WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 920, 17 July 1869, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

(PBOM OUR OWN OOBBBSPOSTDBiri.)

July sth. Mr Vogel's debut in the role of Colonial Treasurer was a very successful one. His statement of financial matters, made in anticipation of the. regular financial statement, and in order to explain to the House the reasons for asking for" an imprest supply, "was clear, concise, and moderate in its tone. lii fact, its moderation, and the delicacy with which topics likely to create debate and reflections on . the late Government likely to evoke reply: were avoided, rather surprised everyone. Ax the same time Mr Vogel presented his figures in such a way as to give the House j an impression that it was expected to be, or at least ought to be, very grateful that it had escaped financial ruin from the management of the late Government, and that affairs had now fallen into hands •which would manage them in a satisfactory way. From beginning to end, Mr Vogel's statement scarcely contained a single figure or assertion which admitted of challenge, yet almost every sentence | ■was felt to be, condemnatory of the policy of his predecessors and laudatory of his own. If any doubted Mr Vogel's possession of ability to manipulate figures skilfully, this speech should have removed it. As a financial exposition alone it was highly creditable to the new Treasurer that he had in a very short period so completely mastered the state of the finances of the colony. The little bill he j brought in for the arrears of defence for i the months of May and June rather startled the House. It tad scarcely been prepared to learn that some L 71,000 j had been spent in defence, and in \ excess of appropriations during the financial year ending .Tune 30th. Yet so it was, and the expenditure for the laßt month of the year alone amounted to the sum of L 41,000, or, as Mr Vogel put it, at i the rate of half a million a year. This was the only statement which Mr Stafford, after complimenting Mr Vogel on the clearness and fairness of -Mb statement, could challenge. He admitted the expenditure for the month to be as stated, but denied the fairness of estimating the an- 1 nual cost as being in proportion, as the j expenditure of the month in question) had been entirely exceptional. As a proof { of this he mentioned the expense incurred in regard to the Mohaka expedition, which had suddenly placed aome 600 men on pay for a couple of weeks. Thero was a feeling of relief when Mr Vogel asked j for only L 150,000 to meet defence liabilities accruing in July, Mr Vogel dW not at all press the Bill through the House, but appeared rather to yield to the desire of the House that it should be passed as rapidly as possible ; and in this auain his tact was most apparent, for the whole responsibility of a rather irregular parliamentary proceeding was thrown on the House, Mr Stafford himself urging the immediate pasting of the Bill on the distinot understanding that it was not hereafter to be deemed a precedent. Of course until tho Imprest Supply BUI was passed, there were no payments mode at the Treasury, tho appropriation! having all oxpired on tho 30th June. Now Wellington, to a very larga extent, depends on the General Government payment*, and when, as in usually tho case, the Treasury does not pay on tho Ist July, as it does on the first day of every other month in tho year, there is naturally ft good deal of grumbling snd comidorablo inconvenience. However, on this occasion, tho Bill, although only introduced on tho Ist, was passed through all its stages ro tho Lowor House oarly on Friday, and tho Lords had a special mooting that evoning, when they too pasted it through all Us stages. On Saturday morning it wasassontod to by the Governor, and early in the forenoon tho Controller having plaoed L 150.000 to the orodit of the Paymaster and Treasurer, the usual psyments were resumed, greatly^to the satisfaction of many mtfabext of the

civil service, alid^qmll|^lhlijanlf %giipn '•Tre,Mury BJjls,iß.Msna^ of,' Treasury Bills * kitojUttfe* tejtte'np .of> >Ll6p,Oop, ) ;was. .pWsed;in t ,the ! jlSattß expedi^ tious.manner as the, lmprest Supply Bill ; and t^e; Bills will,, pi r believe,* «,be' at phco; submitted o to,t public .competition,,! f jTKe issue of ',these,^Bills, previously authorised and actually cashed, by. the't late Government,, >.put into i the market, 1 be-, cause the Government i was able to obtain money for them, without < any' costift One' of thefour accounts into which the public account is divided is a, trust fund consisting of /money j belonging to intestate estates, &c, on which Government pays no interest. These f unds* .the Controller is authorised ,by, law to invest, in easily negotiable , securities, > and , he invested nearly . the whole balance, in Treasury Bills. The operation was therefore simply a borrowing iof one branch. of the public account from ithet others and cost the country, nothing.- The uninvested balance of trust funds on which no interest is paid (not Savings'' Bank fund*), is now but small,, and tho new issue of Treasury Bills will therefore have to, be placed in the market. , The- rate of interest in the Bill was originally five pence per day, or L 7 12a per cent per annum ; but Mr Stafford drew attention to> the high rate of interest offered; and the damaging effeot which an announcement of our being willing , to sanction such a rate, might have on our credit at home and in other colonies. He stated that he had received offers from three banks to take any amount of these bills at 6 per cent., and he had since been unofficially told that at least one bank was ready to take them at a less rate. . He believed this, looking at the large accumulated balances now in the Banks of the colony, and he moved a reduction of the rate to fourpence a day, or L6ls 8d per cent, per annum. Mr Vogel at once assented to the reduction, and stated that the Government could most readily realise on the bills at even a less irate. They would sell them at as low a rate of interest as possible, and not part with them below par. During the debate Mr Vogel explained that in asking for L 160.000, he only did so to provide ' for six weeks' expenditure, by the expiration of which time he hoped the Appropriation Act might be passed, and the session be over. From the incredulous manner in which the House received this announcement, and the significant glances exchanged between the leaders of the Opposition, it was very evident that few indulged in similar expectations to those of the Government. I very much doubt whether Mr Vogel really meant what he said. To me, it sounded like a little bit of bounce. If tho session is over by the time mentioned, it will not have come to a natural end, but have been cut short by the summary process of dissolution. Early on Friday, it became known that ! Mr Dillon Bell had, st the strong request of a number of Otago members, consented to join the Ministry as a member of the Executive Council, without a portfolio. This item of news was accompanied by another, to the effect that Mr Gisborne, tho Under - Secretary, had resigned that office, been called to the Upper House, and become a member of the Government. At first people would not believe this, but treated it as a joke. However, a little enquiry proved ie true, and at two o'clock Mr Gisborne was introduced to the Upper House, took the oath and his seat at the Government table, and almost immediately afterwards rose, and in a very excellent speech made a declaration of the policy of the new Ministry, which, of course, was substantially the same as that enunciated by Mr Fox in tho House on Tuesday. Mr Gifborne and Mr Bell are an immense accession of strength to the Ministry. Without them it would not have stood a month, with them, it is very likely to weather the storm. Mr Bell is so well known, and his ability and experience so fully appreciated that I need scarcely refer to them. Except by name, however, Mr Gisborne is not so well known to the Southern public. Ho has been in the service of the colony for upwards of 21 years, and for many years has held tho post of Chief Under Secretary, the real woxldng head of the Governmental, machinery. He is one of the most highly educated mon in the colony, an indefatigable worker, and possessed of more departmental experience and general knowledge of the past history of the colony than any other publio officer. Added to this, he » a fluent and eloquent speakor, a deep thinker, and a most sfontJemanly and amiable mwu During his long career in the service, I don't think he hat made a single pertonal enomy, and everyone is glad of the promotion which has befallen him. He is a great gain to tho Ministry, and a great loss to the publio service. No man in the colony is, however, bolter qualified to take a leading part in its political affairs, and if ho continues to Uvo tare I doubt not he will do to. It ii said,

fujhmt^ t|a# v ;Mjri^^bpr^e ere long^o^f^ulnrto" England! , Having re-,' Jsighe'pV his ! f Under-S^e^sliipi';:^ is»\ l; fibelieye?' doubtful wKethfr'he'wjw. be.jab'le to -claim the pension tp which his long and 'valuable* services entitle »Him^but if there, areany legal obstacles m the way, I am 'sure that a special Act to/meet the case would be passed nem'Scon. The members, •of the Civil^ Service here intend, I believe; ; to take steps to mark their regret at his retirement and their high esteem for him personally, by presenting him with a, testimonial; not as the new Mi1 niater, but as the old Undersecretary. It is hoped that all the civil servants throughi out the colony will join in this recognition of one who, in his former position, did so much to improve tH at service, and it is likely, , I believe; that as soon as matters are sufficiently advanced the co-operation ,of all the public servants will be invited. Mr Gisborne's place in the new Ministry is to be that of Colonial Secretary, and member representing' the Government in the Legislative Council. Mr Fox will then have no departmental duties, but will, like Mr Weld, when Mr Richmond was Colonial Secretary, be merely Premier and leader of the House. It is rumoured that Mr Vogel intends only to hold office until the end of the session, private affairs then requiring his permanent residence in Auckland ; that Mr Bell's acceptance of office is also only sessional; that Mr M'Lean is not likely to hold office long after the session is over, and that Mr Gisborne, as already mentioned, is going home. Mr Stafford alluded to these rumours the other day, and asked Mr Fox if they were true. The Premier declined to answer a question about lobby rumours, and declared that the Government intended to stay in till the gentlemen opposi'e could turn them out. This answer, however, did not at all commit any particular members of Government to the retention of office, and should the- rumours in question have any foundation in fact, as in one or two cases they have, I believe, itwill materially decrease the chances of the present ministry remaining in office till the end of the session. The House might be well satisfied with the personnel of the j present Government, and yet be very unwilling to allow Mr Fox the optien of selecting a new set of colleagues as soon i as the session was over.

There is, of course, a good deal of speculation as to who is likely to be Mr Gisborne's successor in the Under-Secre-taryship. It is understood that the vacanoy will not be filled up while the House is sitting, Mr Gisborne acting as his own Under-Secretary ; and it is also understood that the new appointment, when made, will be a political one, and not a promotion from the civil service. It is freely stated that Mr J. M. O'Rorke, the present member for Onehunga, will be the man. Mr O'Rorke is an old member of the House, and has always been a consistent supporter of the party now in power. By profession he is a barrister, but unlike most of the other legal members, he hardly ever speaks. He is, I think, Speaker or Chairman of Committees of the Auckland Provincial Council, and being well up in Parliamentary practice, he is usually voted into the Chair of the House in Committee when from any cause the regular Chairman, Me- Carleton, is absent. Personally, Mr O'Rorke is very popular, and it seems generally admitted that his appointment would not be an unsuitable one. It is hinted that Major Hoaphy may perhaps receive the office of Under Secretary in the Defence Office at the end of the session.

Mr Macandrew has carried his Bill for establishing special settlements at Martin's Bay, and Preservation Inlet, on the West Coast, safely through the Lower House. Tho BUI is similar to, but not quite identical with, tho one which was thrown out in tho Connoil last session ; but it has been modified to meet tho objections whioh then caused its rejection. It is almost certain to pass. MrMaoandrew has also moved for all correspondonce relating to bridging the Waitaki. Mr Reynolds tried very hard to get the Bills of Sale Act amended in the mannor suggftsted by the. Chamber of Commerce in Dunedin. The House, however, was strongly opposed' to the principlo of allowing a goneral soarch of tho Registers, and Mr Roynolds's Bill was lost by a very largo majority. Tho same honourable member has presented petitions from wine and spirit werohants and from hotel keepers in Dunedin, praying for roliof from the double license fee to whioh they are now subject. The latter petition, however, was not received, owing to its not complying with Standing Orders, none of the oignatares being on tho same shoet as the petition itsolf. Mr Fox, in roply to a qoestion from Mr Stafford, has stated that tho Government dots not intend to take any stops to give effect to the prayer of the petitioners from Titoaru and Gladstone, asking to have their diatriofc separated from Canterbury

,and created>ft»(K)un^?' Neither did they intend Ho^give,*e i ffe,ot,j to, :.the recomenda!iiqtts,^'irae^elec^joommitteetof the Canterbury Provincial .Council on the same Bubjectj, astieysi agreed i with the Superintendents >io that report., , w It „ is ' understood that Mr Stafford will, f himself : bring in the Bill, which, he, had! prepared, *<> r the purpose, before his^ejection^from office. /Mr Fox, /when in opposition), spoke very loudly about at once hanging up the rebels now in custody in -Wanganui. „S ince coming into office, however, he, seems to have discovered some .difficulty in the wayof a summary proceeding of this kind, and to have learned what the late Government told him was, the case, that the present law is insufficient to meet such cases. However, he is going to remedy the defect as soon as possible, - and tomorrow he is going to bring in a Bill to establish special tribunals for the trial of such offenders, and to make provision for the, treatment and custody of prisoners. He, is also going to move the suspension of Standing Orders, in order to allow this Bill to be passed through all its stages at one sitting. It is ; . very doubtful, I think, whether the House will agree to do so. *. Mr Cracrof t Wilson made an excellent speech in moving his Ghoorka resolutions, and the debate was then adjourned to Friday next ; Mr Fox moving the adjournment, as the question really involved the larger one of whether Imperial troops should or should not be employed. On this the Government, he said, was prepared to take its stand, and they would beready to enter on the discussion on the day named. It must have been very galling to the Government to have to lay General Chute's despatch on the table the day after Mr Fox had talked so confidently of retaining the 18th Regiment. Mr Gisborne has since had to admit that this" cannot be done. It is rumoured today that the condition of Mr Bell's joining the Government was that all dependence on aid in men from home should be relinquished, as he is strongly of opinion that wo won't get it, and that, in fact, wo are better without it. It is added that the Government intends to at once bring down resolutions for reducing the strength of the Armed Constabulary, and affirming the necessity of our acting purely on the defensive ; and that if the House refuses to agree to these measures, an appeal will be made to the country. These r> ports seem to be based on pretty good authority.