THE Wellington Independent. Friday, March 16, 1860. THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1413, 16 March 1860, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent. Friday, March 16, 1860. THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

For the last few days the public interest has been centered in the Races, and a large portion of our readers will look to our issue of to-day, more with a view to ascertain the particulars of what has been going on at the Hutt, than from any desire to listen to a political homily. The approaching meeting of the Provincial Council on Tuesday next, suggests, however, a topic which, though it may be less interesting than if we were to " talk horse," is, nevertheless, one of no little importance to the whole of the Province.

During its three months adjournment there have been such changes in the position of several of its members, that it is doubtful whether a house will be formed ---whether some half dozen of the occupants of the rowdy benches will not take warning by the commercial ordeals through which they have passed, and troubling tl^m^Qljrfljsfor the future a littleless with political affairs, permanently absent themselves. Shorn of the assistance of such active members of his party, as Messrs. King, Warburton, Allen, and Wallace, besides one or two lesser helps from the Hutt, Mr. Wakefield will find it difficult, though not impossible to form a quorum, and being perhaps by this time ashamed of his " noble

band of reformers" he may perhaps in a very few days, move the further adjournment of the Council.

We look forward, with much curiosity to the reply which the Attorney-General has given to the Council's motion for the prosecution of the Superintendent for the unauthorised expenditure of the fewitems rejected last December. That reply is probably of a very unpromising character, since not the slightest hint of its purport has been made public. The* Attorney General has other fish to fry just now, and living in a glass house himself, he doubtless feels very indisposed to amuse himself by throwing stones, and still more so at the Wellington Superintendent, above all other men. It has transpired that the Stafford ministry, who so eagerly expressed their readiness to vindicate the law which the Attorney General acknowledged ho could no where find, have done a little in the unauthorised expenditure line, on their account. Not only have they spent money which was never appropriated, but they have spent considerably more than they possessed, and, to make-up tneir deficiencies, have pounced upon the revenues due some of the Provinces, to the tune in our case alone, of nearly £3,000. The charge which the Provincial Council brings against Dr. Feathers ton, is that he spent the revenues of his government without its Appropriation Act — the charge which the Stafford ministry admits itself to have incurred, is, not only that it has spent money without an Appropriation Act, but that it has been compelled to take a few thousands out of one Provincial -chest entrusted to its care, and a few thousands out of another, to make up the deficiency. Mr. Attorney General should be lawyer enough to know how necessary it is to try the stronger case first : — let him first arraign his colleagues and then he may expend his surplus energies on the weaker case here, if he pleases. As the rowdies are likely to meet with very cold comfort on this head, we recommend them to take a little exercise and warm themselves by passing a measure or two of some practical benefit. 14 is well known with what contempt Mr. Wakefield and his followers treated the efforts made by the labouring classes last sitting, to induce the Council to sanction the resumption of the public works. The gibe, the song, and the buffoonery of the soup kitchen are not yet forgotten, nor are they likely to be. Fortunately we have had unsually fine weather this summer ; but the winter will soon be here, and work may then be slacker than it has ever been yet. It matters little to Mr. Wakefield whether men find wdric or no ; he can flit to Canterbury again for a few months, and be out of the reach of their complaints. It matters stil* less to his second in command, Mr. William Allen, who has left them sa mysteriously in the lurch and gone no no one knows where. Nor can it be ft matter very painful to many others of that party, who have so perseveringly rejected every measure which the Superintendent has sent them. Will the Council next week begin to amend its ways by authorising the reclaiming of the Beach to . be gone on with. Here is an opportunity to afford employment for a large number of laborers, to. circulate a few thousands,and at the same time improve the harbour and city and make a money-r-profii into the bargain. Will the rowdies consent to its being done. Will not the labouring classes, the shopocracy, and all who are benefitted by the employment of labour and the circulation of money, narrowly watch the progress of events. The Council have rejected the measure once this Session, but if so disposed they can easily introduce it again in a different shape. They may be so disposed or they may not. We cannot tell ; but if they do not take some steps to alleviate the pressure now felt throughout the province, of what use are they? Hhe members are not sent there simply to say "Aye," when a vote of £l,loo is proposed for their own payment, hit to promote the, welfare of the Province. Fortunately they have'nt been paid yet, and we hope they won't be until they have done something for it. They can yet do something towards securing employment for those who need it during the coming winter ; but will they do it ?