WELLINGTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XL, Issue 3926, 25 August 1873, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

[feom a coeeespondent.] Aug. 21,

The lobby is full of rumours as to a probable reconstruction of the Ministry at the end of the session if that desirable point can be reached safely with the present team. It is pretty-generally recognised that Messrs Bathgate and O’Rorke are the weak points in the present Ministry, that, in fact, they cannot be deemed altogether successful in their respective rdles, Mr Vogel would probably not be sorry to see them comfortably provided for, arid it is scarcely likely that the House would put up with them for another session. It happens opportunely, therefore, that there are vacant offices, to which they can retire and rest themselves after the fatigues of political life. Dr Bennett, the Registrar-General, is entitled to retire on his pension, and is anxious to do so, Mr O’Rorke would, it is thought, make a most excellent successorSince Mr Batkin became Secretary to the Treasury there has been no secretary in the Stamp department, the Ministerial Commissioner having no intermediate buffer between -himself and the chief clerk ? It is said this arrangement does not work well, and that the office of Secretary of Stamps needs revival. Who, then, is so fit so occupy it as the present Commissioner, Mr Bathgate, if he will but consent to sacrifice his Ministerial dignity and accept the permanency ? It is of course premature yet to speculate on the probable successors in the Cabinet, if Messrs Bathgate and O’Rorke retire. Mr Vogel, however, will require to get good men if it be true, as another rumour has it, that he intends to go home himself to float the new Public Works Loan.

The Canterbury and Otago members have, I believe, arrived at a pretty fair understanding in regard to many important points. Thirty of them attended a caucus yesterday to discuss the financial statement, and a committee consisting of three members from Otago and a similar number from Canterbury was appointed to reduce the opinions expressed, and the decisions arrived at, to the form of resolutions. The first subject touched on was the proposal requiring the provinces to give landed security for all further railways. It was determined that this must be resisted, and that the completion out of loan of all. the sanctioned lines in the schedule of the “ Railway Act of 1871” should be insisted on. This being done, the members expressed perfect willingness that the construction of all branch lines should be left to the provinces to carry out. There was very little said, and, I believe, no definite opinion expressed regarding the Provincial borrowing proposals of the Government. The meeting, however, expressed a strong opinion in favour of the colony raising a large loan for the purchase of Native land in the North Island, so that the North Island provinces might be endowed with a landed estate. These were, I believe, the main points dealt with, and the conclusions arrived at, but it is of course very difficult to learn exactly what goes on at these caucuses. The office of Inspector and Secretary of Postoffices, which was held by the late Mr Gray, in conjunction with his other offices, is to be filled up by the appointment of a gentleman to be imported from England for the purpose. Mr Hall has been asked to make the selection after consultation with the English postal authorities.

Messrs Gillies, Bunny, Fitzherbert and Co. are of course greatly pleased that the Legislative Council has again this session refused to pass the Provincial Council Powers Bill. Although this measure was professedly one for, to some extent, extending the powers of Provincial Councils, it excited the Opposition of the Provincial party in the Lower House. The chief objection urged against it in the Council this time, seemed to be, that it gave Provincial Legislatures power to establish Courts of Judicature able to impose fines up to £SOO. The Lords first of all negatived the motion that the bill bo “ now ” read a second time, and then, apparently remembering the course adopted last session in making a second and successful effort to got a bill through, they formally ordered that this bill should be read a second time that day six months. This effectually disposes of the matter for the present session. There was a long discussion yesterday on a motion of Mr Bluett’s, asking the Government to bring in a bill to give effect to the recommendations of the Select Committee on the importation of stock. Mr Yogel seemed very sore about the rejection of the Government Bill, founded on the recommendations of the Inter-colonial Conference, and he opposed the motion on the ground that it would leave the colony open to very large claims for compensation ; that, in fact, owners of diseased stock

might bring them to -this colony for the ex press purpose of having them condemned and compensation paid. Mr Vogel urged a number of other objections, all of which were however pretty fully answered by Mr Stafford, who warmly supported the Canterbury system now in force. Mr Rolleston did the same, and drew the attention of the Government to the existence of disease amongst some cattle in the Kaikouras district, urging that they should be destroyed and compensation paid for them. This ho said wou’d not amount to much, and if the cattle were not destroyed the disease would probably spread. Mr Bluett ultimately announced his intention of himself bringing in a bill to give effect to the recommendations of the committee.

The Licensing Bill is getting on slowly in Committee. The permissive clauses, over which of course the real struggle will take place, have not yet been reached. Mr G. B. Parker tried to throw out the bill altogether, by moving that the chairman should leave the chair, but this was lost by a large majority, and the hill is now being proceeded with, clause by clause. Mr Fox has stated that even if the permissive clauses are net passed, he is willing to take the rest as an instalment, but I fear that the rest will soon be so altered, that he won’t think it worth while to go on with the bill. Already, on Mr Rolleston’s motion, power is given to the Provincial Count’ls to declare what classes of licenses shall be issued, while Mr J. L. Gillies has upset Mr Fox’s pet scheme of an elective licensing Bench, and has substituted a Bench consisting of the Resident Magistrate or chairman of petty session of a district, and not less than three or more than seven other gentlemen nominated by the Governor. Mr Reader Wood, the other night, wanted the Government to fix a date for a renewal of the general debate on the Financial Statement, but Mr Vogel declined to do so, and the House was evidently on his side. In fact, any general discussion is merely waste of time, and the major portion of the House prefer to d : Bcuss the various proposals as they come before it in the shape of bills. The estimates have accordingly been proceeded with, and very considerable progress made in themNo reductions have been made as yet, and, singular to say, most of the talk was in protest against reductions made in certain cases. There was an attempt made to get up a discussion on the Native estimates, and Mr Gillies, according to his wont, made a fierce attack on the Native Department, expressing an earnest wish for its annihilation. He, however, found few sympathisers, and the estimates were passed. There was a good deaj of talk over the Governor’s establishment and a clear underst nding seems to have at last been arrived at as to Gubernatorial allowances. A bill to increase his Excellency’s salary to £SOOO, in order that his status in the Colonial Office list may not bo affected, has been brought in, hut the usual allowances are to he decreased by a corresponding amount, so that the alteration will really make no difference to the colony. Mr Stafford and other members objected to the too liberal allowances made to the late Governor in the matter of liveries, saddlery, &c, while Mr Vogel indignantly repudiated the charge made, I think, by the Nelson Examiner, that these allowances had been permitted by Ministers as a kind of bribe. In future, the allowances to the Governor are to be strictly limited to the £llsO per annum voted. The colony is to keep the official part of Government House furnished. His Excellency is to have the use of the present furniture in the rest of the hpuse, k but any new furniture required for his private use is to he bought by the colony, but he is to pay 6 per cent, per annum on its cost.

Mr Bradshaw yesterday moved that, with a view of ascertaining without doubt the exact status of the New Zealand University, the Government be requested today on the table of this House the opinion of the AttorneyGeneral on the following point:—Whether the requirements of the New Zealand University Act, 1870, are complied with, while the University is without professors, officers, servants, students, &cj? The Government at once promised to obtain the desired opinion. The Governor is now engaged in a very important but tedious enquiry. I have frequently in previous letters alluded to the American, ship William Tapscott, and your readers are doubtless familiar with the circumstances of the mutiny on board her. The American Consular Agent instituted an enquiry on board, and the result was that he applied to the Governor, under the Extradition Act, for a warrant to justify sending the mate and carpenter to America for trial, on charges of revolt and attempt to murder. His Excellency, as the representative of the Home Secretary, had accordingly to issue a warrant to himself, as Governor, to hold an enquiry, and this is now proceeding daily at Government House, His Excellency sitting from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the exception of a short adjournment for lunch. There are Counsel on both sides. The clearness and judicial skill displayed by the Governor in conducting the enquiry pre remarkable. I have seen few judges, and still fewer magistrates, who could approach him in this way, and his legal knowledge is evidently neither slight nor superficial; in fact, his conduct in the matter is the theme of general admiration, and has tended greatly to increase the feeling of esteem and respect which he has almost universally excited since he has been here; in fact, we have got a jewel of a Governor, and are wise enough to appreciate him.

London Amusements. —I believe (says a lady correspondent of the Southern Cross) London is now the most musical capital in Europe. The great perfection to which the art is being brought in public is tellingupon private society. One hardly ever hears young ladies play and sing nowadays. They learn music, indeed, and from the most expensive masters, but their friends profit by their acquirements on only the moat informal occasions. Professional musicians form a portion of all private entertainments of a certain style and importance, and concerts have taken the place of the “ dances,” as distinguished from balls, of a few seasons ago. It is the custom now, at the “ afternoons ” of certain great ladies, to “ give music ” —that is, a professional singer of great repute, attired in splendid afternoon dress, comes in, sings a song or two, and retires, to do the same in some other drawingroom. This costs money, and is only one of the innovations which are fast turning “ afternoon tea ” into an institution involving great expense and excessive luxury. The toilettes, worn on these occasions are very magnificent, and the flower decorations of the rooms are superb. All the fireplaces in the reception-rooms are to be turned into jardinieres this summer, and already at one or two groat houses the now fashion of suspending wreaths across the entrance on festive occasions has been adopted. Natural flowers only are worn in the hair at balls, and huge bouquets are carried in the hand, to the general inconvenience. Young girls wear large bunches of violets or primroses, tied in with the bows of the long and wide sashes which adorn their gowns, while the elder ladies wear sprays of lilac, purple and white. The flower shows are to be more than ever wonderful this year; there are rumours of marvellous results in rose variation, and perfect prodigies in dwarf flowers.