WELLINGTON.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5006, 1 February 1878, Page 4

WELLINGTON.

'"■" (from: our own correspondent.) V '• January 28. Probably the political question which is now most often asked is, " Will Sir George Grey's Ministry remain in power next session ?" To it no man can give an answer based on real grounds. Here opinions are much divided, a few holding that Sir George Grey will lonej remain in power, but most thinking it doubtful. The real fact is that until Parliament meets — until the Government have brought down their bills on taxation, native lands, suffrage, triennial Parliaments, and other burning questions— and until Major Attkinson shall have countered them and brought down others , '; — no one can tell how affairs will change. Sir George has many keen friends, but just as many bitter foes, and success will follow him who gains the doubters, In Wellington people know no more of the future than do the inhabitants of other New Zealand towns, for, though Ministers live here, they are as secretive about their prospects as when they were in Opposition. Perhaps the strongest appearance in their . favor is that Mr Ballance, a shrewd, far- - seeing politician, has thought fit to join them ;. but even this is not great, because ' : Mr Ballance could not have expected anything from the Atkinson party, even if successful. People are much disappointed at the news that Mr Rees does not mean to resign his seat in the House, because the Parliament, without Rees, Travers, -DeLautour, Reynolds, and Reader Wood, would have done a lot of work and an in- . finitely smaller amount of talking. Marshall Woods, the celebrated sculptor, whose works fetch enormous nzices, is now on a visit to the colonies. He has taken a plaster cast of Sir George 'Grey, -with whom he has gone to see the 1 Maori King. Perhaps the King will ; follow Sir George's example, and put himself in Mr Woods's hands. The voluntary retirement of Dr. Giles to the West Coast was very opportune, because the Government wanted to give Mr Bunny a reward, and could not easily get him a suitable post. The Commisßionership of Annuities was out of the question, and a Commissionership of Railways was not needed. Mr Bunny will s make a very good civil servant. He is hard working and active, gets quickly through a lot of work, is sensible and. business-like in all he does. Mr Pearce's election in the room of Mr <- Travers is certain. He hung back at first, and wanted coaxing. Mr Hutchison,' ex-mayor, was very anxious to stand, but'knowing Mr Pearce's popularity, he ■will not. Had Mr Pearce not consented to stand, Mr Dransfield, the Mayor, would have stood ; then perhaps Mr Hutchison could have got in. As yet there has been no summer ; "weather still cold. On the regatta day it was as chilly as winter. Country has not yet been at all burnt up, at least not within 40 miles of the town. The Australian cricketers are not nearly so good as the English eleven that played . here last year, and spite of Australian " blowing," they will make a poor show in England when pitted at Lords or the Oval against" first-rate teams. A very noticeable feature of their play is the way in which the batsmen keep their hits down. Spofforth, on his day, is their best bowler, but he is very uncertain, and at J times gets no wickets ; his pace is very > great. The bowling of Wellington was very erratic, very few of the balls being on the wicket. It is said the Australians are very sore about their defeat by the Canterbury men, and it certainly does not augur well for their success at Home. Great interest is taken in the Wellington Cup, which will be run for next week, dfeupai is in training at the Hutt, but though he would make a good hack, he is not class enough to run against horses : like Ariel and Trump Card. Kakapo was going very well, but was suddenly thrown out of work for two or three weeks on account of ill-health. Trump Card will almost certainly win the Derby, and is backed at short odds to win the double even t_Derby and Cup. Trump Card is a long way first favorite. The Governor goes North next week to spend some time in Auckland. People who have recently returned from London assert that Sir Julius Yogel is rapidly making himself a name, and that he is widely known as a man of marked ability. His speeches and writings in The Times, "Nineteenth Century," and other leading journals, always attract attention. If his health lasts, and it is better than it was, he will certainly sooner or later get into the House of Commons, like Lowe, Childers, and Gorst.