WELLINGTON.

Hawke's Bay Herald, 19 January 1864, Page 1

WELLINGTON.

[feom oue own corbespondent.] Jan. 14, 1864. The question which more than any other has been discussed in political circles here, is the prospect, of Wellington being made 'tKTileat*" of "Governmeut, and, despite'Tlie torrent of iuyective and abuse which has been poured on her devoted head, — despite the assertions that she is subject to earthquakes,- that she has no available back country, and that her harbor is "a d d enchanted hole," with no holding ground whatever, — I don't think her chance of j being selected by the Commissioners is such a very bad one after all. I notice that the Herald joins its Auckland contemporaries" against us, but it is by no means certain that Hawke's Bay would be any the wovse of the change ; so it will perhaps be better to pause a little before jjondemuiug this c province. It is not withiu^hy sphere of.; duty as a correspondent to the relative, claims of the various provinces to the coveted honor, but this I ■weill.say, that it is not very likely the Commissioners will be influenced by ex parte representations, and that if thecase be fairly adjudicated on its merits, the grand fact that Cook's Straits is the natural centi'e of the colony and that "Wellington is its principal commercial settlement and entrepot of steam navigation, will go far to influence them in arriving at a decision favorable to it. Sundry mysterious private arrangements have doubtless been made ou this subject, into the understanding of which the profane are uot allowed to enter ; but Time, the great revealer, will ultimately show how the question: will be decided. Of late certain appointments have been ''made by the Ministry which deserve a passing notice. Dr. Featherston has been constituted Local Minister and will thus represent the General Government in the provinces. His appointment is decidedly popular. The Superintendent, though undoubtedly anathematised by the " beach loafers," is generally esteemed, while so far as control of the natives is concerned, he is considered the best man that could be selected for the purpose. Mr. Mantell, our late Minister, has merited the gratitude of the- province in many respects, but his reputation as a politician is but of a dubious kind, and, as a'- writer in the "•Southern Monthly Magazine" says, "he has beeu an element of weakuess iv every Ministry of which he was a member." - Henry St. Hill, Esq., who for nearly twenty years has officiated as Sheriff and Resident Magistrate, has now at length been obliged to retire through ill health. In the Supreme Court a few days ago His Honor the Judge gracefully alluded to his lengthened period of service, and paid a well-earned compliment to the indefatigable zeal with which he had discharged the duties of a somewhat onerous position. He intends proceeding to the German Spas in Europe, in the hope that a course of treatment there may alleviate the distressing disease — rheumatic gout — under which he \'dt present suffers. His . successor, Mr. Dudley Ward, has now entered on his duties. He is a barrister by profession, aud formerly- represented one. of the Wellington Country Districts in the Assembly. His appointment to this office has been received with considerable satisfaction by the mercantile community, more especially as the choice lay between him and the Hon. J. C. Crawford, a clever amateur geologist, but knowing rather less of law than a Hindoo does about skates. But happy is he who hath political friends, and thrice blessed was Mr. Crawford. He could not get the office of Resident Magistrate, but luckily it fell out that an Inspector of Post-offices was wanted to do a portion of the new. Postmaster-General's duties, and he has been offered the billet at a salary of £500 per annum. Gf course this appointment is "agob," and were I a stern moralist- of course ;.l would condemn it loudly. But as in any case the-: appoint-- ! ment would have been conferred without

regard to the qualifications of the nominee, I don't see much. to say against it. The truth is, an Otago man was recommended for the office, some protege of Gillies', and Mri Crawford's claims were pushed at the same time. Both were specially fitted for the appointment, by being equally ignorant of Post-office arrangements, so that if the Wellington man had not got in the other would, and there was not much to pick between them. Mr. Crawford, it should be said, is a gentleman ; his talents are above mediocrity, „' and his private character is unimpeachable. But . why either candidate should have been thought of at all, Heaven only knows. It is :a wretched corrupt system of dispensing, patronage, which sooner or later must come to an end. An appointment of th : e kind should have been conferred on some gentleman in the Post-office, whose . ability and official experience afforded some guarantee tor the efficient performance .of the duties. ' . ■ ' Very naturally both in this province and in Hawke's Bay there' is considerable anxiety felt to learn how the money voted, by the Assembly for" the introduction .of settlers is- to be distributed. I believe the Ministry have no settled plan as yet, but it is not impossible that the Provincial Governments throughout New Zealand may have the money placed at their disposal, under certain conditions, including of course the promise of repayment. This would be an excellent plan, as each province could arrange for the introduction of settlers in the best way, and have' them suitably located with less inconvenience and delay than if the arrangements were all under the control of the General Government. Twenty-five years, moreover, is a long time for repayment, and before that time had elapsed some better arrangement might be made. There have been all sorts of plans "on the card" of late for steam amalgamations. A little time ago, an arrangement was pending between the N.Z.S.N. Company and the Otago. Steam Ship Company, which is still incomplete. Since then, the LC.R.M. Company have proposed to amalgamate with the former or both, and thus form a gigantic undertaking, which will carry its' operations not merely throughout New Zealand, but also take up the trade- between it and other colonies. A definite proposition has been submitted by Mr. Hudson, of the I.C.E.M. Compy., to our directors here, but it will be some months before anything can be managed. There are many objections to the scheme. It would necessitate an English Directory for a New Zealand undertaking, and enrich shareholders in England as much as here. The Defence Force have at last been' sent to Pahautanui, except about fifty of the men, who are intended for the Wairarapa, whither they will be despatched in. a few days. The men will live in tents, and their presence will go far to inculcate a spirit of submission, among the natives. Major Gorton leaves to-day on a visit to the Wairarapa and Castle Point. Hi 3 object is to ascertain the efficiency of the - various Volunteer and Militia companies throughout these out-settlements. We are to have a series of rifle matches here on the occasion of the Provincial prize firing, which takes place on the 14th March. The prizes offered are very trifling, but I daresay a good many "competitors will come forward. The ranges are fixed at 100, 200, and 300 yards, 5 shot 3 > at each distance. I fear the average shootiug will be very bad, but a few will make excellent scores. Business has rather improved of late in. ; consequence of station orders Coming in, since the commencement of the, wool sea-^ son. Several vessels are now loadings and the 'Asterope' is full : she .will sail : about the 17th January. There'" have been two arrivals lately from home, the 'Bride' and the ' Wild Duck.' The latter brought about thirty passengers for this Province, while both had full cargoes, which will.; increase stocks already too heavy. Native affairs present one or two items of interest. Wi Tako is said to be contemplating cutting down the King flagstaff at Otaki, and erecting a new one at Rangitikei, whither, with his followers, he intended removing. This, I believe, is only "bounce," as on a visit to the West Coast ; , lately, I" found the natives generally to be . very much cowed. Wi Tako, in fact, en-,:; tertains a wholesome dread of an approach--ing "Nemesis" for his fresh attitude o£| rebellion, and would be glad indeed to | have his misdeeds condoned. There was- • a great gathering of natives on New Year's^ Day at Otaki, when Tamihana te Raupar j

, raha was host and entertained them right regally. Archdeacon Hadfield was also : there, and of course made a speech 5 but the great event of the day was the pre^ sent of a bride's cake sent to them by the Prince of Wales through their renerable pastor. Your contemporary the Spectator is virtually defunct. Mr. Robert Stokes Has, I believe, resigned the proprietorship, and his employes will now endeavour to keep the paper going for a time as an experiment on the tribute system. It is quite clear that the effort will be fruitless, as the journal in question has long been hopeless of resuscitation. It is like the leg of mutton which Dr. Johnson once ate at an Oxford inn, and which, with characteristic energy, he pronounced to be * ill-fed, ill-killed, ill-kept, and ill-dressed,' so this unfortunate paper under the Stokes regime, has been ill-conducted, ill-com-piled, ill-written, and ill-printed. Such is its fitting epitaph. The versatile politician and journalist at its helm, has retired on the melancholy occasion to his sheep-run in the Ahuriri. His passage is taken in the 'Rangatira' to-day.