THE Wellington Independent. "NOTHING EXTENUATE; NOR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." THURSDAY MORNING, 8th DECEMBER. THE NORTHERN NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2138, 8 December 1864, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent. "NOTHING EXTENUATE; NOR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." THURSDAY MORNING, Bth DECEMBER. THE NORTHERN NEWS.

The intelligence from Auckland brought by the liord Ashley, is pretty much what we anticipated. The address in reply to his Excellency's speech was carried after a lengthened debate, the only division which took place being on* the paragraph relative to the removal of 4 the Seat of Government, to which Mr John Williamson moved an

amendment, with the object of delaying further action till Auckland should be constituted into a colony by itself, Mr Williamson failed to advance any arguments in support of his proposal which had much weight with the House, and it was consequently rejected by a large majority. The Auckland papers have a series of violent articles on this question, in which, while admitting that the seat of Government must be removed to Wellington, it is contended that in such a case, Auckland must aud will have separation. The Solons of the City Board seem, however to think that the removal may yet be stopped, and have accordingly taken steps to organise a monster open air demonstration against it, in the shape of a public meeting on the green opposite the Council Chamber. Their committee were about to draft a memorial to his Excellency on tho subject, but at the latest advices the mass meeting had been postponed. All this is very natural. The Auckland people don't wish that Wellington should become the Capital City, and when they seethat the thing is inevitable, they can't at the first blush accept it with equanimity. We hope the meeting will be held. It will be a capital safety valve to let off the compressed indignation which, if pent up much longer will perhaps become dangerous. Moreover, public meetings in Auckland, if we are to judge by tho past, are very harmless affairs. There was one held aboutayear ago on this very question with an excellent result. Speeches were made, and resolutions passed, the latter of which wore duly consigned to the waste-paper basket by the personages to whom they were sent, and the whole affair sank into oblivion. Auckland will doubtless have another meeting, as a prelude to recovery from her present paroxj'sms of excitement, and then the dreaded removal will be allowed to take place quietly.

The Panama contract is to be submitted to the consideration of the House, and an amendment to the address providing for this was accordingly carried by general consent. In every other part the address was agreed to, a result which we ventured to predict on

Tuesday.

We have scarcely space to do more than barely allude to the general policy of the Ministry. Mr Weld on the 30th ult moved the adoption of certain resolutions on Native affairs, which propose that the Colony should have complete control, and recommend the Imperial G-overnmeut to withdraw the troops, as so long as they remain, it possesses the right to interfere. The debates thereon had been adjourned, ere the Southern members had expressed their sentiments, in which we should imagine there would bo considerable diversity. Briefly, the chief points of the Ministerial programme are as follows : — The policy of July 1863 is not to be carried out, and a scheme very much modified is put forth in its place. Hoads are to be made between Taranaki and Wanganui, the expense of which is to be allocated to the Provinces through which they pass. This is to be done by peaceful means if possible — if not, wo are to fight tho natives, and their land is to pay the cost. No more military settlers are to be introduced, but faith is to be kept with those already in the Colony, the frontier line of Auckland is to be fixed at Maungatawhiri, and the Suppression of Rebellion Act is to be repealed. We do not wish, with the imperfect information before us, to express any decided opinion ofMr Weld's Native Policy. Sofaras Taranaki and Wanganui are concerned, if carried out there, it clearly means Wau.