SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXI, Issue 5583, 19 July 1875, Page 3

SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

PICTOM", Saturday. C.iptain Kenny, M.H.H., addressed his constituents last night. He said he would support the abolition of the provinces of both Islands, also the Polynesian scheme, and the State Forests Bills. A unanimous vote of confidence was passed.

CHRISTCHUROH, Saturday. A. (J. Knight, Minister of Education, and J. N. Tosswill, one of the strongest opponents of now education, and both members for Lincoln district in the Provincial Council, met their constituents at Prebbleton List night. Mr. Knight's conduct, in snppoiting the Education Bill, was severely condemned, and a resolution was proposed asking him to resign, but at the request of Mr. Tosswill, it was withdrawn. Mr. Tobswill's action in opposing the Education JJill was warmly eulogised, and a vote of confidence in him was unanimously carried. A requisition is to be got up in the district asking Mr. Knight to resign. The feeling against him, regarding the Education Bill, is getting stronger every day. At .i meeting of the Funeral Reform Association, a resolution was agreed to, not to prescribe any set form of mourning, but that all members should promise the discontinuance of wearing expensive mourning, .and especially crape by females. Also to encourage the wearing of nothing more than a band of crape or cloth on the left arm, as a sign of mourning by males. It was also i osolveil to purchase a horse ami trap, to let on hire, for funerals at a cheap rate. A most disgraceful scene took place yesteul.iy. The outskirts of the town aro seldom visited by the police, and there is auiplo spaoe for perpetration of brutal outrage with out interference. A dozen or more of men and larrikins were drinking in a house nei>' the town bolt, ami two began the disturbance by filling iuto the gutter, biting and kick mg one another. After some time other* g<it excited, and a free fight ensued J J )i i ectly one was down the whole pack swt on him, and in this way several were nearly killed No one seems to have* interfered. The police were entirely ignored in the affair. One liad his jaw broken by a kick, and the extent of injuries to others is not yet known.

TIMARU, Saturday. A public meeting was held last night re the abolition of the provinces. About 600 were present, and great enthusiasm was shown. The following resolution was earned unanimously : — "Thatin the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that the system of Provincial Government be forthwith abolished throughout New Zealand ; that a system of local government be established which will endow each district, whether town or rural, with a fair proportion of the revenue, contributed by' its inhabitants." That a petition embodying this foregoing resolution be drawn up and circulated for signatures, to be forwarded to the Hon. E. W. Stafford for presentation to the General Assembly. Discussion was invited, but no one spoke against the resolutions. The meeting was quiet and unanimous.

DUNEDIN, Saturday. As Captain Russell, of the schooner 'Cora,' was attempting to push his vessel off the lighter ' Edinburgh* (both alongside the Jetty-street \\ hart) he loot his balance and fell overboard striking against the lighter's anchor, and has received severe internal injuries. A lire occurred yesterday at Hyman's, who loses his furnituie and a lai'ge amount of jewelleiy, till of w Inch are uninsured. The house was completely destroyed. Mr. H. E. J. Walter, hotelkeeper, and Mr. C. S. llecves, soda-water manufacturer, arc candidate* for the vacant mayoralty. No other nominations have been made.