WELLINGTON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3244, 29 June 1872, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

(prom our own corkbspondent.)

June 24th.

The political situation here is every day becoming more curious and complicated. The formation of what is termed the "neAv party" is everyAvhere regarded as a fact, and the members thereof are very confident of a numerical majority in the House Avhen Parliament meets. Others think it very probable that on a direct vote, a majority will vote against the Government as at present constituted, but that amongst the component parts of that majority there will be an entire absence of any cohesion on points of principle. Until the creed of the "new party" is definitely announced, it is of .course impossible to predict what its real strength may be ; but there can be little doubt as to the formation having originated in personal and provincial selfishness rather than from any other cause. Messrs Fitzherbert and Bunny have taken the initiative from exactly the same reasons Avhich induced them last year to support the Government, and oppose tliose Avith Avhom they had formerly acted and professed, to sympathise. The accession to office as Superintendent and ProAdncial Secretary respectively exercised a Avonderful influence on the opinions of these two gentlemen in regard to the value of Provincial institutions. They set A'igorously to Avork to make the most of their opportunities, and as it suited the 1 exigencies of the Government last session to buy support, regardless of cost, Wellington and its Provincial Government did remarkably well last session. In fact, Messrs Fitzherbert and Bunny managed to save the Province from a state* of almost hopeless bankruptcy, and to set it up on its feet again. Whether this was really an advantage or not is with many persons a moot point; but it at any rate secured to its authors a certain amount of popularity, and opened to them the prospect of a lengthened tenure of office, if they were content to conduct affairs modestly. But this was not the case. Not content -with being set up in business with a clean sheet as to past liabilities, they wanted more, and one of the first requests was that the confiscated lands in the Patea and Waitotara districts should be handed over to the Provincial authorities. With this demand the General Government did not see lit tocomply, Avhereat the Provincial Government was very Avroth. Then, again, tho promised Wairarapa railway showed no sign of getting beyond the promise stage. Mr Rochfort's much boasted easy route across the Itimutaka Avas found impracticable, and Mr Brogden's estimate of the cost of even the practicable part of the line Avas so very much in excess of the authorised amount, that it became pretty evident that Parliament would meet again before a contract for the construction of the railway could possibly be signed. Knowing tbe objection entertained by a large section of the House to this line, and having, moreover, an innate consciousness that the grounds of objection, the almost certainly unprofitable nature of the line, if made, Avere Avell founded, this delay and running the gauntlet of another session did not at all meet Avith the approval of our Superintendent and his Provincial Secretary. They would like to have forced the Government into either delegating to them the carrying out of the Avork, or entering directly into a contract for it—in either case to committing the Colony irretrievably to the scheme. In this they failed ; and failing, at once turned their attention to an attempt to form a party in opposition to the Government. In this tbey have undoubtedly succeeded, but I think it very doubtful if many of those Avho are Avilling enough to assist in ousting Fox, Vogel^ and Co. from office will be at all disposed to put in or support a Ministry Avhich will do what Messrs Fitzherbert, Bunny, and Co. Avant done. Wrapped up and concealed as it may be in specious professions, Avhat the leaders of Jthe neAV 1 party undoubtedly aim at is tlie^transfererice^to the Provincial authorities of the carrying out of the Public Works aud Immigration Acts ; in fact a complete reversal of the decision that henceforth public Avorks and immigrationshould be administered by the Colonial Government. Unfortunately, the undeniable failure of the present Colonial Executive to administer these matters satisfactorily affords a pretext for tbe demand. It is. hoAvever, almost impassible to believe that such men asfMr Stafford and Mr Hall will so far forget all their former professions as to assent to any such retrograde policy, hoAvever concealed its real tendency may be. The names of both are freely mentioned as being- of the new party, but people who still retain some faith in the honesty of public men, and -believe that the actions of those loaders whom they have long admired and followed have been dictated by something higher than expediency or personal ambition, aye loth to believe it. Mr Fitzherbert's desire to obtain a seat in a Colonial Ministry, Avhich Avould give Wellington all it wants —Mr Bunny's desire to succeed Mr Fitzherbert as Superintendent of Wellington under a kind paternal General Government—are easily understood, but it is not easy to understand the possibility of Mr Stafford aiding and abetting these schemes, especially when his refusal to join the Government last session is remembered. That the Ministry, as at present constituted, Avill not be able to Aveather the session, even its oivn supporters freely admit, raid a

reconstruction of it would be objected % by but very few ; but a very large section of its most consistent and bitter opponents would rather see it stand even as it is than see it assisted and succeeded- by an ultra-Provincial party. A demand for reconstruction Avould, I fancy, be^ acceded to even by the members of the Ministry if strongly urged by any influential party in the Hqjjse ;^but if the new party carries out its proposed programme, I think it very likely that the ultimate result Avail be to strengthen the present Ministry. The probability is, I think, that the question of Provincial v. Colonial administration of public works and immigration will be definitely raised in the Governor's speech, with the object of challenging the new party to a trial of strength on this plain issue.. If the Government be beaten onthisf the Governor can hardly refuse them a dissolution on such a point, and as far as the country here is concerned, I am perfectly certain that the result of such an appeal Avould be adverse to Provincialism. The great tilings done by the present Provincial Executive are fully admitted, but the feeling that the system is rotten to tlie core is still as general as ever, and Avould find expression in the ballot boxes at a general election. Even as it is, I am pretty sure that the Wellington members Avill by no means vote as one man this session. I strongly doubt Mr Pearce's adhesion to the neAv party, I do not think MiBrandon Avill be found Em its ranks, and I am pretty sure that Messrs Andrew and Bryce (the two members avlio opposed the Government last session, Avhen Mr Fitzherbert and Mr Bunny supported it) will still be found on the other side from these two gentlemen. In fact, the neAv creed of the new party will, for the nonce, in all probability turn many old opponents of the Government into unwilling supporters —not because they like the Ministry more, but they like the neAv party less. Altogether the situation is a most curious one, and the outsiders, avlio see the Avorkings of the little game, look for the issue with a good deal of impatience.

The election of Sir David Monro for Waikouaiti was a surprise, but, I think, a pleasant one to most people, and the general idea is that the electors of the district did themselves honour by the choice. Gentlemen like Sir David are in fact much wanted in the present House, and unfortunately, both for the House and the Province, Otago has not been in the habit of sending up many such. It is to be hoped that the election of Sir David Monro is the first step towards a change in the class and style„pf the men Avhom. it may please Otago constituencies to honour with their confidence. It Avill be all the better for the Province if it is so*

Singularly enough Wellington seems to have escaped' the storms and rough weather Avhich have lately prevailed both north and south. One or tAvo cold, Avet, miserable days we certainly have had lately, but the weather generally for the last month or tAvo has been exceptionally good for the season.

Great consternation was caused here the week before last by the discovery that Mr Kaye, the mail agent, avlio arrived in charge of the Nebraska's mails, ivas actually suffering from small-pox. For some days the medical man attending him Avas in doubt as to the real nature of the illness, but he fortunately took precautions in case it proved the lvorst, and the attack itself was a very mild one. As soon as it Avas found to be really smallpox, Mr Kaye Avas removed toSoames Island, but he was sufficiently well to be able to walk from his lodgings to the boat. He had two members of the A. C. told off to attend him, and was made as comfortable as possible on the island, where he has since progressed satisfactorily and is now almost quite well.