WELLINGTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 163, 15 July 1867, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(PROM A CORRESPONDENT. )i No doubt you will be on the look out for some news from the raining or reigning (you can spell it which way you like) City of Wellington — I prefer the former as being more applicable, for the inhabitants of this town were congratulating themselves last Sunday that that was positively the sixth fine day they had seen in seven weeks. The effect of so much rain has been, as you may easily imagine, to render the streets almost impassable, were your Nelson Board of Works to see Trafalgar-street as deep in mud as is the principal street of Wellington, they would certainly break their hearts, and once more would the wailiug lament of Webbius be heard from the "windmill that overlooketh the ocean." If I were asked to name the most prominent features of Wellington at present, I should describe them as measles, riiud and members, to which nouns substantive may be applied the adjective " deep " in its three degrees of comparison, the measles being very mild, we will call them skiu deep, the mud knee deep, the

members, of course* being most profoundsome them indeed quite unfathomable. Much anxiety was caused by the nonarrival of the Taranaki from Auckland, on Monday evening, she being then four days overdue. The Government steamer St. Kilda was despatched in search of her, but on the following morning, greatly to the relief of everyone here, the missing boat was signalled and reached the wharf about 12 o'clock, thus enabling her passengers to be present at the opening of Parliament, which took place at 2 p.m., yesterday — but so important an event requires a fresh sentence. At half-past one a party of volunteers^ numbering about 60, and headed by a very creditable brass band, marched down to the Houses of Assembly, and there, after waiting in a pelting storm for about a quarter of an hour (for on that day Wellington gave us a magnificent specimen of what she could do in the way of rain), presented arms to his Excellency as he entered the house. A word about these volunteers. I have no doubt that they would prove excellent troops if required on active service, but all will allow thßt a lot of men clad in dingy trousers aud blue smocks, with brown belts round their waists, aud with a most pernicious habit of swinging their disengaged arm as they march, do not present a very imposing appearance, such as you would expcet to see on so grand an occasion as the opening of Parliament. I think the Centurion of your Nelson hosts would be greatly scandalised to see his men turn out in such style. The whole of the vacant space in the "House of Lords," excepting that portion reserved for the •' faithful Commons," was occupied by ladies, and as the clock struck two, a general rising of "lords" and ladies gave notice that his Excellency was approaching. The Speaker descending from the chair of state resigned it to H. M. Eepresentative, who at this moment entered, attended by his Staff, among whom were several officers from H.M. ship Charybdis. The members of the Lower House were at once summoned, and in a few minutes the Speaker, preceded by the sergeant-at-arms bearing the mace, and followed by the Premier and members, entered the Legislative Chamber. Mr Stafford handed the speech to his Excellency, who read it in a clear voice that was heard all over the building, returned it to its author, and retired. It is not for me to make any remarks upon the matter of the speech, except to say that the Otago members appeared greatly disappointed at the very slight allusion made to their troubles, which they appear to think the most important feature in. New Zealand polities. " France is Europe, and I am France," said the first Napoleon. One very short step takes us from the sublime to the ridiculous: for instance, " Otago is New Zealand, aud Macandrew is Otago," say the members of that province. Holding such views they look upon all the members from all parts of the colony as bound to unite with them in resenting any insult offered to their much persecuted Superintendent; but, unfortunately for them, their argument is based on false premises, most of the members declining to accept the proposition that Otago and New Zealand are synonyms. Wellington, July 10.