WELLINGTON.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 856, 2 September 1871, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(FBOlt THE " ABOTJS" CORIfesPONDENT.) The first week of the Parliamentary Session has not been distinguished by anything either very interesting or i®. portant. The Governor's speech like almost every other utterance from tho throue, was remarkable chiefly for its vague and general character and bad English. Beyond passing allusions to the Educationi n( j Bankruptcy Bills intended to be in. troduced this session, tho speech failed to indicate what the policy of the Government would be upon great political questions. There was 4 general feeling of disappointment at no response being made to measures in the direction of simplifying and cheapening tho cost of government throughout the colony, althojgh it jg well understood that the Ministiry are quite prepared tj support any good measure for reducing the Provincial Governments to the status and fun<% tions of mere municipal bodies. Of course, the Ministry claim all sorts of praise for their r-üblici works policy and for the preservation of pea<e amongst tho natives, and the House was not at all indi posed to award a large amount of approval. The papeu and plans laid upon the table shew that realiy an immense amount of work has been done during the recess. The address iu reply was moved by Mr Pearce, <?ne of the Wellington members, in a speech which has by common consent been admitted to have been the best first speech evef made in the House. Speeches of this kind are always stilted, on account of the speaker being Cramped within a certain number of set paragraphs* but Mr Pearce freed himself tolerably well from this influence, and delivered plain practical remarks in Well-chosen language. • The leader of the Opposition, Mr Stafford, criticised the speech very leniently indeed-, and afforded no indication whatever of the attitude he intends to assume. He accused the Government of unconstitutional action in delaying the meeting of Parliament so long, and, as . a necessary quenCe, spending money without pro. per authority. He denied that Native affairs were so coleur de rose as it was attempted to make out, and pointed to the fact that the " peace " spoken of was so fragile a thing that the Government had not dared to take any steps for the arrest of Todd's muu derers, nor for the capture sf Tito Kowaru or Te Koeti.

The impression created by Mr Staf. ford's speech and manner was that lie was " too civil by half," and that all his politeness was " sarkasum," as Artemus Ward say?. Mr Gillies, whe is, perhaps, the bitterest opponent of the Government, delivered a very waspish speech, full of bitter personal"' ties. He absolutely denied every a!. legation in the Governor's address. Ue said that the condition of native affairs was never so critical-, and referred pointedly to the inability of the Government to complete the telegraph line to Auckland. He refused to con. gratulate the colony on the " success" of Mr Vogel's mission ; he could see no cause for compliment in the fact that the new loan had been sold at a less price than the debentures of other colonies. He denounced the Califor. nian mail service as a costly toy, which the colony could not afford, and which, by the steamers running down the coast, was driving away local vessel The Ministry made a good defence, and Mr Gisborne was particularly happy in his hits against Mr Gillies, whose speech he designated as being the " puerile aud querulous" utterance of a " disappointed man." the Government admitted that they could not have taken steps to avenge the murder of Mr Todd, except at the imminent risk of plunging the whole Waikato again into war. No doubt this was not a satisfactory condition of things ; but it was a state of affairs that always would exist. At any rate, the Governmeut were not prepared to pursue an abstract course of justice at the risk of involving the colony in another war. Mr Gillies was beautifully bowled out by a reference to the cords of the proceedings of last session, iu relation to the mail service, which showed tbat on the division he voted for the service, aad was also one of. those who supported the Coastal* journey. There were several moifr bers who spoke in a very contemptuous manner of Mr Vogel and his doings; Mr G. M'Lean (Cargills and M'Lean)) of Dunedin, was remarkably plain spoken, calling Mr Vogel a " blind theories," and in reference to his visit to Loudon, "that man." This was hardly in good taste, and the House evidently thought it so. Since then there have been some snapping and snarling, and even a division on a question of no confidence. Mr Collins moved for a return of the names of all persons, other than ministers and police officers, to whom the free ase of the telegraph had been allowed. Tho reason for the motion is that it » rumored on very good authority that the Government have been showing special favour to certain newspapers, and tbat Luckie, of Nelson, was a sort of political spy for tho Government at Nelson, and had free use of the tele* graph. There was nothing unreasonable in the motion, as tho names of all those who are authorised to frank letters are always published in the " Gazette." But no doubt it was an awkward motion for the Government, and Mr Fox absolutely refused to give tho return, and told the House that if the motion was carried, he should tako it as a vote of no confidence in the Government. Thiß rather startled

the House, and Mr Collins wo. t/ot slow to mako use of the open ffif? for applying a sort of initia tory tost of the relative Btrengt! of parties. He divided the Housi with a result that could not have beei pleasant to Ministers, the actual ma jority being three, as one membe voted by mistake in the wrong lobby The Ministry put their foot in i again by introducing a bill for amend in;> the Election Petitions Act, the object being clearly to operate againsi Sir David Monro in the petitioi against his return. The Bill was intended to exonerate persons givinc evidence before the Committee fron any coris jquences that might otherwise follow from self-incrimination—-in short, to indemnify all witnesses. Now, as there is a question as to the truth of certain allegations made by a witness before the Revising Officer at Nelson with regard to his claim to vote, and that could this man be induced to make a certain confession of perjury, it would result in his being •struck off, and in the Motueka election, which was decided by a casting vote, having a different conclusion, the House was not disposed 1o allow this Bill to go on, especially as Sir David Monro's election is the only one disputed. Some strong personalities were used, and Mr Fox and Sir David did not hesitate to give each other the lie direct. The Government admitted that it had used its influence in certain elections, and Mr Fox "claimed that under partv Government the Ministry were fully justified in 'doing so; it Was done in England, and was done everywhere else. They had of course endeavoured to obtain the return of members who would support the Government in carrying out the measures which the Parliament had sanctioned. These remarks did the Government much harm, for there are still a few specimens of the raiher rare being, " a conscientious /politician," and some of them were horrified at the want of calm judicial principleinthehead of the Government, : and the manifest approval with which |many members greeted his sentiments. The Bill was by consent withdrawn 'until after the Motueka petition is 'disposed of. The Order Paper is rapidly filling "up, but although the House has sat 'everyday there has been nothing very 'important. Formal motions for committees and returns have occupied most of the time. As to the "state •of political parties," I can give you but little information, as it is difficult 'to find out whether there are any well, defined parties at all. Mr Stafford is 'of course'the leader of the Opposition, ■and he is understood to act in concert 'with the leading members of his old party, but as yet he has not made the slightest attempt in the direction of organizing a force. He is no doubt Waiting until the'finance comes under discussion, which will be the time for 'Opening his attack. It is impossible ' to calculate the direction in which many 'bt the new members will go, but when the champions get to fighting:, they will gradually range them'selves on one side or the other. The Government have been making very freat efforts to strengthen their ranks y the accession of some Middle Island members. Overtures have been made to the hon. John Hall and "to Mr Stafford himself, but without effect. Still it is a growing conviction in certain circles that there will be a reconstruction 'of the .Cabinet, with either Stafford or John Hall as Minister of Public "Works. Tf such an arrangement is possible, it would be the best thing that could happen for the colony. Mr 1". t. Shepherd—he of the cheerful countenance —distinguished himself on the maiden day by thoroughly disgusting the House. In the afternoon sitting, he spoke on every cenceivable subject in an offensive, pompous manner, and the House tried ineffectually to cough him down. At night, when he rose again to speak, it was a signal for members to leave the House, and in a few minutes be bad only two or three to listen to him whereupon there was a count-out, and the bell rang for members to make up a quorum. When this proceeding had been gone through-, Mr Shepherd got up again, and again the blouse was cleared. This took place three times, and our cheerful friend sat down. It has done him good, for he has been very modest and moderate Bince. Mr Tribe has broken ice, but not exactly in a manner for which he can toe complimented. He was put up by the Government " whip " to ask the Premier if ho had seen a certain personal attack upon him (Mr Fox) in the " Evening Post," and if the statement there made was true? This was done to give Mr Fox an opportunity of pitching into " the production of some obscure journalist," and damning newspapers generally. Mr White, as yet, has confined himself to the presentation of two petitions, one from the Kanieri Road Beard, praying that mining property be exempted from rates, and the other relating, I thing, to the diversion of the proposed main road in Westlaud. Mr O'Conor, of Westport, is not up and "as received a fortnight's leave of absence. Mr Harrison's name figured at the top of the first Order Paper of the session. He asked the Government if they intended to bring in any moajure during the present session tor the better administration of the affairs of the West Coast Goldfields? ihe Premier, in reply, gave a very ]*»Bive answor. He said, "If the Jmourablo member will refer to the j Governor's speech he will find that it

is tho intention of the Government to bring in a measure for the better administration of the goldfields of the colony. Of course that is perfectly correct, but the measure referred to by Mr Fox is simply the amendment of the Goldfields laws, and can have no bearing whatever on the government of the goldfields. Sirce then Mr Harrison has given notice to move on tho 7th September a series of resolutions having for their object the abolition of the County Council and the placing of the whole of the West Coast Goldfields under tho General Government and local boards of works. The resolutions are regarded with gread favour by members, and I am informed that the member for the Grey Valley will receive the support of the Ministry in carrying them. Indeed, I believe it quite possible that they may have the effect of precipitating a decision upon the question of applying the same principle to the whole of the colony. The hon Mr Waterhouse, it is said, is going to move in the Upper House similar resolutions with regard to Wellington. Mr Macandrew has tabled a string of resolutions upon the subject of Separation. They are understood to be put forward, not so much with the view of carrying them as to raise the Question of Separation and settlo it for ever. This question is always held out as. a threat whenever the southern members fancy that southern interests are being prejudiced, although it is well known that separation is absolutely impossible now

It is not prohable that these resolutions will be carried, but they will certainly lead to the disscussion of the whole question of provincialism. Amongst the reports laid upon the table is one from Messrs Blackett and Hector with regard to the adoption of the south side of the river for the line, the bridging of theriver at the coal mine, and the improvement of the protective works and wharfage accommodation at Greymouth. The estimated cost of Cobden route is £27,687, viz., cost of line, £19,662; erection of wharf, £5250 ; bridge at Coal Gorge, £4000; extra sidings,' £775. The proposed line will cost £30,376, viz., cost of line £21,376 ; bridge across Gorge, £3OOO j extra sidings at Greymouth, £1000; protective works, £SOOO. Mr Vogel has resumed his place in the House, and is looking none the worse for his trip. It is not absolutely certain that the road works iu Westland will be gone on with at once. There is only some £BOOO available for the purpose at present. The " Hansard" printers are on strike, and the publication is stopped for the present. The reports "are, however, taken, and corrected in MS., and if the printers won't come to terms, the " Hansard " will be printed elsewhere. The men ask Is 6d per thousand, and the Committee have authorised an offer of Is 3d, which is now ponding.