WELLINGTON.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 409, 27 August 1868, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

(from our special correspondent.) August 19. Since the close of the great debate, the "proceedings" —if such a term can be applied to the transactions of the House — have nut been particularly interesting, nor particularly edifying. Speaking without prejudice, I may say that the business of the country appears to be the last thing that a great many of the hon. members think of. Absolutely nothing has been done as yet towards the disposing of any real public business, and those members vrho really are anxious to get on with the proper work of the session are becoming disgusted. It has become the fashion now for the House to adjourn on almost any excuse that will obviate an evening sitting. It may be quite right in an aesthetic sense to suspend the deliberations of a house of legislature, so as to allow some of its members to do homage to science, in the form of listening to a fulsome address from Sir G. F. Bowen ; but as the act may be said to cost the Colony fully sixty or seventy pounds, I question if the taxpayers of New Zealand will approve of such costly courtesies. Last night again, because J. E FitzGerald, commonly called " the orator of New Zealand," had to deliver a lecture in the Museum, on ♦' Art," there was no evening sitting of the House. When it is borne in mind that hon. members have holiday from Friday night to Tuesday afternoon, these extra indulgences certainly appear to be uncalled for and improper. Since the defeat of the Opposition on Mr Fox's motion, that body — for really 1 cannot call it a " party" — ha 3 been very quiescent, and the few frail bonds which united its diverse members, seem to have fallen away. The only sense in which one can say there is an Opposition at all, is that there are some ten or a dozen men, who have each got a few followers at their tail, who arc willing to unite upon any question to turn out the Ministry, and übtain snug seats for themselves. Mr Fox may be in earnest when he disclaims any factious desire to unseat the Government ; but no one would believe such a statement from the lips of such men as Yogel, Main, Dillon Bell, or Stephens. But, apart from the one object of turning out the Ministry, the leading men of the Opposition have hardly an opinion in connection. Both Yogel and Fox are horrified at Stevens' financial theories ; and even Fox himself cannot hold with the redhot provincialism of Macandrew. Unless the financial policy of the Government should expose the Ministry to open attack, I don't think the Opposition will do more than keep up a system of worrying— they may tease a good deal, but their power of mischief is small. And it is getting " smaller by degrees and beautifully less," for day after day petitions are pouring in from all parts of the Colouy praying for the abolition of provincial government. The fact is, that, although it suits the Headers of the Provincial Party to accuse the Government of a desire to " sap and undermine" — those are the stereotyped words — provincialism, there is no neod for .any attack whatever. The structure is being destroyed by its own garrison. The leaders who live on the fullest rations may wish to hold out, but the soldiers who are starving cannot conceal their desire to get outside the walls, and so they are hurling down tin battlements themselves. All ihat the Government has to do, and can do, is to prepare for the ultimate and inevitable destruction of the whole system, And provide a substitutionary machinery. Quite a formidable party is being formed in the House, composed of the representatives of outlying districts. They have united for the purpose of forming a scheme which can be made applicable as far as it goes to the circumstances of every district that asks for self-government. The task they have set themselves to do is by no means an easy one. . The great difficulty is, how to provide a revenue for those districts which have no land fund. It is out of the question to depend on Customs duties, as it may be considered certain that the partnership of the Provinces with the General Government in the Consoli- < dated Revenue will be terminated this session, and only so much general revenue will be raised as will defray the cost of the general administration and the interest on loans ; for the rest, the Provinces will have to depend upon their territorial revenue, or tax themselves. I have not heard what plan is proposed to get over the difficulty, but 1 suppose it will take the shape of a system of "give and take " between the various Provinces and districts. Yesterday, Mr Harrison obtained leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Westland Representation Act, so as to enable the residents on the Maori Reserve, at Greyjnouth, to be placed on the roll of electors for the Westland Boroughs. The Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be printed. It provides that that portion of the town of Greymouth which at present is included within the electoral district of Westland South shall form a portion of the district of« Westland Boroughs ; and that the Returning Officer shall prepare a new roll, removing the names of the electors residing on the Native Reserve from the roll for Westland South, and placing them on the roll for Westland Boroughs, such new roll to be in force at once. The Bill will meet with no opposition, and will be passed in due course. [I see by the late files of the G-rey River Argus that some dispute has arisen as to the powers of the Road Board over the town of Greymouth, pending the election of the Municipal Corporation. In order to put an end to the difficulty, an Order in I Council has been issued withdrawing the town from the operation of the Road Board, and is now gazetted.] The Westland Waste Lands Act is passing through the Waste Lands Committee, and with pome trifling alterations, will, I expect, become law. The Committee didn't relish the provisions for mining on private property, and the Westland members were asked to give evidence on the subject. Mr Barff, however, completely removed the objections, and the matter was Bet at rest. The Commissioners appointed to enquire into the conduct of Mr Kynneraley, regarding the disturbances at Addison's Flat, have not only exonerated him from blame, but state that he rendered very valuable services to the Government in preventing a serious outbreak. The Premier yesterday in the House coincided with the report of the Commissioners, and spoke in a very flattering manner of Mr Kynnorsley. The newspapers here have never been celebrated for observing the amenities of journalism, and latterly, the Independent has spoken somewhat too freely regarding ,

certain hon. members. Commenting on the division list on the late great debate, that journal openly accused Messrs Haughton and O'Neill of having sold their votes to the Government for paid Commisaionerships. So, yesterday, Mr O'Neill brought the matter before the House, and moved that the paragraph in question was a "breach of privilege," which motion was carripd. Mr O'Neill said he did not intend to push the matter any further, so the editor has escaped being brought before the bar of the House. Mr Macandrew has tabled a most exj traordinary motion, to the effect that the ' Middle Island should assume all the liability for the Three Million Loan, and I that in future the cost of suppressing Native disturbances should be borne by the Provinces in which they may occur. I don't think there is the least possibility of his carrying it. Yesterday, Mr G. Graham brought forward a motion that it was desirable to retain one regiment of troops in the Colony, and pay .£50,000 a-year for the same ; but it was ignominiously lost by 29 to 4, without any debate, no one but the mover speaking to the question.