WELLINGTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 155, 24 December 1853, Page 7

WELLINGTON.

(From a Correspondent.) The Provincial Council has recommenced sitting, and really beats the House of Commons in the great-talk, little-do line. They have had a long debate on the question of the legality of the appropriation of the public revenues: the Superintendent's party supporting it, and the independent members (as they call themselves split up among themselves. Mr Brown, of Porirua,brought the debate or. by moving that the appropriation of the revenue by the Governor, was illegal. By some mistake he was obliged to move a much more decided resolution than he had intended, from not having given notice properly. The effect was, that instead of a cautiously worded series of propositions, and being in fact merely a protest but agreeing to the api propriation as a matter of necessity, the members were frightened out of their propriety by a decided and short resolution that the Council was not legally qualified to deal with and appropriate the public revenue. Mr. Brandon moved an amendment, arguing that the Governor had the right of appropriation under the Old Constitution of Lord Grey (whom by the bye, he called the framer of the one). He raked up all the old acts and charters and founded thereon what he considered a prima, facie case, which no one else understood. Mr. Fitzherbert did not speak ; Mr. E. G. Wakefield said little ; Mr. Ludham spoke in favour of the appropriation by the Council much on the same grounds as the Superintendent of Canterbury took as to the <s peace, order, Sec," clause in the Act. After a great deal of talk the Council in its wisdom determined " that j this Council is legally qualified to appropriate the revenue of the Province, consisting of that raised by its own acts, and the portion that may s be appropriated to it by jthe General Government. Thereby the old question was altogether shirked and the whole debate wasted. The impression forced upon one is, that the Government are very unwilling to enter upon financial matters at all, and in their own minds doubting the legality, they don't like to take the other side.TheProvincial Secretary made a foolish attack on Mr. E- G. Wakefield the other day about some expressions the latter was reported to have used at the Hutt. WaKetield floored him, and the spontaneous burst of cheering from the Stranger's Gallery shewed which way the popular feeling was." r,The Superintendent's party is, I think, decidedly losing ground, principally through his advisers. They are going the whole Provincial hog; do not care for the General Assembly, which they consider useless and dangerous as affecting their Provincial powers ; and as long as Wellington gets two-thirds of her revenue, no matter how, to spend, they do not care about the other Settlements, or about the general welfare and policy of the country. It is a great pity, and is laying the foundation of great evils. In fact, Gibbon Wakefield is, in my humble opinion, the only stumblingblock in the way of Wellington becoming a little selfish republic, to be bought at any time by the Governor for a few thousands more of their own revenue. Mr. Ludlam is the most independent man of the whole lot, ami is certainly the most upright and straightforward iv his opinions. Mr. Revans is to move for a select Committee to enquire as to the way in which the Constitution has been brought in, to found upon it a moderate address to the Governor in favour of the General Assembly being immediately called. As he is one of the Superintendent's party, he will very likely be aide t<> carry something of the sort. I do not think the Separation question is popular here. There is too much jealousy of Auckland in the first place, for such 'a thing to be liked, and then the fact of the idea being supposed to emanate from Sewell & Co., is sufficient to damn it with the mass. Before yon get this, you will very likely have heard the'fresh report that the General Assembly is to be called at Auckland, in February, that the Govt, brig is to come down to fetch the members, and'that Wynyard is to be \e\t to meet it. It is not generally credited, and is looked upon as a dodge of the Governor's at Auckland, where he is reported to have said that he had intimated to the Southern members his intention of assembling them there, and that bis reasons were so cogent that they agreed with him !