WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 897, 28 September 1866, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

(pjiOJI ODE OWN COKBESPONDENT.) September 22. The excitement of political strife having subsided in a great measure, since the accession of the present Ministry to office, I have forborne transmitting to you such communications with regard to Parliamentary proceedings as I had been in the habit of doing.

When Mr. Stafford took into the cabinet his present colleagues, it was generally supposed that a desperate opposition would be given to the present coalition by the members from Auckland, Otago and Canterbury. The battb ground was speedily chosen by the malcontents from Canterbury and Otago, and it was announced that the proposed imposition of the stamp duties would be regarded as their throwing down the gauntlet. Mr. FitzGerald, the member for Christchurch, who had retired in the sulk < because his Kxcellency had not sent for him upon the downfall of the Ministry with which ]Vlr. Stafford commenced this Parliamentary campaign, re-appeared upon the stage prepared to vote with the opposition against the imposition of stamp duties notwithstanding he had been a member of Mr. Weld's Ministry when that gentleman proposed this very identical system of taxation last year. It is said by some that Mr. FitzGerald was ordered back to his post by his constituents at Christchurch ; brothers, that a telegram from the head quarters of the opposition was sufficient to re-call him to his duty. Be that as it rua}-, lie was soon found swelling the ranks of the opposition. It would have made a fine subject for a picture to pourtray the express of sovereign contempt with which he surveyed the new Ministers, all his old colleagues, reposing contentedly on Mr. Stafford's bosom, whilst he alone was cast out. It was in vain for him to level insinuations of treachery against his former companions in arms, as the astuteness of the Treasurer had a ready defence, by asking him why did you not remain here with us until the imbroglio was over, instead of withdrawing from the combat like Achilles, to vent your spleen at a distance from your friends? The Treasurer's defence, although it might be satisfactory to the professional place hunter, could not but be distasteful to men of principle and honour. It simply amounted to this : You, Mr. FitzGerald, were our leader; you know that we are a mercenary band ; you "forsook us on the field of battle ; what remained for lis but to take service under a new chief. It is nothing to us that he has all his life borne arms against us. Pay is our creed. Many mercenaries before ns have changed sides with profit to themselves. I have said that Auckland was expected to join the opposition. I do not know whether your members have given an unqualified adhesion to the powers that be, but it is certain that the battle ground selected by Messrs. Moorhouse, Ward," FitzGerald, Vogel, &c, was in no way approved of by the Auckland members. Before the opposition tried their strength with the Government, it leaked out that Auckland was determined to have at least three-eighths of the Custom's revenue, and as that could not be secured without fresh taxation, they to a man voted in favour of levying stamp duties. Their conduct settled the matter, and gave the Government a tremendous majority, forty-two to twenty on the first division. The opposition seemed greatly chagrined at the part taken by Auckland, for it was not generally supposed that a Ministry in which Colonel Haultain, Major Richardson, Mr. Fitzherbert, and Mr. J. C. Kichmond held seats, could so soon have the confidence of the united band of the Northern province. Minor attempts were afterwards made to retard the progress of the measure, the last of which by Mr. Crosbie Ward, deserves to be recorded. He had, shall I call it the modesty or the auda-

city, to propose that the operation of the >tamp Act should be confined to the Northern Island, ! whilst the wealthy Middle Island was to be exempt from the obnoxious impost. The good sense of the rtous'e, however, indignantly rejected the proposal by a majority of 40 to 15. The Hawke's Bay debate is stiil unfinished, but it is expected to come off to morrow. It is supposed that Auckland is safe for the present. I don't recollect whether I told you that one of your members (Mr. O'Korke), made a proposal some time ago to have the boat that runs from Sydney to Auckland with the English mails, transferred to Melbourne, and to run thence to Manukau. Ho stated that there would be 600 miles of steaming saved per month, and in the course of post via Suez, one mo.nth. That in fact, by the adoption of that route, Auckland would obtain the same advantages that Otago " has long enjoyed. The Portmaster General (Mr. Hall), answered that the Sydney route costs £4GO per month, and that the line from • Melbourne to Manukau would cost £050 per ' month, but if it was the desire of the Auckland Provincial Government to haye the alteration : made, he thought it might be carried out. There is a rumour current that there is a split ; in the Cabini I. I shall have another opportui nity of writing to-morrow, when something i more definite may be known, of which I shall t apprise you.