TELEGRAPHIC ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 878, 26 September 1868, Page 10

TELEGRAPHIC IT EMS.

(TKOM OTTR, OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Wellington, September 18th.

Cobb's coach reports the arrival of the Sturt at Wanganui and her departure for Patea.

Captain Richardson of the Napier Constabulary slipped on the deck and broke two ribs. He has been sent to hospital Colonel Haultain, Major Booth, and Colonel M'Donnell have all gone to the front.

Colonel M'Donnell almost despairs of doing anything with hia present undisciplined force. Sixty rifles fell into the hands of the rebels.

Tito Kowara is becoming emboldened, and all families around Patea have been ordered in.

Several of the wounded have addressed a letter to Colonel M'Donnell, reposing entire trust and confidence in his leadership. Last night Mr Ormond made an able Speech. , Messrs Baigent and M'Farlane spoke on the side of the Opposition, and Mete Kingi, and Messrs Ball and C. O'Neill on that of the Government, as also did Mr Barff to-day. A Bill, enabling the authorities to close the public-houses in disturbed districts, went through all the necessary stages, and was passed. Some angry discussion occurred over it relative to some alleged disparaging expressions regarding the West Coast forces made on former occasions, Mr Bell defending them by Parliamentary and Press criticisms during the mismanaged period of the Crimean war.

The "West Coast Frontier Relief Association" has been formed, Major Richardson and Mr Graham heading the list with ten guineas each. A telegram received yesterday regarding the Native disaffection at Wairarapa, has to-day been declared to be without foundation.

September 19th.

A division was unexpectedly brought on last night in the following manner :—: — After Mr Gallagher had spoken to the house, at about ten o'clock the usual adjournment for twenty minutes was proposed by the Chairman. Some members objected, on which/ Mr Carleton put the main question. Mr Barff asked for an explanation, when the main question was again put in parliamentary phraseology, end a fewvotes given. When it was found that it was the "no confidence" motion which had been disposed of, Mr Fox and Mr Stafford, the leaders of the different parties, having meanwhile returned to the House, there was an uproar. A long, excited, and acrimonious disCusßiou ensued, Mr Bell and others declaring they had intended speaking, reproaching the Government for not replying to the charges implied by the Lobby mmours. Mr Fox challenged the Government to go to a division on the "no confidence" issue. The Government replied that what had been done could not be undone. A division was taken on the question, "That the report of the Committee be agreed to," with the following result : — Ayes, 37 : Messrs Ball, Carleton, Wilson, Atkinson, Paterson, Barff, Potts, Hall, Wood, Gallagher, Bunny, Kenny, HuD, Mervyn, W. H. Harrison, Bradshaw, Hepburn, J. O'Neill, C. O'Neill, Russell (Maori), Swan, Reid, Mitchell, Wells, Clark, Patterson (Maori), Eyes, Collie, Brown, Kerr, Cox, Hankinson, Haughton, Richmond, and Stafford. Tellers : Messrs Ludlara and Campbell. Noes, 30 : Messrs Armstrong, G. M'Farlane,T. M'Farlane, Dignan, Graham, Baigent, Burns, Cargill, Heaphy, O'Rorke, Parker, Reynolds, Rolleston, Studholme, Collins, Stevens, Taylor, Curtis, Travers, Ormond, Borlase, Williamson, Tancred, Vogel, M'Lean, Tareha (Maori), Brandon, and Main. Tellers: Messrs Bell and Fox. Pairs : Ayea, Colonel Haultain and Mr Farmer. Noes : Dr Featheraton and Mr Macandrew. A' sent : Mete Kingi and Mr H. S. Harrison. The Brisk has i»st sailed for England. September 21st. The Sturt has sailed for Patea to-day, with two Armstrong guns. There is no reliable news from any quarter. September 22. Only a few Bmall Bills, principally relating to the Law, were disposed of this j afternoon. \ The " alarm." resolution is to be continued this evening, and it is hoped, will terminate to-morrow night. The division will be very close, but it is impossible to say what its result will be. )fcte Kingi, jfoo prpnu&ed Mr &{'&ew

to vote for his resolution, went by yesterday's early morning coach to Wanganui it is said on official or semi-official business.

There was a Government caucus to-day. Great uneasiness prevails in that party, the Government having intimated at Saturday's caucus that it was found impossible to carry out their proposed adjustment (i.e., compensation to the Provices) this year. He is regarded as acting "under orders," with a view to draw the Opposition. There is nothing new from the front; only the old news in another shape.

September 23rd.

Mr Bell spoke for three hours last night, and Mr Richmond also spoke, which was all that occurred regarding the " alarm" debate.

Mr O'Neill's motion to-night is, "That in order to enable the taxation of the Colony to be reduced, and with a view to an equitable adjustment of the probable liabilities consequent upon the dissolution of partnership between the General and Provincial Governments, it is expedient to rescind the resolutions of 1856, through which the Land Fund of the Colony became Provincial Revenue, and to repeal all enactments under which the Land Fund of the Colony became Provincial Revenue, and to repeal all enactments under which the Land. Fund is so appropriated." Dr Evans, who was well known as one of our earliest Bettlers, and lately Post-master-General at Melbourne, died this morning, after a long illness. Mr Groves reports that, after a three months' exploration in the ranges on the West Coast of Wellington Province, he has exhausted his faith in discovering gold in payable quantities. A private letter states that Colonel Haultain has ordered the abandonment of all the outposts, and the retirement of our forces upon Patea ; also that Colonel M'Donnell has intimated his intention of making an attack on the rebels immediately and then resigning. The arrival of the next news from Wanganui is looked for with the great anxiety. Uninteresting matters have been before the House up to this hour. A resolution has been passed by 21 to 19 that a compensation of L2OO to Mr Osgood re Bellamy's, be paid and deducted fro rata from the honorarium of both Houses.