Latest Intelligence.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 48, 10 June 1875, Page 5

Latest Intelligence.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) Dunbdik, June 9. Mr Stewart Hawthorn, late rector of the High School, Dunedin, died last night after a l°ng and painful illness. In the Provincial Council to-day, the Outram and Greytown Branch Riilway Bill came to an untimely end by the Speaker pointing out that it was contemplated by Ordinance to take lands compulsorily, and the Bill would therefore have to go before a committee of reference. Mr Bastings, the promoter of the Bill, then withdrew it, stating that he would at once get leave to introduce a new Bill. The following motion has been carried in the Provincial Council : — v That this Council having taken into consideration his Honor's message No. 9, soliciting the concurrence of the Provincial Council in an application to the Colonial Legislature for an amendment of the 47th section of the Otauo Waste Lands Act, 1872, to the effect that the area of land which may be j disposed of on deferred payments during I any year. shall be extended from 30,000 acres, to 100 000 acres, agrees with the recommendation therein contained, and this Council further recommends tbat the words 'not exceeding 10 per centum of the run in the sixteenth and seventeenth lines of the said section, be deleted. That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the • Superintendent, requesting that he will ctuse a bill to be introduced into the General Assembly at the next session to give effect to this resolution." Christchurcb, June 9. In the Provincial Council a motion that L2O 000 be voted for drainage of Christchurch and suburbs was negatived. The motion was opposed by Government on tbe plea that there was no mnney to spare, and also by the country members. This is the fourth attempt made by Christchurch to get justice which has failed. Public opinion ia very strong against the Government, and opinions are freely exprrs-ed that their persistent ill treatment of the city will have the effect of greatly increasing supports of the abolition of provinces. During the storm on Saturday the pchooner Wild Wave was wrecked on the Ninety-mile beach, but no lives were lost. From the piecei of wreck and boat picked up on the same beach, it is also supposed the Su'cc ;ss, of Auckland, was wrecked • and it is feared that all the crew are drowned. Wellington, June 9. The reported resignation of the Premier (Mr Yogel). is authoritatively denied, but it is understood his colleagues are in a position to tender bis resignation if necessary.

Mr Gisborne retires from the civil service in August on a pension. He will offer himself, as a candidate for a seat in the House of Representatives at the ntx* general elections.

Regarding the measures Government will be prepared to lay before the Hou-e of Representative"", with a view to the aboli tion of the Provinces, the ' Tribune,' though not professing to be inspired, says the following sketch of what is not an unlikely programme may be hazarded : — The clause will be so drawn as to very easily permit, without any rude dislocation of the several parts of the measure, the inclusion of the Provinces of- the Middle Island as well, and if a majority of the House of Representatives is in favor of total abolition, the Government will Dot, upon grounds of public policy, oppose such amendments to the Bill. It is well known that only because there was reason to doubt the existence of any sufficiently strong feeling in the Middle Island upon this subject, that the Premier's resolution of last session did not at once propose to go the whole length of total abolition. It may readily be believed it is quite in accordance with, the views of the Government. It was, and is», simply a question of expediency in time in dealing with local Government. The measure will be tentative. Where details are so numerous, and opinions so conflicting, it is impossible at a single heat to frame a bill to meet the varied exigencies ot the case. It is presumed the measire vi'l extend generally tbe powers of the existing Road Boards, besides chalking out a plan for the amalgamation of every two, three, or half-a-dozen of fhem, into a County Board, to which will be given license fees and other miscellaneous receipts in the county. It is not clear whether the endowments from the Central Government will . be paid to Road Boards or to County Boards ; out the Government will not take up. any hard or fast position at the outset. The great recommendation of the bill, the 'Tribune' says, is its simplicity and the elastic basis upon which it is framed, so as to permit of the introduction of any change circumstances may require.