seat for the Grey. It has been announced here that a large and influential requisition has been presented to him, and that he has graciously acceded to it. It seems to me that the time has come when constituents should chose representatives, who can both speak and write well in their interests. In the early part of the eighteenth century Addison was solicited to take his place in the English House of Commons, not because he was a brilliant speaker, or a clear politician, but because he was the most popular and forcible writer of the day. As a writer he was a tower of strength to his party, and won and held the respect and admira- . tion of both friends and foes In those ' days pamphlets were the engines used ' to disseminate opinions—in our times the newspapers supply the place of ; pamphlets. A good speaker may iufluence the few, but a good writer has the mass for his hearers, and numbers his followers by thousands.

The issue of the writs for the elections is expected any time now, and scarcely can be postponed long. Before a fortnight has elapsed you will probably be hard at it—fighting for or against candidates, opinions and writings. The Reform League here is quietly and unobtrusively extending its ramifications and gaining strength. No public meeting has been held, but that little fun is only a pleasure deferred. A small Christmas book " Ponekeana " is annouuced as shortly to be published. I believe it will be the first attempt of the kind that has been made here. It will be a series of papers on local institutions and celebrities, written in a comic, funny, or sarcastic strain. Everybody is talking about it, for some how it has got about that some smart sketches of our public men will be given, and nobody is certain whether he will not get a goldhumored roasting.

The Volunteer Dramatic Performance for the benefit of the Lyttelton sufferers realized only about £3O, so that, deducting expenses, there will be about £ls to hand over. The prices played at (35., 2s, 15.,) prevented the possibility of taking much money in so small a building as the Odd-Fel-lows' Hall.

The City Council has decided to import a steam fire-engine. It will cost about £I2OO landed here; of this the Council pays £6OO, the insurance offices making up the other half between them.