OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4295, 19 August 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

[FROM OCR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, August 14. For some reason or other the great Abolition debate seems to drag in a surprising manner. Of Major Atkinson's wretched introductory speech 1 have already written. Everyone fully expected that Sir George Grey would make it remarkably warm for the Major, having from Friday to Tuesday to prepare his speech. Everyone, however, was disappointed, for Sir George letthe Major down in a wonderfully easy manner, scarcely, in fact, attempting to reply to him at all. Xo one expected mueh from Sir Donald McLean on a subject in no way connected with Native matters, so no one was at all disappointed when he made a very poor speech,—one which he' evidently only made at all because his position in the Ministry demanded that he should speak after the leader of the Opposition. It was quite a treat when Mr. Reader Wood rose and made a really excellent and powerful speech, having what none of those previously delivered had, the merit of dealing with the bill before the House on its merits. Some of his points, especially those dealing with figures, were very good indeed. Mr. Pyke followed, but although I believe he was once deemed one of the great gems of the Victorian Assembly, he does not command very much attention here, and although he professed to be in favour of the Government proposals, he wa3 remarkably careful to guard himself against promising to support it beyond the secondreading. After him came Mr. Thomson, who, although he often speaks sound sense, and did so on this occasion, does it in such a disagreeable way that very few people indeed have patience to listen to him. As Mr. Thomson usually speaks at great length, his manner is unfortunate. On this occasion ho rapidly emptied the House ; and when he sat down members were glad to go home, and the House adjourned. Next night Mr. Luckie commenced trying to be very sarcastic and severe, but only succeeded in becoming very dismal and bitter. Following him we had Mr. Montgomery, who undoubtedly made the best speech yet made in the debate— clear, logical, and Bound. It was a very creditable and effective speech. Mr. Tribe also spoke very fairly indeed on the other side ; and Mr. Gibbs was by no means bad, — he, like Mr. Pyke, while supporting the principle of the bill, guarding himself against promising to support the Dill beyond its second reading. Thursday being a private members' day, it was agreed to give it up to ordinary business, and to resume the debate on the Abolition question at tho afternoon meeting on Friday. It was arranged that Mr. T. L. Shepherd (the Smile r) should resume it, but that gentleman's eloquence suffered a little by delay. On Thursday Sir George Grey gave notice of a motion for leave to introduce a bill to declare void all Orders in Council relating to confiscated lands, issued since tho 20th July last, or to be issued. A most exciting little debate followed. The Government stood on their dignity, and annonnced their intention to treat it as a want-of-confidence motion. There was some very warm talk, and a good many charges were bandied about in vague terms, but nothing very precise was alleged. It was, however, pretty well understood that the! real case arrived at is some transactions between the Government and Mr. Thomas Russell in relation to some Waikato swamp land. After there had been some fighting, Sir George wished/ to withdraw the motion, bat this the Government would not permit, and so the fight went on. The best of the joke is, I believe, that no Order in Council on the subject referred to has been issued at all since the date named. Sir George Grey, in replying, made a very rigorous speoch, and asked the Government whether if the motion was withdrawn they would promise not to proceed with the transaction until full enquiry had been made. Sir Donald McLean refused any reply ontil the motion was disposed of. Sir George then said that having no intention of making it a want of confidence motion, he would walk out of tho House if it was forced to a division. When the voices were called for, the Opposition were silent, but two of the clerical supporters of the Government, Messrs. Andrew and Bluett cried aye, and demanded a division. Sir George Grey got ap and left the House, followed by all his party, except Mr. Swanson. So great was the rush oat that poor Mr. Cuthbertson, who was rush, ing in from the library to Vote with the Government, "was unable to reach the House before the doors were locked. This, he explained, amidst mnch laughter, afterwards. When the result of the division, 42 to 3, was announced, Sir Donald McLean rose and announced that the Government would move for a select committee to enquire into the whole subject, and that until the report was brought up no further Orders in Council would be issued. This announcement was received, with cheers. This business being satisfactorily disposed ' of, the' Abolition Mr, who had bam waiting impatiently

all day for his chance. He really made the I most of his opportunity when he got it, for his spcecb, allowing for his unpleasant mannerisms, was really about the beat delivered on that side of the House. It had one great fault, however—it was too long. Mr. Shepherd is not popular in the House, and when he speaks long has to address empty benches. After him camo ' Mr. Brandon, who avowed himself tii&t somewhat rare character now-a-days—a thorough Prorincialist. " His remedy was to leave the provinces alone, without nagging at them, and if tho colony had money to spare, giro it to them, instead of in subsidies to Road Boards. This was quite a refreshing programme, on account of its novelty and simplicity. He was succeeded by Major Jackson, who went in, hot against Provincialism, and said he -would vote for Hie bill right through. This brought the debate to a close for the week. There is no telling when the Abolition debate will cud. It has gone very slowly this week, and unleßs it is pushed on very much more rapidly next week, it will last till Christmas, for nearly every member will of course want to say something. I believe, however, that Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Richardson do not intend to say anything, so that the hon. Mr. Bowcn will bo the only Minister who now has to speak. The great gun on that side of the House, however, is Sir. Stafford, and everyone is anxious to hear him. It is to be hoped that he will not disappoint public expectations, as so- many others have already done. Mr. Stafford, however, is not likely to speak just yet, and Mr. Fitzherbert is determined not to prccedo' him, so that a little fencing between tho two may fairly be expected. Mr. Macandrew's Bpcech is also looked forward to with very great interest Tho Government will most certainly have an enormous majority on the second reading —upwards of a score, I imagine ; but despite this, I am more j strongly than ever of the opinion that Aboli- I tion is not to be effected this session. The | Government is now beginning to realise I the difficulty in which it is placed by its measures being two instead of one. Tho . present bill is that for the abolition of the j provinces. The debate on this will probably ! run into the week after next, and then in ! Committee weeks" will certainly be spent I fighting over its twenty-seven clauses and ! the principles which they embody. ABSum-j ing, what I think very unlikely, that the : Government persevere and succeed in carry- : ing this bill through Committco and getting j it read a third time, their work will not ( be half done. The fight will have to be ' resumed , and fought over again on the . second reading of tho Local Government j Bill, on. the principles of which members -' will no doubt have a good deal to say, ' and then if it gets into committco there is unlimited room for fighting in committee 1 over its 271 clauses. Indeed, any half-dozen j members could keep a bill of this length for two or three months in committee with | great ease. It seems to me utterly absurd to expect to get a bill like this through this I session in the face of the opposition which it ! is sure to encounter. If the Abolition BUI ; docß pasß, the Opposition will certainly take I care that the Local Government Bill does not, and as the two bills are really parts of the same scheme, and one is useless without the other, the Government will be obliged to drop the lirst one in the Legislative Council, or get the Governor to refuse his assent to it, If the second bill in any way comes to grief. I believe the Government now very much regrets having embodied its scheme in more than a single bill, seeing what a capital opportunity they have afforded their opponents by the course they have adopted. Mr. Steward is once more happy in having carried his Deceased Wifo's Sister Marriage Bill through the Lower House by increasing majorities at each division. Its second reading in the Legislative Council is not to come on for a fortnight, as by that time it iB hoped Mr. Waterhouse may bo back-to take charge of tho bill, but if this should not happen to bo the case, then the Hon. Mr. Scotland is to act as tho step-father. In connection with this bill I may mention that Mr. Steward's efforts have attracted tho attention of the Society which exists in England for promoting an amendment of the marriage laws in this respect, and the last mail brought out, specially addressed to each member of the Legislature, a bundle of pamphlets containing arguments, quotations, and opinions in favour of legalising marriage with a deceased wifo's sister.

I never before knew a session of Parliament when there was so littlo news stirring. Lobby rumours there are positively none, and even the ordinary amusement of ticking off division lists possesses no interest, for it is pretty well known how each member will vote on the one great question which alone engrosses attention. Even caucus meetings have ceascd, and the whips have an easy time of it. When the bill gets into committee things will become more lively, I have no doubt, as each party will then strain every nerve and resort to every expedient. On Wednesday night last the public meeting, which took place in the city on the subject of Abolition, was much more interesting than the debate in the House on the same subject. The meeting was got up by the Mayor, Mr. Moorliouse, at a few hours' noticc, the first intimation being given in this morning's Times, and the object was evidently to snatch a decision in favour of the Ministry. In this the promoters most signally failed, for a very, large and most thoroughly representative meeting decided by an enormous majority in a totally opposite direction. The Mayor was very much disappointed, and in his chagrin at the feeling shewn by the meeting, he forgot the dignity of his position and the impartiality which, as chairman, he was expected to shew, and acted in a spirit of most determined partisanship ; —after everyone had Bpoken, ho having himself spoken for. three-quarters of an hour at the commencement of the proceedings, ho attempted to feave the chair, putting a Mr. Andrew Young into it, to make another speech in favour of the resolution before the meeting. The indecency of this attempt, however, was so apparent that the meeting absolutely refused to hear him. After trying for nearly a quarter of an hour, ho had to resume the chair, and then an attempt to burke a decision was made by proposing an adjournment, but ih;« the meeting would not have either, and at last, very much against his will, Mr. Moorhonse was obliged to put the amendment, demanding an appeal to the country before any constitutional changes were made, and this was carried by a most overwhelming majority, amidst deafening cheers. There were between five and six hundred people present, including representatives of all cusses. The question was discussed with very great ability at the meeting. A most absurd attempt has been made by the disappointed parties to represent the meeting as having been packed, but this : is most untrue. I never before saw a fairer meeting in Wellington. The promoters of the meeting were unfortunate in their choice of speakers to advocate their view of the question, the movers and seconders of the motion in favour of the Abolition Bill being very unpopular men, and of no position or influence.