WELLINGTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1686, 12 May 1866, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(From Correspondent of the Otago Daily Times.) May 4,1866. That nothing relative to the reconstruction of the Ministry is yet announced, is, I believe, owing to two causes: one being the absence of the Governor, and the other the time inevitably consumed by correspondence. The Governor's sanction has, I am told, been requested to the gazetting of Mr, Paterson as Postmaster-General, it having been ascertained or understood that the continuance of that gentleman in the Ministry will, on the whole, prove acceptable to the Otago representatives. Colonel Haultain's has always been looked uponasapermanent appointment, and will probably be so j but Colonel Russell is still generally regarded as only filling the Native Minister's seat temporarily. It is said that offers of a seat in the Cabinet have been made to one or two gentlemen, and declined; but that by the mails due here on the 7th and Bth acceptances are expected sufficient to enable Mr. Stafford to submit a complete Ministry for his Excellency's approval. I mentioned a few weeks ago that Wellington was likely to be represented, though probably from the Upper House, and it is now said that the Hon. Mr. Johnston has had the Treasurership pressed upon him, but without success. Of all the public men I know, none are better qualified for this post than Mr. Johnston, and it is a matter for much regret that his business engagements should have led him to decline it. He would have had to seek a seat in the Lower House, but there would have been no difficulty on that score, as one of the Wellington City Members would gladly have made way for him, and there would have been no opposition. The regret at Mr. Johnston's refusal to accept the treasurership is, however, somewhat modifisd by the understanding, that he has consented to join the Ministry without a portfolio, and will, I pre sume, take charge of the Government business in the Upper House. It is probable that a Canterbury member (not Mr. Wnrd) will be Treasurer; at any rate it is asserted that it has be?n offered to one, and that it is believed the offer will be accepted. It has been currently reported that Dr. Featherston will take office; but while I believe the offer to do so has been pressed upon him, he has, on the score of ill health amongst other reasons finally declined to avail himself of it. Everything connected with ministerial arrangements has been kept remarkably quiet here, and it is only in the inner political circle, that the information now communicated—sparse though it be—has any circulation. I mentioned in my last that the purport of the Governor's dispatches had been sent to him at Auckland. We hear by the Mail today that, on the steamers arrival, the Government Agent there telegraphed to the Waikato, where his Excellency was, "that important papers had arrived ; where should they be sent to?" TheGovernor'B reply was," send them hack to Wellington, where I shall be in a few days." At Government House they are expecting Sir George to-day, but there is a pronged visit up the Wanganui River to pay first, which, if his Excellency keeps, will detain him some days yet. Pehi and his people (about whose desire for submission I sent you Mete Kingl's letter in my last) have arranged to pay Mete a return visit at Pipiriki, and great preparations in the shape of lillipee, dried eels, and other Maori delicacies, are being made, in expectationthat the Governor will be_ present and be good-natured enough to receive the promised submission with becoming joyfulness. It will be a sad pity if the Governor disappoints them, as he so often does the White districts, as the meeting may undoubtedly be turned to considerable advantage. When Mr. Whittaker telegraphed to his Excellency, as above mentioned, the Governor was at Hamilton, one of the military townships south of Ngaruawhaia, whether he had gone, expecting to meet Thompson, or at any rate to give Thompson an opportunity of meeting him if he felt so disposed. The Governor had visited Kawhia, but Rewi was not there haying gone somewhere out of the way! It is not just to blame merely because of failure; but, with an almost extreme desire to conciliate, I yet think that it cannot be wise for the Governor to place himself in the way of having the cold shoulder turned townrdi him. He ought to be sure that his information is correct, and certain that in going to meet natives they will be there to receive him, otherwise-going to Kawhia to meet Rewi and finding him purposely absent for instance-does an incalculable amount of harm. Pew of us know how much harm it produces, because we are unable to regard a tatooed, blanketed, bare-legged Maori with the same feeling that we regard a Governor or a General. We look upon it as an act of condescension on His Excellency's part, but tho natives do not so regard it. Rewi is, in their eyes, every bit as great a man as the Governor is in ours, if not greater and Kcwi's absence is therefore really ml tended as an insult and a humiliation - the Governor's visit to him being a mark of condescension is about the last opinion' they would think of admitting. Some five years ago, when Wi Tako was living «t the Hutt, and had to appear 11 fore the Magistrate at a time when there was great excitement, the natives objected b cause they feared he might come to harnT Mr Fitzherbert offered himself as a boste S, i' e If 1 ?, spurned the idea that his life was of an equal value to Wi

TakoV. Having failed to son at Hamilton is doubtful. luni >• greats pity if his Excellency i,„ 'i he «W vi.it P.piriki, where r,t Ufa ?S people reillyare anxious for is an - hi! able, or passive rebels, and have I, m itwas,ertun that '"Waikato They only need letting alone wil,^' 1 to the latest moment been in active rcA" l3B « d »»'«3to«y, "I've had enCH 1011 ' have; let us shake hands and h«. ,1 M civ! to « ; ach other for the future." fc y really is the extent to which n cvgrthmhuk?„ , thl » to make pence with many of those *i > been engaged in the late rebellion aTt By tlid Wellington, yesterday week o. i Itussell went to papier with the. i„V/„^ 1 of visiting Tauranga. When the (;„»" n was lately on his inland journey t„ Z n " r in that neighbourhood. £3OOO 1., , ?>• as the price for which the Ara*? » f capture Kereopa and Patara. them professedtheirwiilingnes, loafiX 1 capture but they wanted money d 0 '? ht would like the money put into thriri , y at once, because they might notffi n ' capture Kereopa, and then they Zt\ the money. Colonel Kussell L, !> open to do business, if possible Hi.,•!" u '' tions are said to be to remind them t) VT" have already received in pay, C | otin > ions &c.-say.£isoo-andLt '1 lmgtogive them another £isoo wliJ,u 1 ' have captured the two murderers, £ meanwhile, an advance for " travelli.«, gl penses." If business is done on th«e"S 9 f other terms, and Kereopa and Patan 1 , be safely lodged in any of KJj* gaols, uwiU be worth all the nwnei ,t! may pass, if the Government make an U pie of them. Nothing has yeu ran 1 1 7" to the fate of the condemned t n S Auckland gaol. Petitions of ihe S-' mentioned some little time since-Te d i root, had been spared: then why m i the branches ? -hL been presSe" J Governor; but I cannot see how l, ecan 1 1 o, o hanging some of them.-and ytt i° rn , almost dare to venture the assertion that h. will find some reason for commute thf J« tences of the whole. utn o ttie sen-

Ihe newspapers here find the subject of the Manawatu-purchase a rich soil fo V,[' production of leaders. The Canterbury pZ publishing every now and then letters fro Manawatu natives and commenting there™ m sensational style, provides an interSJ alterative topic for both the Advertisers topic on which they cannot ail to interest the public. I have nor"! to make your columns a vehicle for the tun. slant refutation of the Press articles • bu f there is no further trouble in .tore ibr\» Zealand than that which will arise »« pectingtheMauawatu, the only trouble she is likely to have will be confined to is, Of words over sundry mare's nests, which though supposed to be fabulous, do occasioaally, like the sea serpent, levari the curious. l

Major Cootes, of Masterton, one of our members m the Upper House, is reported to be seriously ill, and not likely to be able to attend the Assembly. Nothing ha? been said about increasing the Upper House, but it is thought highly probable that there will be a few additions to it, there being some half-dozen or more resignations actual and contemplated, Messrs. Whitaker, J C Richmond, and Hall being the most notable Your readers will not have failed to notice that the mail dates of the Panama line put forth by the Company at Home ana those issued by its manager here are totally different—the one leaving Sydney at the commencement of each month, the other in the middle; the former being that best suited for Sydney interests, while the latter is best suited for New Zealand interests. The final settling of the time table awaits the arrival of Captain Vine Hall. The N.Z.S. Company held their half-yearly meeting on Monday. Everything passed of satisfactorily, the ten per cent, dividend making even the most crusty shareholders remarkably amiable. The local papers report the proceedings at great length, to which I refer vou. A specimen of the Cook's Strait cable was received by the Government' by the Black Swan, a few days since, and is n >w deposited in the Museum. It is nearly two inches thick, and seems very strong. ■ There is no native news (other than the contemplated feast at Pipiriki). Prom hence to Taranaki, the whole coast, is much quieter than the most sanguine expected. The Taranaki Herald says that all the Waikatos Who fought with William King in that neighbourhood have cleared out northwards. Some of them are reported to have stated that the only place where it was likelv that there would be any more annoyance was at Patea, where they cautioned us to look oat for" Kai Kolraru "or murderers. Ido not place any reliance whatever on the latter portion of this information, for the simple reason that it is Jugged in as a sort of text on which to lecture the Government relative to the grave responsibility it will incur if it is not prepared, under such circumstances, to enter upon a new campaign. As, however. the surveyors, Messrs. Smith and Williams, with a staff of assistants, have, within the last fortnight, gone down to Patea to survey the contemplated military settlement, it is to be hoped that their going about in twos or threes will be prevented, as it would be folly, by so doing, to invite outrage. Such an invitation is almost sure to be accepted, and so the dying embers mav be temporarily fanned. This is where the gravest responsibility really rests. The Alpha petroleum well of Carter and Co. is now sunk to ninety-five feet, and though not yet flowing, is producing oil in paying quantities. Several companies are in the course of formation, which, ltt us hope will prove sufficiently remunerative to help Tarauaki over its native troubles.