Wellington Gossip.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2081, 4 September 1875, Page 2

Wellington Gossip.

[By Telegraph.]

(from our special correspondent.)

WELLINGTON.

Friday.

Amongst those who favour legitimate and thorough abolition, Mr Atkinson's concpssions i*c the Land Revenue and Education have caused unqualified contempt and disgust. It is thought that Ministers have had a row amongst themselves. The Times says the proposals do not tally, and it is unable to comprehend what Atkinson meant by his statement. It says education should be a national question, with which you will agree. The Government are evidently departing from abolition pure and simple, in the very face of apparent triumph, and will make a mess of it, probably by croaking. An election of Municipal Councillors is tali ing place, but it is questionable whether one person out of a hundred knows it—Parliamentary business smothering all else. . The objectionable feature is there is no probability of a speedy termination. Sir George^. Grey has complacently informed Auckland that the Opposition can hold out till February, and if it rested with Sir George no doubt such rcould be the case, since he is quite capable of talking about rights and' liberties and other fine subjects, of which he knows about as much, and cares as little, as he does of what the people of the Colony actually desire. In the House ' to-day (Friday) the debate was very dreary. Reader Wood made a fpeech which was eminently like the growling ®f a discontented bear, while at the same time his silly balderdash about separation and Auckland in rebellion is suggestive of an imbecility of mind that is strange even in Mr Wood. I hear that the manoeuvres with regard to the Government transactions partook of the Jesuitical. .It is stated tha.t a certain surveyor who is largely acquainted with the Waikato Swamp Purchase, and who could make unpleasant revelations, is down here by mistake, and that, having had an interview with the Native Minister, lie is going to make himself scarce to-night by one of the boats, as it is not considered consistent with the Government interest that he should make his appearance before a committee.

This day. The success of the Government last night brings clearly to the mind of all the folly—nay, stupidity of their action ia reference to the new bill constituting a Board of Works and localisation of land revenue. They. had a big majority to carry the main principle, and now, having turned craven, they will lose the support of once most ardent supporters. If they proceed with this new bill—and they cannot retract—the Thames and other out districts will hold a worse position than they do now. The stupid blundering of a clannish Government without a leader is much to be regretted.