LATTER FROM WELLINGTON. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Otago Witness, Issue 824, 13 September 1867, Page 9

L ATTER FROM WELLINGTON. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Monday, 9th September, 1867.

The great financial debate came to a conclusion shortly after midnight of Friday, having occupied the best portion of six days. When I tell you that, including Mr Fitzherbert's reply, there were forty-one speeches, your readers may form some conception of its weariness ; tho more especially aa at the very outset the Government announced their intention to adopt Mr Vogel's amendment with a short rider attached, and that midway Mr Vogel also announced that he should at the proper time withdraw it. For the last two, or three evenings the speeches consisted of endless repetitions and small talk, and the House was so excessively thin that more than one attempt was made at a count out-; The last evening was more animated, the House looking forward with interest to Mr Stafford's speech, and the expectation raised was not disappointed. Mr Stafford's delivery was very spirited, but he dealt too unmercifully with Mr Stevens, who had rendered tha Ministry good service | all tho session previously. It will be recollected that, on the Local Government Bill,. Mr Stevens had spoken in favor of Ministers, in a manner of which the Ministry expressed themselves most approvingly. One of them, Mr Richmond, said that the speech had made the House think — would echo I through the country and make it think — aye, would make Ministers think. But, on Friday evening, Mr Stafford ridiculed the idea of Mr Stevens having been a warm supporter of the Government, declared that when votes were votes, he had not responded with alacrity to the telegram urging him to lose no time in coining up from Canterbury, and that the speech just alluded to, was the most damning to the Government of any that had been delivered on that occasion. Mr Stevens explained that he came up by first boat after .receipt of the telegram, and had supported the Government on every Ministerial measure. Mr Fitzherbert's speech, in reply, was good, but not so smart as usual, owing to the lateness of the hour, and the impatience of the House ; and, in its prosiest part, Mr Reynolds asked, whether, according to House of' Commons rule, there was any right to reply at all on an Order of the' Day. It appeared that no reply was allowed in the House of Commons, but that the New Zealand Standing Orders expressly granted such a right.. Midnight, with an impatient and over- wearied House, and such a manifest hint at brevity as Mr Eeynolds's interruption w&Sf are not favorable conditions for speech-making, ' and no wonder that even Mr Fitzherbert could not quite get up his usual steam under such disadvantages., ,He insisted on the. House going to division, and as an amendment can not be ' withdrawn if there is one dissentient, the amendment had to be put. Mr Vogel objected in vain, pleading that as tHe Government had announced its intention to accept the terms of the amendment — «.<?., that it would not raiso the required loan under the Three Million Loan Act,, but under a special Act — there was nothing to- divide on, and he should accordingly walk out. The question before the House was, ""That it should go into Committee of Supply," on which Mr Vogel had moved that all the words after "that" be omitted, to insert his amendment rejecting the proposal to raise more money under the Three Million Loan- Act. The question being put "that all the words proposed to be omitted stand part of 'tbe question," there were numerous •' Ayes," but not a single " No." Whereupon Mr Haughton declared the " Noes" had it, and the boll was rung for a division. The Speaker, however, presently declared that as there were no " Noes," there could be no division. The question " that I do now leave the chair, for the House to go into Committee," was then, put, Mr Haughton calling out "No," in order to enable the Government to go to the desired division, and tho bell ffas- again rung. Mr Vogel's motion having been already disposed of, such members of .the House as chose to express their dissent of the Government proposals, would thereby, of ..course, be free to do so, without tho appearance of supporting any amendment. This injudicious zeal of Mr Haughton's induced Mr Hall to go over to him,-, and tell him — well, I don't know what Mr Hall told him, but all I know is that when the door was locked, and the question was put a second time, Mr Haughton's voice was not heard, and so a second time there was no division. On the House going into Committee, Mr Vogel asked Mr Filzherbert to satisfy the House that the Government intended to propose its further loan under separate Act ; but Mr "Fitzherbert* declined to make any explanation in Committee of Supply, such explanations being legitimate only in Committee of Ways and Means. The House was, for the most part, standing hat in hand, ready, to go, when Mr Reynolds, with all the coolness of seven o'clock, proceeded to ask explanations about the item ."■Government 'domains,- &c," then before' them, the pleathat-he did so for- the" information of .new members. With equal coolness, and deliberation Mr Stafford exn< plained; and after Mr.Wftsoh had objected .to, giving the occasional laborer 6s a day, while .wheat was, as he said, only 2s 8d a bushel, the item passed, and the Ebuse adjourned. *' - , . ,Ll. . ' • , ,r, „ . ,/ „ jYour readers have been led to bejtieve that » further amendment .■jeas,.to r be proposed condemning 'the repeal 'of fKe- Allocated Loan .Act i that is now postponed tmtil the' Bill id introduced. The feeljtpg.ofcthe jHonse cannot beimore strong against aay portion of the

financial scliemW than' it' was in > reference' fc*> thai condemned by Mr Vogel's amendment, not a single member expressing-, approval of the Government proposition. Still the House would not go to division on .the amendment, as the' Government had promised to accept it ; and as there is a very , strong feeling against the repeal of the allocated debt — a suspension being preferred — the debate will probably induce Ministers ta»accept a suspension, though, I believe they oan carry, the repeal if they choose. When I tell you that there is a joke showing how- a caret ul analysis exhibits no less than fiftyfour parties in the House, and that these have no cohesiveness, you will understand how evident it is that it is only as the Ministers choose .to modify that any modification, will take place. But your readers must not shut their eyes, as Mr Hall did, and ask where is the Provincial party that was to be so strong — has it dissolved into thin a.ir? The fact is, that so much hu3 been conceded to that party, that its moufcb, including that of the Auckland section .of it also, is almost shut. The best proof of this is that the _• staunch supporters of Government cry out dally about it, and go a long way iv agreeing with Mr Ludlam, who said thab in continuing to support Ministers he violated his. conscience and his pledges to his constituents ; but he did so in fear of the alternative — a change of Ministry. Mr Ormoiid (a Ministerialist) put it plainly , when he said that the Provincial party Was strong at the closs of last session — wa3 so strong at" the commencement of this session as to excite tha . gravest concern for the continuance of th« Ministry ; and were only now playing possum, until the arrival of Mr Fox to take the lead. To which Mr Stafford replied that he wished Mr Fox would come, as men accustomed to the responsibilities of office were the wani of the day. He (Mr Stafford) had refused to. take office for four years, and he wished to . goodness that he had refused for four years longer ; so far as he was concerned, he would rejoice at resigning his seat at Nelson, in Mr Fox's favor, to-morrow. -I - i The impression prevails that the A.ssembly will be brought to a close this, month. If j so, the financial bills and estimates will hay» to be got through with marvellous despatch. , Both. Houses have voted an Address to His Excellency. That of the Legislative Council was better manaped than that of th« Representatives. The former was referred to a Select Committee to prepare ; the latter, moved by Mr Stafford, was objected to as debateable — a procedure much -to b«avoided. It was withdrawn, and the debateable matter struck out ; and when introduced next day, was merely complimentary.';

The address was presented on 'Saturday.. His Excellency was almost unmanned, and with great difficulty read the following reply :— Mr Speaker akd Honorable G-entlkmbx — 1 can now only give you thanks for this address. I can no longer promise lay public services in your behalf to shew my gratitude, but I thank you most sincerely, not only for your address, but for the efforts you have so long made to secure the maintenance of the honor and authority of the Crown, and the welfare of Her Majesty's subjects of both, races, and to save Great Britain from an unnecessary expenditure of life and money. None can deny that a. great and heroicwork haa been performed in this country. In the midst of difficulties of a most unusual kind, men— many of whom wena distinguished by birth and intellectual and physical endowments of no common order — have, each in their vocation, by enterprise, toil, and suffering, continued through long years, laid the stable foundation of a great Anglo-Saxon nation. Men who have so labored together may well find a present happiness and consolation in their mutual regard, esteem, and admiration, and leave the care of their fame and reputation to the grateful millions who will follow them, and for whom they have in truth labored! Associated, as I have been, with you in so great a work for so many years, it is with, sorrow I find that the public ties which have bound us together are to be rent asunder ; but it will be much to remember that one of your last acts towards me has been to present me an address' of which any Governor or ruler might feel proud, and to know that while I live, I shall have the pleasure of seeing you still labor honorably to fulfil your duties to your Queen and your country, however arduous they may be. On Thursday evening, during Mr Macaudrew's speech on the budget, he made the remark that "statements had been > made repeatedly in that House,, that unarmed mea and women had been shot down in cold blood at night by half intoxicated men of th» Colonial forces — or he might rather say, demons in human shape. " These words were.taken down as having been ' • disorderly,'.' but, next day the Speaker ruled that although they were in questionable taste they were not "disorderly," and they were agreed to be expunged from the journals. Mr Georg* Gjraham was the author of the original statement, and he had only "heard^" This taking hearsay, as an admitted basis to make such charges ,on, is equal in guilt to Col. Weare's proceedings, of v which bo much notice has. been taken by the Houses A .Committee ia. to be moved fo*- by the- Go- (- vernment to enquire, into the. attack on Po &ai tai, by CpL, Macdonnell, which ia said to have originated .the .report., The, whole of Friday afternoon was taken np.in debate,, during which Mr Travera, with all the ar_fci\ ficial vehemence of the: bar, condemned CoL .MadonnelTs conduct ,$ but/ at theiiaine'tame, ' 'with. all. the_ unfairness ,whicli- aftj&dvocat©usesjuo, making a case. It is matter for, congratulation that' .a. Conimittei&; i»:;to foe ap»; . pointed.