WELLINGTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 438, 14 January 1857, Page 4

WELLINGTON.

Provincial Council. — Tuesday, December, 30, 1856.—The Council for the Province of Wellington commenced the labours of its fourth and Hst Session to day. During the interval that has elapsed between the prorogation of the last, nnd the commencement of the present Session, the elections have taken place to supply 12 additional members, in accordance with the provisions of the Enlargement of Council Bill. Of these members, nine were present, viz:— Messrs. Carpenter, Edwards, Holdsworlh, Plimmer, and Skey, for the city of Wellington ; Messrs. McManaway and Reading for the Wellington Country District; and Messrs. Blythe and Handley, for the Wanganui and Rangitikei District. The three additional members, who were absent, were Mr. Milne, for the Hutt.,and Messrs.Duncan and Russell, for the Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay District In addition to the above new members^ elections have also taken place to supply va_ canoies created cither by resignation or <te_

wise, the issues of which have been the return of Messrs. W. Allen and W. Dorset for the City of Wellington, the former in the place of Mr. W. Hickson (resigned), and the latter in tlie place of his brother, Dr. Dorset (deceased); and the return, also, of Mr. Joseph Masters for Wairarapa, vice Mr. F.D. Bell (resigned), and of Mr. John Wilson, for Wanganni, vice Mr. John Gibson (resigned). 01 these last four new members, only Mr. Wilson was absent-. The only other absentee was Mr. W. Watt, who lias sat for Wanfranui since the first election of members to the Council. The Council, when fully attended, now comprises 30 members, out of which 16 are altogether new and untried. Besides the above elections, changes have also taken place in some of the official departments since the termination of the last Session, Mr Woodward having accepted the office of Provincial Treasurer, in the place of Mr. Fox, who resigned the appointment prior to attending the last Session of the General Assembly at Auckland, in April last; and Mr. Fox having recently proceeded to the departmental office of Chief Crown Lands' Commissioner for this Province, vacated by the retirement of Mr. Dillon Bell. The building now occupied for the Sessions of the Council, as well as for the different Government offices, is that formerly knownby the name of the Wellington Hotel, the billiard room of which has been converted into the Cou cil Chamber. The room itself, to say the least of it, is extremely inconvenient for the purpose, the dimensions being altogether too limited for the accommodation required, whether for the members themselves or for the public generally. The arrangements also, limited as the space is, are not without fault,and we speak personally as well as feelingly, when we say that the accommodations for the press are extremely inconvenient and had, so much so, indeed, that some considerable difficulty will be experienced in hearing hon. members when addressing the Council. The summons convening the Council appointed 3 o'clock as the hour of assembling, at which time precisely the hon. Speaker (Charles Clifford, Esqr.) took the chair. The Clerk of the Council having read the proclamation appointing the Session,the Speaker proceeded to open the ..Council by reading the usual short form of prayer. At the conclusion of the prayer, his Honor the Superintendent entered the Council Chamber, the members as well as most of those present in the gallery rising to receive him. [His Honor's address is too long for our columns at present.] New-Year's morning was ushered in by the firing of guns, sky rockets, and blue lights, from the shipping in the harbour, succeeded by hearty cheers and salutes of a ' happy new year.' which were responded to in right good earnest by the people on the beach; —the bells of the vessels rung a merry peal, and the heart-stirring1 strains of ' Auld lang syne,' ' Home, sweet home,' and the ' Royal Anthem,' broke enchantingly on the ear. Such was the beginning of 1857 in Port Nicholson, a year, we have every reason to believe, fraught with prosperity to New Zealand. The day was observed as usual as a general holiday. Numerous vehicles of all descriptions were early in i*equisition for the conveyance of the townfolks, dressed out in their best attire, to the Hutt, and to the surrounding country districts— every thing having the appearance of happi. ness and gaiety on this festive occasion— Spectator. Christmas Sports.—On Boxing Day,the settlers of Porirua and its vicinity met at Mr. Bromley's, Pahautanui, to celebrate the day by various amusements. The first was a sailing match between three boats, Mr. Bra dey's'Lady of the Lake,' Mr. London'

' Mary,' Mr. J. Bowler's ' Vivid.' The race was well contested, but was won by the ' Vivid.' This was succeeded by a horse race in which the Maories joined. There were also several matches of cricket-played, and one between the natives and Europeans. The fineness of the day drew tog-ether a goodly muster to lake part inand witness the sports; in fact, it was quite a gala day and all seemed to enjoy themselves to the utmost. — Independent.