WELLINGTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 193, 19 August 1867, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

[PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] August 17. Since writing my last letter, the Government have sustained a defeat and gained a victory, the former, as you have heard, ou the Local Government Bill, but this they declined to make a Ministerial question, the latter on the Gold-fields Amendment Act being carried through committee. On this occasion they threw down the gauntlet to the Opposition, aud after a most interesting aud exciting debate, in which there was hard hitting all round, carried their point triumphantly by a majority of 17. There will be no more engagements now between the hostile armies until the Estimates are brought forward, which will be on Wednesday next, aud I am inclined to think that, owing to a division in the Auckland camp, this session is likely to prove an exception to the established rule and that the Ministry will survive all the attacks of the Otago party. A select committee has been considering the law of bankruptcy, and has recommended the adoption of English law, with such alterations as as shall adapt it to the circumstances of the colony. It is proposed to appoint an accountant for the colony, to do awav with inspectors, to place the estate entirely in the hands of the creditors, and to abolish imprisonment for debt altogether. There will, in fact, be a radical change from the present state of things. I regret exceedingly to hear of the severe fire which has again devastated the city of Nelson. I see from your account of it that your Fire Brigade acquitted themselves splendidly. What the Wellington people would do in the event of a serious fire I cannot conceive; they certainly have a Brigade, but they do nothing but squabble among themselves; most disgraceful scenes are to be witnessed at their meetings, and there appears to be not the slightest discipline among them. Indeed, from what I have seen, it would be a perfect impossibility to establish anything in the shape of a volunteer corps in this place. You must excuse my running away from politics to fires, but ray files of Nelson papers for Otago have just reached me, and the perusing them has rather distracted my attention. To return to the affairs of the country. I may state that the following bills have been read a second time: — The Native Representation Act, introduced by Mr Maclean, which proposes to give three representatives to the natives in this island and one in the Middle Island ; and the Gold-miners' Representation Act, giving two members to Westland. The Municipal Corporations Act has very nearly passed through committee, and will shortly be read a third time. A new version of the circumstances attending the death of the great Csesar was presented to the House the other night by Mr Main, a gentleman who has a great penchant for Latin quotations. To all who studied that hon. member's countenance, it had for some time been evident that he was incubating, and that, as a consequence of that process, a great speech might be expected. Mr J. C. Richmond had no sooner sat down, after speaking for sometime, than Mr Main rose and gave utterance to his thoughts in words to this effect — " Sir, in listening to the speech just delivered by the bon. the Commissioner of Customs, I was forcibly reminded of the immortal words which as history assures us were made use of by the murderer of one of Rome's most noble heroes (then with exquisite pathos) Et tu quoque ! The shouts of laughter that followed must have suggested to the hon. member that possibly his historical allusions were a little inaccurate; however, he struggled bravely through his speech, which was more successful than might have been anticipated from its unfortunate commencement. I had almost omitted to mention that, on the day following that on which he thus distinguished himself, the gentleman in question packed up his traps and started off for Otago (a proof, let us hope, that he is not entirely lost to all sense of shame), where perhaps his constituents, as a token of their admiration of his wouderful talents as an historian, will present him with a copy of Pinnock's Ancient Rome.

f The South Australians seem determined to give Prince Alfred a hearty and liberal reception. It is arranged that he shall land at Glenelg, and embark at Port Reception. A joint committee has been appointed by the Government and the Corporation. It is making preparations for a general illumination of the city. They have also purchased what is described as the handsomest equipage in the colonies for the Prince's use during his visit to Adelaide. It appears that during the administration of . the Victorian Government by Brigadier-General Carey, consequent on the recall of Sir Charles Darling, that officer had drawn the salary appropriated for the Governor; but upon referring to the regulations, it was found that the present Governor was entitled to his salary from the date of embarkation for the colony. This sum having been applied for, General Carey was called upon to refund what had been paid to him; and. after a reference to the Secretary of State for the colonies, the General had to return some £700. It is likely that, under all the circumstances of the case, the amount will again be paid to General Carey, so that he should not be called upon to bear the loss.