WELLINGTON.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 748, 10 December 1870, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(prom our own correspondent.) Decmber 3.

The Provincial Council has adjourned till the 17th of next month, by whieh time the Superintendent will probably be here. The Provincial Secretary, in tabling some returns, said that the condition of the province, financially, was so desperate that the Executive had been forced to apply to the General Government for assistance —and had obtained sufficient funds to pay up arrears of salary due to Departments —necessary for the good order and preservation of peace ; such as police, gaols, harbor and hospitals. A long fight ensued as to the passing of Estimates for two months, the Opposition objecting to the Council voting money which they had not got, and which they did not know they would receive. . The Executive fully admitted that there was no money, they also confessed they saw no prospect of getting it; but still they urged the passing of the Estimates because, if they were not passed, the Executive could not legally pay away any money if they should be Jucky enough to get it. At length the Opposition gave way—after one of the Executive stating that they saw, as plainly as any could, the necessity for a change in the system of government—but they wished to postpone the discussion on the question until his Honor's return.

This is a uice state for this" province to have got into ! Surely it is a bright example of the blessings of provincial institutions. Some years ago we had a landed estate of three millions of acres—even after the secession of Ahurin—a considerable quantity of this has been sold at the rate of one pound an acre ; and we ask ourselves, now that it is all gone, what we have for the money ? I look around me here and really I cannot see where the money has gone. You will, perhaps, remember that I, long ago, wrote of the approaching bankruptcy of the pro vince. Well, it has come now and we are talking about the requisite change. We dont want to go on paying £3OOO ayear for an Executive that has nothing to do. We don't see the use of keeping up a land purchase or survey department. We are not anxious to retain control of our police, gaols, harbors or hospitals. Let the General G-overninent take them and all similar departments throughout the colony under their control. We want to manage our purely municipal matters ourselves, and for these a Provincial Q-overnment is unnecessary. Next to our unpleasant provincial position, the subject people are thinking about is the Postmaster-General's new contract for the San Francisco mail service. Supporters and opponents are equally pleased with it, but we do not quite see what is to be done about the old contract, and how Mr Hezakiah Hall has been got rid of. I do not see the necessity of our paying, as we must, for ocean steamers to do a coasting trade which, after all, they will never manage as quickly or efficiently as the steamers that have been running on the Coast for years.

Agents, from the Australian Mutual Provident Society, are here advertising, lecturing, and stirring up the public and the papers generally.*" Till very lately Mr James Woodward, EeceiverGeneral of the Colonial Treasury, was their agent, and I should like to know how he and the Government got over the fact of his so acting—contrary to the Civil Service regulations. Chang, the Chinese giant, with his pretty wife, Kinfoo, are here holding levees. I don't think they are making money though large crowds are going to see them. He is a remarkably good humored and a very good looking man ; and his wife is a really pretty woman. Last evening they went south by the Taranaki, and were escorted down to the steamer by the Volunteer Artillery Band. The starting of the new mail line by San Francisco is an established fact; advertisements of the " United States New Zealand and Australian Steam Packet Line " appearing in our local journals.

On Thursday evening another Rmall fire occurred here ; this time in Cuba-

street. The only damage done was the destruction of an old stable. While ou the subject of fires I may mention that the City Council iB about to import a steam fire-engine, towards which the Insurance offices contribute £600; or one half the whole cost.

The Lancashire Bell .Ringers have been performing here and at the Hutt. They have not been fortunate enough to get any talent here in the way of an aid towards the getting ud of a good performance, and as they are not enough of themselves to give an entertainment they have done nothing. Their playing is really beautiful. We have had two election meetings at the Hutt; the Hon Mr Fitzherbert and Mr Ludlam being the contesting candidates. Both have explained their views which, indeed, every body knew perfectly before. There is little doubt the " Honorable " will gain the day. For Wellington, or any other district in the province but the Hutt, no one has yet come forward. Some people here are talking of the possibility of the Assembly being called together again for a short ' session previous to the dissolution. I cannot find out how the idea originated, but it certainly has taken hold of men's minds here.