GENERAL NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 97, 2 May 1870, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS.

WELLING_CON. _

; New....Zea^ajtd Steam Nav-GA-H.n: Coml__Ni;—The extension of time for the reception of tenders for the purchaSl'§l ih#sa_tf _f this company expired on Thursday, and the liqui-

dators proceeded! to open the tenders received. There were two for the purchase of the whole plant, one from the Circular Saw CoDpany for, we believe, £16,000; and one frtom the new local company, for, we believe, £1*7,000, As neither of these amounts reached tile limit fixed by the liquidators, both Were refused, A tender from Messrs. Krull and Co. for th_ purchase of the s.s. Ladybird, at £850, was accepted. We understand she has been bought on behalf of an Auckland firm, and that sheds to be converted into a sailing vessel. The remainder of the N.Z.S.N. Company's fleet fend plant will be sold by auction. Waibabapa Lake.—The Provincial Secretary, accompanied by two officers of the Challenger, left town for the Wairarapa on Thursday morning, for the purpose of examining the lake, to see if it would be possible to open it up for naviga. tion, as suggested by the settlers in the locality. We shall anxiously await the result of the examination. Whatever.it maybe, the public must feel-indebted to ConModore Lambert for his courtesy in so kindly placing the services of his officers ac the dispCHof" the Government, for the purpose of ascertaining the capabilities of. the lake. ~ ,',' , 7.' . ! The deputation appointed at the rebeht meeting held at the Chamber of Commerce, (A persons engaged in business, waited on in, •Collie yesterday afternoon. The deputation consisted of the Hon. C. J. Pharazyn, Messrs. ,\V. B. Rhodes, George Hunter, W. M. Bannatyne, E. J. Duncan, and E.T. Gill6-,.a_d.<was'j introduced by Captain M'lntyre, U-.S.iOonstd.1: • Mr. Khodes explained the object which the ; . deputation had in view; and Mr. Collie" ex-*"" pressed his readiness to afford all the information relative to the line of steamers he pro -•■ posed to establish/and the advantages which might naturally be expected to accrue fr6la.iti» to New Zealand. Something having besn said to the effect that the Government entertained doubts as to whether Mr. Collie was duly accredited, he produced his credentials from Mr. Webb, and also letters from the English Consul at San Francisco, testifying to his commercial position. A long and interesting conversation ensued, in the course, of which he mentioned a number of products of America and the South Sea Islands, in which a large traffic might be opehed with* these* colonies in exchange for many of our products which command high prices there, As an instance, butter.selling here for fd. per pound would readily fetch in San Francisco* 2s. to 2s. 4d. ; preserved meat, such as is • now being manufactured in some parts of New Zealand, would also meet with a ready sale at remunerative prices, as well as gum, flax, and other articles. Mr. Collie explained th<vt his steamers being placed on the line was en tirely contingent on sufficient subsidies being received from America and Australia. He had little doubt that the United States Government would grant the amount he required from them, and if New Zealand and' Australia would make up the remainder, there would be no further difficulty in the way. He was in favor of making Wellington the port of call. The deputation promised to support Mr. Collie's line, and to use all its influence with the Government and Legislature to obtain the requisite subsidy.— Evening Post, 26th ult. The Wellington Gas Company seems to be now becoming a tangible fact. Tenders are invited for the erection of offices,.-fencing, gates, &c, and in a comparative short time, operations will be in full blow. We cordially wish the spirited projectors of the enterpriseall the success they merit. — Ibid. The steamers Lord Ashley and Ahuriri, which sailed for the South last evening, were forced to run back to harbour this morning, having encountered a furious southerly gale, with a very heavy sea, outside. — Ibid, April 27.