WELLINGTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1726, 8 September 1873, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

(From a Correspondent of the Lyttelton Times.) Sept. 6. The debate on the Provincial Borrowing B. ;i l was throughout a most singular one, and its termination was equally strange, for although attacked on all sides and scarcely defended on any, ifc passed the eecond reading without a dissentient voice. The grounds of objection urged were of the most varied character, and ono answered the other. Mr Reynolds, Mr White, and Mr T. L. Shepherd supported the bill, bufc nofc with any strength, while Mr J. C. Andrew announced his intention of voting for ifc on grounds which, if wellfounded, should have secured its rejection without hesitation. Mr Andrew's apeeoh was an exceedingly clever one and highly amusing. Setting himself up as a friend of the Government, Ministers must have prayed to be delivered from many like him. Mr Bunny and Mr Fitzherbert both made good speeches, and pufc the Wellington view of the case very strongly before the House, and wifch such success that I believe the Government will probably in Committee considerably modify and amend most of the clauses to which they took exception. Mr Fox made a long speech, but it was not calculated to help his cause much, for it was simply a virulent personal attack on nearly all the speakers who had preceded him. Mr Vogel's reply was a very able one, close, argumentative, and witty. He took occasion in it to deny the truth of the rumour to which in a former letter I gave currency, regarding the probability of Messrs Bathgate and O'Rorke retiring on permanent appointments. I have good reason, however, for believing that the course in question was at one time contemplated, although it has since been abandoned. Several of the opponents of the bill were intensely anxious to have a division on the second reading, but wiser counsels prevailed, so it passed without opposition. There will, however, in all probability be more than one division in committee. If, as I think probable, the concessions made are of such a nature as to satisfy ths requirements of the Wellington_members, thero will be very little chance for anyone else getting any alteration mado if the Government objects. One very material alteration the Government have promised is that of limiting the rate of interest on Provincial loans to a maximum of aix per cent. I presume a minimum discount will also be imposed. None of the other Government bills have yet come down, and thero is therefore no sign as yet of the early termination of the session. The House does not sit to-night, as the members give their annual ball ; on this occasion it takes place in the Theatre Royal. Agreatmaqp hours were wasted on Wednesday night ovor Sir Cracroft Wilson's Protection of Animals Amendment Bill. Several members strongly opposed giving increased or indeed any protection to native game, but ultimately the bill was carried through committee without any material alteration. The Education Bill haa at length been carried through committee, and sent up to the Council, when it will probably have a warm time of it before being consigned to rest. At present the Lords are very busy discussing Mr Sewell's motion that the financial condition of the colony demands the grave consideration of the Legislature, and Colonel Kenny's proposed addition of the following words : — "As well as the decided action of this Council in declining to sanction any further increase of the indebtedness of the colony beyond what is necessary to carry out all existing engagements, and to complete the publio workt already authorised." Tho debate excites rery littlo attention or interest!

outside of the Council, bufc if they adopt and attempt to act on Colonel Kenny's amendment, as ifc is by no means unlikely, the honourable gentlemen will no doubt find themselves in hot water, and have the satisfaction of knowing that they have added another nail to their own coffin. Mr Murray, the hon. member for Bruce, has long laboured uuder a mild hallucination thafc he enjoyß a monopoly of honour and integrity in the House, and this impression ia no doubt now confirmed .by the result of his attempt to pass a bill to amend the Disqualification Acfc. The object Mr Murray had in view was fco render ifc impossible for any member of the House to accept any permanent appointment until six months after the resignation of his seat. Mr Murray pathetically appealed to all who valued honour and honesty to support him, bufc, strange to say, the appeal was nofc responded to, and his voice alone was heard in favour of fche bill Mr Yogel strongly opposed it, and even went so far as to hint afc the desirability of relaxing some of the provisions of the present Disqualification Acfc. The only result which Mr Murray's Bill, and a kindred notice of motion by Mr Collins have had, has been to bring to light a strange story. Ever since Mr H. A. Inglis induced the electors of Cheviot to return him he has been a furious patriot, and has shared with Mr Collins the unenviable notoriety of asking Ministers questions containing disgraceful insinuations, and making grossly offensivejpersonol observations regardj ing the honour and character of those opposed to them. Ifc now turns out that this incorruptible patriot was not very long ago an applicant for employment in the public service. When Mr Eyes was deprived of his offices in Marlborough, Mr Inglis applied tD be his successor. The application was refused, bufc to those who remember fche virtuous indignation which Mr Inglis and his friends have so often displayed regarding the appointment of members of the Legislature to offices in the civil service, fche disclosure is very amusing. Ifc is evident thafc Mr Inglis believes practically in Sir Robert Walpole's celebrate d maxim. He would have made a vacancy in the representation of Cheviot, and have lef fc his party and his country to shift for themselves if only Mr Fox had appointed him to succeed Mr Eyes. Last night's proceedings were not of much interest. Major Atkinson tried to re-open the claims of the Patea settlers to compensation for losses sustained during the Titokowaru rebellion, but of course without any hope of success. It was one of those motions which are made by members simply to please their constituents, and to bo proudly quoted from Hansard hereafter. The worst of it ia that these useless motions involve a most serious loss of valuable time in their discussion. The enquiry into the case of the grounding of the Lady Bird in Manukau harbour was concluded on Tuesday last, und the decision of the Court would have been announced today had il not been that Captain Daniel's counsel applied to, and obtained from, the Supreme Court a rule nisi prohibiting the Court below from proceeding further in the case on some technical grounds as to the Bench being improperly constituted. Tho rule is to be argued on Tuesday next, and if it is discharged the decision of the Bench will be afc once given, and it must, on the evidence, be adverse to Captain Daniels. The evidence as to his drunkenness is overwhelming, and all the attendant circumstances are corroborative. Several witnesses have deposed to his sobriety, but their evidence on the subject is of less importance than that of those of the other side, as their opportunities for observation were very small. The National Insurance Company's shares are being taken up here very eagerly, upward* of 11,000 having been applied for. Tho annual members' ball is to be held in the Theatre to-night, and as a consequence there is to be no House. Mr Murray and other economical and practical men who believe not in balls are consequently much disgusted.