WELLINGTON.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2681, 20 September 1871, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(from our own cc rrespondent.) September 16. It is a fortnight to-day since I had an opportunity of sending you a letter; the dearth of steamers upon the Coast is becoming an inconvenience to those who, like myself, are supposed to keep a paper well posted in those matters of anecdote and detail, which .are beyond the economical sphere of telegraphic transmission. As by this mail you will receive Hansard up to Sept. 6,1 shall make no allusion to occurrences previous to that date, leaving your readers to gather from the fountain head, “ if so dispoged,” as Mrs Gamp said, the wisdom of our senators and their legislatorial freaks. Every session would appear to have its ow# peculiar characteristics. This session is peculiarly the session of “questions.” It has been generally understood in Legislative Assemblies that this is the most unsatisfactory way in which a subject can be dealt with, as by the forms of the House it shuts out debate, and in most cases fails to elicit from Ministers any practical information. A glance at the Order Papers will bear out my proposition—a string of questions day after day—and these, 1 might say, group themselves under three heads—question of aggravation— i.e., cowardly insinuations against the conduct of Ministers or departments veiled under the form of inquiry, when the more manly course would have been to table resolutions and allow discussion and inquiry. Second y—questions of self-exaltation — i,e , the making use of the Order Paper as an advertising medium to constituents of the activity and acuteness of the member ; the information, if really required, could, in 99 cases out of 100, be easily obtained from some officer of Government; but then the honorable gentleman’s name would not be recorded in Hansard as having asked the Premier, say, “If he is aware that the tax upon dogs in Otago amounts to over L2OOO a year, which is not spent, so far as the dogs are conccn a I, in reproductive works; and whether Government are prepared to introduce a comprehensive Colonial measure, including cats and canaries ”? The third and only legitimate class of questions are those tabled with the view of enabling Ministers to make explanations with regard to proposed legislation or policy. This is sometimes very convenient, and is thoroughly understood and acquiesced in by leaders of parties on cither side. Being very anxious to do full justice to the new members from your Province, in a former letter I spoke favorably of the dehut of more than one of them; sad experience as a patient listener induces me to retract to some extent my predictions as to their successful career as politicians Mr Steward, of Oamaru, pays great attention to his duties, and shows signs of considerable ability ; be is, however, over much given to the delivery of set speeches, a weakness which he must curb within reasonable limits, or he is likely to strain the patience of the House, and to a great extent consequently mar his usefulness. Mr Murray, of Tokomairiro, is a birtl of another feather; with, it would seem, very moderate ability and imperfect education, he combines an amount of self-conceit, which induces him to push forward upon every possible occassion ; to inflict upon the House his crude and ill-expressed opinions upon every subject which is discussed, and even to attempt the initiation of measures, the mere consideration of which is far beyond his intellectual calibre; be is emphatically a bore—his manner and delivery are even worse, if worse can be, than bis matter- -it has become a custom for all members not asleep or otherwise engaged, to walk out of the House when he rises to speak Mr T. L. Shepherd is so well known in Dunedin that it is hardly necessary to say more than that he is thoroughly appreciated here at his true value. It is a great pity that his undoubted energy and ability should be marred by au amount of self-assertion and want of consideration for the feelings of others, which form an insuperable bar to his ever attaining any political position. Mr Cantrell and Mr Calder have as yet taken little part in the business of the House. They sensibly enough do not seem disposed to thrust themselves forward, but no doubt will in their proper time give valuable assistance in the progress of measures, the scope of which may be within their peculiar speciality, Mr George M'Lean, since his .early attack upon Mr Yogel appears to have subsided ; if he does not say much, however, he looks very mysterious, and is presumed to be completely in the confidence of the embryo Opposition, who as yet have no bond of union, except personal antipathy to one or other of the Ministers. Having for the special edification of your readers endeavored to give an idea of the metal of the political novices from Otago, I shall now proceed to the consideration of the political position. In my previous communication I stated my conviction that everything depended upon the Financial Statement, and I think it will be seen that this has been borne out by events. The Miuistiy, although commanding a majority, were weak essentially for two reasons—first, the absence of any Southern member from the Cabinet; and, secondly, the personal unpopularity of more than one Minister with certain sections of the House. The very large proportion of new members opened a wide field to the button-holders, who would to the Southern novices descant by the hour upon the iniquities of Northern rule ; whilst the active vindictiveness of the personal enemies of Vogel and Fox stopped short, it is now well understood, of no endeavor to blacken the character and impeach the administration of the Government. Fortunately we may say collusion between the hostile sections was im-

possible, and the leader they both looked to in any organisation of an opposition must have to and it utterly impossible to sketch out a policy acceptable to both, or to name a Ministry capable of surviving a week. Under these circumstances he very judiciously resolved to bide his time, ami see what the budget would bring forth, hoping no doubt that the pnqiosed policy would develop principles upon which, parties might reasonably be formed, and prepared to gather round his standard the malcontents whatever might be their creed. This is the reason, to my mind, why a vote of want of confidence was not brought down : it is pure conjecture, be it understood—l do not pretend, like the gifted correspondent of the Dai y Times, to bo behind the scenes with either Ministers or Opposition, but form my judgment from facts, frequently insignificant in themselves, a» they occur—the watching of those casual straws which very clearly intimate to the expert ©ye the direction in which the breeze political is springing up and likely to blow. 1 am not going to discuss the Financial Statement, leaving such criticism to your editorial columns : I have only to do with its immediate effect upon the House. When Mr Vogel rose ho was very coldly received. The rumors and inventions of the Opposition Press had not been without their influence upon the minds of members. General plunder of the Southern lands and heavily increased taxation wore pretty generally expected — large additional borrowing was accepted as a fact; in truth, the Statement was to embody every political mischief to the Colony which the heart of man or even Vogel could conceive. As the Statement proceeded, and its clear and comprehensive proposals gradually unfolded themselves to the intelligence of the a general brightening of the countenance might have been observed on every side; whilst vociferous cheers greeted the Ichabod of Provincialism, and the determination of keeping the expenditure strictly within the revenue. It was a decided success at the timer of delivery, and day by day the impression deepens in the public mind, that, for ingenuity and ability, it stands unequalled in the records of tire Colony; that the proposed arrangements are feasible and likely to result renewed prosperity of the Colony and the removal of the depression which has borne so hardly during the past two years upon all classes of the com munity. Of course, Mr Gillies is not satisfied, nor your Mr Donald Reid and his engaging following ; but they may safely be left to vent their spite in petty attacks and obstructive naggings : the large majority of members heed them not—they look very properly to the grave questions of policy which have to be carried into 1 iw, and have no time to waste upon querulous growlings about official maladministration, the wrongs of Monro, and the interference of the Colonial Secretary with the expensive wrong-headeduess of your Provincial Secretary. The debate upon the Budget commences upon Tuesday, and will no doubt be long and interesting. There is no doubt upon my mind that the Government will carry their policy almost in its entirety. Where, in matters of detail, improvements are suggested, they will be readily accepted; and in carrying through the Bills necessary to give the financial proposals legal effect—it may fairly he presumed that assistance will be afforded to them by leading men of all sections of the old parties, which it is hardly premature to assume has ceased to exist. Mr Hall and Mr Rolleston have already expressed themselves favorably, whilst Mr Stafford, in moving last night his resolution for a select committee to enquire into the management of the telegraphic department, entirely divested his action of any hostile significance, and is generally adopting a very conciliatory manner towards ministers. Mr Gillies is more spiteful than ever, and seems to be backed up by Mr Webster, of and some few Nelson men, adherents of Sir D. Monro. Mr Reid says little but looks terrible things as he sits amongst his Otago phalanx of “ leaguers” J C. Brown, Thompson, Can trill, and T, L. Shepherd. I have run on to such an inconceivable length upon general matters I shall have to touch but briefly upon some of the more striking and curious of the political occurrences of the fortnight. Mr Macandrcw upon Thursday, the 14th inst., moved his what we may call Constitutional resolutions. He made a very excellent speech, establishing to my mind a strong case, and keeping clear of that redundance of agreeable theory which is to some extent his characteristic. Mr Fox then rose. Whilst expressing his high appreciation of the ser- \ ic93 to tiie Colony of the Superintendent of Otago, and of his distinct right to bring down propositions of so revolutionary a character, he regretted that the Government could not see their way to give them any support, oil the consideration that they were inconsistent with the proposed financial policy, a- developed in the statement of the Treasurer. The debate continued for a short time, eliciting nothing particularly worthy of notice, and was eventually adjourned, nominally for a fortnight, but really sine die. The goldfields members have had their annual “go in” at the gold duty. This year Mr Charles o‘Neill, member for the Thames Goldfield, led the onslaught, proposing that the duty should at once be arbitrarily reduced to Is. Upon this Mr T. L. Shepherd, who is not famous for originality, moved as an amendment the resolution proposed by Mr Haughton in 1867, “ That the duty should be reduced Cd a year until finally extinguished.” The debate drew most of the goldfields members, and some amusing speeches were made. Mr Harrison, of Westland, opposed both resolution and amendment, stating that the mine s really cared little about the matter. This brought up Mr Haughton, who pitched into the hon. member considerably, and was more amusing than instructive. There were several divisions, the result being that the House by a large majority, insisted upon maintaining the present rate of duty, considering probably that this was hardly a time to reduce revenue, even if such revenue was not laiscd upon the most equitable basis. Mr Donald Reid has had his Land Bill read a first time and through his faithful henchman, r J. C. Urown, is reported to be actively canvassing in its favor ; the House will hardly pass it in its present form, and indeed is sick of Otago Land Bills .and of the action of Otago executives bringing up measures one year amd seeking to repeal them the next. 1 should not be surprise I if the League are not very disagreeably disappointed at the fate of their last and biggest bantling. The great ‘ ‘ Telegraph ” bugbear ended in smoke M r. Stafford, in bringing forward his resolution for a committee expressed himself in anything but a hostile manner to the Government and the result is on every side expected to be that the Committee will entirely exonerate ministers from the malicious charges •o industriously circulated, The fact unfor-

tunately.ia that there is a certain class of hangers on in Wellington who make a precarious living by. the circulation of scandal, public and private ; some have been already exposed and treated according to their deserts : others still survive and a wait their fate —nothing is too dirty, nothing too false for their prurient pens, and we are at a loss here to understand how respectable journals can print their lucubrations. The telegraphic case was entirely got up by men of this class, who must now be infinitely disgusted to find t at Parliament requires proof before condemnation, and refuses to ba influenced in its resolutions by literary swashbucklers, {To be continued. )