WELLINGTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2613, 9 August 1876, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

(From a correspondent of tho Lyttelton Times.)

August) 7. Tho mannor in whioh tho debate on Mr Whitaker's resolutions collapsed was rather singular. It was. of course, known that thero was no ohanoe ol them being oarried, but ifc was expeoted thafc they would have oaused a debato extending over a day or two, even though tho Otago members might not tako any part in ifc. Mr Whitaker's spoooh, howover, was nofc of tho kind ifc was expected fco bo. It was vory lawyer-like, and failed to oarry muoh weight with it. Sir Julius Vogel's reply also was rather a disappointment. He did not seom to be thoroughly in earnest, and it was impossible to resist the impression that had ho boon speaking on tho other side he would havo mado a good doal more of his case. The few words whioh Mr Maoandrew uttered were tho most sinoere spokon in tho dobffco, Whon Sir George Grey got up pooplo expeoted something in support of tho motion, oufc in fchis fchey were disappointed, Sir George's objoot being evidently only to announoo his own Separation resolutions. The announcement at onoe proved fatal to furthor consideration of Mr Whitaker's proposals. It was felt that there was something more important to disouss now, and accordingly fcho greafc Oompaot of 1856 Repeal resolutions fell quietly to the ground, Mr Whitakor even waiving his right to reply. Tho majority against him on tho division, however, was greater than any one expeoted. The votes, howover, woro but a vory poor index to tho real opinions of those giving them. Mr Reynolds, in a subsequent dobate, took oooasion to comment in strong terms on the apparent insinoerity of a great many voters, and there is no doubt that a very considerable number of votes wero given on considerations entirely distinofc from thoso of the resolutions themsolvos. That Mr Wakefield should have voted for the resolutions to moke the Land Fund Colonial Revenue did, howover, oause somo surprise, espeoially as his own vory elaborate series of resolutions on the samo subjeot would havo boon dono for had Mr Whitaker's boen carried. However, thoro is no accounting for Mr Wokefleld's proceedings. The very skoloton oharaoter of Sir Goorgo Grey's resolutions oaused a good deal of surprise. So muoh had boon hoard about them ; thero had boen so muoh oauoussing and negooiation going on for so long, that everyone expeoted very muoh more elaborate proposals. When tbis surprise was, on Wednesday and Thursday, expressed to members of the Opposition, fche answer was, " Ah, wait till you hoar Sir George movo thom!" On Thursday night, however, the disappointment; was only intensified, for Sir George Grey's speeoh absolutely made the whole subjeot more vague than ever. Ifc was not a bad speeoh— as a speeoh— bnt it had remarkably little relation to the subjeot, and in no way filled up the omissions of the resolutions themselves. His owa followers were, I think!

| groatly disappointed, Tho Premier's speech was a vory good one, considering how very littlo indeed ho had to answor. It was supposed that Mr Rocs would follow, but this arrangement was broken through by Mr Reynolds, who, being about to leave next day for a visit to Otago, desired to say a few words. They were of rather a singular oharaoter. Ho folt bound to vote for what he had himself long advooatod, ho said, but at the same timo, in voting for tho resolutions, he had no sympathy with their mover. Mr Tribe camo next, and spoke until near midnight, when, by pro-arrangement amongst the whips, tho adjournment was moved by Mr Rees. Thero was, howevor, a very strong feeling of opposition to the adjournment at so early an hour. A division was oallod for by the Canterbury men, and tho singular speotaolo was presented of the Govornmont and tho Opposition chiefs going into the samo lobby. Of course this combination was sufficient to oarry the adjournment of the debate, but on the motion of the adjournment of the House another hour was spent. Mr Stafford, Mr Wakefield, Mr Rowe, and others blamed tho Govornment very strongly for consenting to the postponement of the debate. Mr Stafford eaid the moret ot the resolutions had said nothing worth dieousstng, that thero was nothing in the resolutions worth talking about, and that Ministers should havo pressed the matter on to a settlement at onoe. For himself, he declared that if thoro was going to be a long debate on suoh an absurd affair, he would proceed home till the House was ready to prooeed to real business. Mr Rowo spoke in the same way, and there was some pretty little all-round sparring, Next day Mr Rees treated the Houso to an exhibition, fche like of wbioh has never been seen in the House before. He spoke the whole aftornoon, and for a portion of the night, and attaoked Ministers individually and collectively in the most bitter manner. As to Separation, he had very little, indeed, to say ; but regarding the iniquities of the Government, he pourod forth a torrent of words. Ifc was a spoeoh whioh would have been moro appropriate in a want of confidence motion than when disoussing a question of Constitutional ohange ; indeed, on one oocasion, when travelling very muoh out of the reoord, ho was oalled to order. He appealed to tho Speaker to be allowed the latitude usually allowod in disoussing votes of want of oonfldonoe, whioh ho said fchis really was. He alluded in very ooarse terms to fche Premier's hospitality, and to Lady Vogel and other Ministers' wives. Thore was a great deal of disapprobation expressed. The result of his style ' of speeoh, coupled with what had been said by Mr Stafford the other night, was a determination on tho part; of fche Government to allow tho Opposition to talk the matter out themselves, and this was adhered to on Friday night. The determination is to wait till some member of the Opposition says something deemed worth answering, when some one will be put up to answer that particular point, bufc not to put up man for man, or argue the feneral question any further. Thus, when Ir Roes got down, the Opposition expeoted a Government man to rise, bufc no one did so. There was a long pause, and ories of " Divide." The Speaker several times asked if any member wished to speak, and was about to •oall on Sir George Grey to reply, when Mr Wason threw himself into tbe breooh, going in for thorough insular separation. A similar scone ooourred when he had done, and Mr Lusk was forced to get up to keep the debate from collapsing. Mr Lusk made a very good speeoh and a temperate one. When he had done there was a longer pause than ever, until afc last Mr Fitzroy who is, I fancy, nofc very amenable to whips, got up and also spoke well, bufc against the resolutions. He was sucooodod by Mr Thompson, and then Mr Button moved the adjournment, whioh gave Mr Stout an opportunity of making a foolish, soolding speeoh, praising Mr Rees and threatening the Government with all sorts of things if thoy persisted in treating the member for Auokiand Oity Bast with indignity. Not answering him was, he contended, an insult to his constituents. The Government still held their tongues, not answering the momber for Dunedin either. Mr Button may bo expeotod to mako a long speeoh on his own aooount against fche resolutions ; but so far as tho influence of tbe Government goes, the taotios I have indioated will be adhered to, so fchafc there is every probability of the debate ooming to an end early tbis week. Some of the more sanguine of the Opposition speak of a probable majority or a tie, whilo others admit that they will be in a minority of five. The Government whips talk of having a majority of fifteen, but I myself think that when tho division oomes, the utmost number that will vote aye will be thirty-nine, made up of nineteen Otago members, eighteen Auokiand mombers, one Canterbury member, and ono North Island Native member—the now one for fcho Eastern distriot, Mr Earaitana Takamoanu> Of the Auokiand members, Williams, Road, Douglas, ond Cox will vote with the Government, and probably Nahe also. Of tho Otago members, Pyke, Manders, and M'Lean will voto against the resolution, and it is quite possible Taiaroa may also do so. Mr Wason will, I think, be the only Canterbury man who will vote with Sir George Grey, although Mr Rolleston, Mr Fisher, and Mr Wokoflold are often classed amongst the doubtfuls.

In tho Upper House there has been very littlo of interest going on. The olause whioh was introduced in the Looal Elections Bill, allowing of voting by proxy, has been expanged, but another effort is to be made to get a modification of tho system legalised. Ifc is not likely to be suooessful. As soon as ever the Separation question has been disposed of, the Counties Bill will be gono on with. It is now abundantly evident thafc the provisions of this measure do not give anything liko general satisfaction. Ifc is not only that the boundaries are badly ohosen, but thafc the whole maohinery is thought too oumbrous and expensive. Tho Bill, when it gets into' Oommittee, will bo fearfully mangled. Ono section wishes tho Countios made smaller and more numerous, so that the ncoossity for a paid ohairman may be obviated. Another wish is to see the Countios enlargod, say each Provinoe divided into two or three Counties, so that the chairmanship may bo an office worth having and holding. Soaroely any three members seem agrood regarding any three clauses of the Bill, and in what shape it will emerge from Oommittee it is impossible to even imagine — perhaps in a shape whioh will prove so unsatisfactory to a majority that the third reading may prove fatal. The Government does not profess itself at all wedded to the details of the Bill, but says it is prepared to oonsider all reasonable amendments. xhis, of oourse, opens the door for everyone, and the invitation will be very liberally responded to. The only ohanoe I see of the Government being able to oarry this and their ether important

Bills lies in the imperative necessity for doing something before the House is prorogued, and the difficulty wbioh will soon arise of keeping a quorum in Wellington. Already membera are beginning to complain dreadfully of the delay and of their detention here, and I think that they will be impatient to get home even earlier this year than usual. There is, therefore, a ohaooe that the Government measures may be rushed through at the last without very muoh consideration. The whole reil business of the session has still to be done, and the order paper is gradually getting heavy with accumulations of business.

The East Coast Election Committee bas got a further extension of time, Captain Read's party now endeavouring to bring bribery homo to tbe petitioner, Captain Morris, evidence baving even been sent for. Tbe result, it is expeoted, wili be tbat the seat will be declared vacant. Captain Read seems to have been a mere tool in the bands of unscrupulous friends. The election cost bim an enormous sum of money. This enquiry will cost at least another £600, and Captain Read says he would willingly give double that sum that he had never hod anything to do with the affair, or could resign his seat afc once. The Emigration, Publio Works, and Native Defence Estimates are not yet printed. The two former will, it is said, show an enormous reduotion in departmental expenses. On the last day of the month oo less than thirty notices of dismissal were distributed in the Publio Works Office, and another batch is to follow, while notioes were long ago sent to the majority of the Immigration officers and tbeir subordinates. The Native and Defence Estimates will be made tbe subjeot of determined attaok in the Committee of Supply, and I expect to see them considerably out down.