WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 624, 14 November 1863, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

(FROM THE DAII.T TIMES CORRESPONDENT.)

Wellington, 4th November, 1863. The Prince Alfred came in here yesterday from Sydney and Nelson two days before her time, and as I learn tbis morning that fche intends making a trip to Otsgo, I avail myself of the opportunity to send you particulars of the very unexpected news which beads this letter.

You will be expecting to hear of the fall of Mere Mere ; for that, however, you must still wait a little onger. That event, being expected, would really create hat little excitement compared to the totally unexpected event connected with the Ministry, if it vere not that we were all so deeply interested in the moving incidents of a battle field, compared to what we are in the intrigues of political parties. I told yon in my last that Ministers had the game in their own hands ; that while Mr Fitzgenld, Mr Fox, and others would have their occasional fling at the Ministry, yet that no serious opposition was either contemplated or would be practicable, I told you ao confidently that if Ministers could.-, but make up their personal diferenc&«, they need f»ar nothing, that I should scarcely feel myself justified in expressing any opinion, however wall founded I might deem iff to be, had the present Ministerial crisis arisen from the threatening aspect of the Assembly. It has arisen from internal intrigues, and irom that cause only. It has added another illustration of the truth of the utter hopelessness of a divided house attempting to stand, and has hi to the coiifiimation of the gostip that has fir months past been so freely circulating, relative to the indifferent terms on which the Ministry personally were with each other. The Cresswellian Court has revealed how much, the weaker sex will uncomplainingly bear from their lords and masters, and how numerous are the ingenious contrivances which are put forth to counteract the tittle tattle of the servants meanwhile. When at last the separation is determined upon, how often 13 the mantle of charity thrown over tbe grossest brutalities, and " incompatibility of temper" put forth to tba world as a convenient blind to those whose prying eyes or prurient minds would otherv/ise gloH over the minutest details. t Political tittle ta'tle for some months past has made r Domett and Mr Russell at such variance as to prevent them speaking to each other, and sundry anecdotes of the want of confidence Ministers had in each other and in tbe Governor, enlivened by specimens of " brusquene«s " at tlie Council Board, nave led to the general belief that the Cabinet by no means presented a specimen of that unity which is strength. It would not be correct in me to write or in your journal to publish the racy anecdotes which have been circulated, but it is only just that the public should know what the real cause of the crisis is. .The want of a leader in the Upper House is the ostensible ground, but that is so flimsy an excuse that it won't hold water for a moment. ' Incompatibility of temper" is the real and only ground. Ministers could not go on without another head, and another head they endeavored to obtain, failing which, the resignation of the whole took place on Tuesday the 27th ult. Ministers had been hoping that Mr Domett would retire in favor of Mr Stafford or Mr WMttaker, and had brought the utmost pressure they could to effect this modification, but Mr Domett would not budge an inch. On Saturday, the 24th. ult , all but Mr Domett resigned, hut on the Monday a conference took place, when Sir George Grey endeavored to reconcile matters and get their resignations withdrawn. Mr Domett would not give up the premiership, but was willing to do anything else. All the while he remained premier his position was safe; if the Cabinet quarrelled he remainei, while those who chose might go, but if he became anything else he seemed to have entertained the idea that he would have to mind bis P's and Q's, and be himself liable to get notice to quit;* He would not consent to have Sis talons pared nor his teeth drawn, but he would meet the wishes of his colleagues as far as he could. He offered to go into the Legislative Council and give up the leadership of the House of Representatives to Mr Stafford, but the premiership he was determined to stick to. Mr Stafford was not willing to act in a subordinate capacity, out Ccesar aut nullus was his motto, and so the conference terminated, and on Tuesday afternoon Mr Domett also resigned. The Lord Ashley, with the Southern members an'J Beveral from here, had arrived the game day, and within a couple of hours after he had stepped on shore, Mr Fox was ient for by the Governor to form a ministry. Mr Fox consented to try, but what his chances are could not be ascertained when the Wonga left the next morning. Hia next chance i 9 to coalesce with Mr Whittaker, whoi it was said, was not indisposed to the alliance if the Stafford party did not prevent it. A st'ODg government migi<t thus be formed, and the colony would fjeel satisfied that it had a " material guarantee" for the policy of the future. So many new members- are iv the house that old parties are completely broken up, and the old landmarks are as completely removed. Nothing now divides Stafford and Fox but personal considerations, and there are but few political considerations to divide their supporters. The Waitara question has been disposed of by the Governor and Messrs Domett and JMI, and cannot anymore become a practical cause of dissension. The " responsibility" question on which Mr Fox went out last session has also been dispo-ed of by the Dnke of Newcastle in a very off hand way— "there is no compulsion only you must" as we usel to say at school when a boy showed an unwillingness to be cobbed. White the came of differences in the past have been removed the policy of the future is so clearly defined, that all must per force "-upport it The " vigorous prosecution of the war" is in no less favor with one party than the other— hoth, all parties if there are more than two, must units in agreeing with that item of ministerial crefd, on whatever else they may differ. A year ago Mr Fox was certainly sanguine that peaceable means would restore order, and was willing to support Sir George in trying thtm to the utmost, but the^e failing, no one saw more cleaTly the inevitable necessity of the sword. I regret that I cannot Rive you any further insight into the prospects Mr Fox has of forming a ministry, all that is known or indeed could be known, when the steamer left, was that it was most likely overtures ■would be made to Mr Whittaker before anything else •was attempted. Personally, Mr Fox was very much indisposed to take office -really so— but under the circumstances be couli not do otherwise than try to form a ministry, if for no other reason than to endeavour to keep Mr Staffed out —Mr Stafford having the character, wifh Wellington people at any rate— of bein? unfriendly to this province and all connected with it. We do not expect further tewa before tbe 10th by the Ashley to leave Auckland on the 6th, The House was to aiijourn for a week, and would only meet yesterday, so that after all that has been s*id about a short session, it will very probaly be about as long us usual. With the exception of an attack being made on a h ° a s3 in which there was a youDg man of 18 and two children, there is no war intelligence. The two children were shot and mutilated, but their eldest brother escaped. An inquest was held on the bodies of the children murdered, and the following verdict returned.— "That the aforesaid Nicholns Tjust was brutally murdered by certain persons of the native race, whose namesareunknown to tbe jury, on the 24th of October, 1863, at the Jarm of Mr Kennedy, ou the Turanga Creek.' And farther that the jury are of opinion that the said Nicholas Trust has lost his lite owing to' the line of the Lower Wairoa being insufficiently defended." A similar verdict was given for the younger brother Richard, The Pioneer gunnoat had reached the camp on the Waikato safely. Very great dissatisfaction is being expressed in Auckland in the delay in attaking Mere Mere, aud we can only hope that ♦• the next mail" wiil brine us the news we want. This "'next mad" seems as tnongh it would never come. The Storm Bird starts tomorrow for her usual bimonthly trip to the South, when I will give you the low items of local news theie are to communicate. All js quret, only a canard or two consequent upon the anxiety with which the natives and ourselves are looking for news from Waikato.