WELLINGTON.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 50, 23 June 1858, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

By the last mail we have received only one paper, the Spectator, of the 16th instant. At the nomination of candidates for the Superintendency, on the 14th, Dr. Featherston was proposed by Mr. Rhodes, and seconded by Mr. Johnston ; and Mr. St. Hill was proposed by Mr. E. J. Wafcefield, and seconded by Mr. Hunter. The weather was exceedingly inclement, the rain falling in torrents, and no attempt was consequently made lo address the electors at any length. The show of hands was declared to be in favour of Dr. Featherston, although, according to the Spectator, the latter had only a majority of one. The polling will teke place on the 28th instant, and both parties are evidently doing their utmost to gain the vie ory. The recent decision of the Supreme Court is said to have caused quite a social revolution in Wellington. The old Executive have resigned, and have paid over to a treasurer, appointed by the Speaker of the Provincial Council, the £5,000 said to have been illegally abstracted from the provincial chest; and the Speaker, as acting Superintendent has appointed a new Executive. But perhaps the best account we can give of the present state of affairs is to copy the following statement made to the Provincial Council by the Speaker on the 15th instant: — The Speaker explained to the Council the steps that had been taken by himself in assuming the duties of Acting Superintendent, in pursuance of the resolution of the Council on the resignation by Dr. Featherston of his office. He read the Proclamation issued by him, declaring he had assumed the duties of Acting Superintendent; the correspondence between bimßelf and Dr. Featherston relating to this subject, his letters to the late Executive Council summoning them together, with their replies, refusing to attend; and the correspondence between himself and his Honour the Judge relative to the late suit in the Supreme Court, with the decision of his Honour the Judge, declaring him to be Acting Superintendent and entitled to hold the seal of the province until the election of a Superintendent. He then laid before the Council the resignations by Messrs. Fitzherbert,' Woodward, and Brandon of their offices, and that by Mr. Fox of his seat in the Executive Council, with the Gazttte containing th* appointments of Mr. Wakefield to the office of Provincial Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. Borlase, Provincial Solicitor, and Mr. Hunter to a seat in the Executive Council; and paid • high compliment to Mr. Borlase for the very valuable assistance he had received from that gentleman, and for the proroptmss with which, at considerable pertonal inconvenience, he had rendered that assistance. He also read a letter from Mr. Fitzherbert, offering to pay to any Treasurer the Speaker should appoint the £5,000 paid to his account as Receiver of Land Revenue by Mr. Fox, as Acting Treasurer, with any other sums since received, and explained that the sum of £6,819 had accordingly been paid over from the OrUntal Bank to the account of Mr. E. J. Wakefield, Provincial Treasurer, at the Union Bank of Australia. As this money had been refunded, it was not the intention of the Government to take any legal proceed*

ings with respect to it, as they believed such legal proceedings, authorized by a resolution of the Council, wore to bo instituted in the event of this sum b.'ing withheld by those who hud unlawfully removed it from the Provincial Treasury. He also laid on the table Mr. Wakefield's bond as Treasurer, with sureties, in the sum of £1,000. lie then rend the following resolution, passed by the Executive Council :— "Uesolved : That, with a view to prevent the suspension of the public service, and to provide funds for kipping on the public works, and for other absolutely necessary payments, the Manager of the Union Bank of Australia should be lequ.-sted to enter into arrangements with the members of the present Executive, by which, without interfering with the public money at the account of the Provincial Tivasun, they might be enabled tonvetsuch demands for the publ c service until tlio newly-elected Superintendent can issue warrants, and can join with the Provincial Council in passing a law for the repayment of such advances." He further explained the arrangements made by himself and the members of the Executive Council for raising the sum of £5,000 on their own private credit and responsibility for earning on the Public Works, and for making such payments as might be required in the interval until the election of a Superintendent, as there was no legal authority for spending the Provincial funds, and read a letter from the Manager of the Union Bank, agreeing to a cash credit of £5,000 for that purpose, on the joint security of himself, Messrs. Wakefield, Borlase, Hunter, and Bowler. He stated that Mr. Wakefield had appointed Mr. Yule as acting Treasurer during his temporary absence at Wanganui, and laid on the table the bond entered into by that gentleman with sureties to the amount of £J,OOO. He also read tiie following copy of Dr. Feathcrston's letter of resignation to the Governor: — " Superintendent's Ollice, "Wellington, 2nd April, 1858. " Sic —l have the honour to inform your Excellency that, in consequence of certain proceedings of the Provincial Council of thi3 province, I deem it right to resign the office of Superintendent. " I beg, therefore, to place in your hands my resignation of that office, and to l-equest that your Excellency will be pleased to accept the same, on behalf ot her Majesty. " I apprehend that, under the Constitution Act, it is my duty to discharge the functions of Superintendent until my successor is elected, and I will continue to do so, unless otherwise advised by your Excellency. " I have, &c, " (Signed) I. E. Featherston, "Superintendent. " nis Excellency the Governor." And said that lie had written to Dr. Featherston for a copy of the Governor's reply, accepting his resignation, which Dr. Featherston retained in his private possession, but had reeeiveil no answer.