LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1882, 18 August 1874, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

♦ [ANGLO-AU.STRALIAN PRESS TELEGRAPH AGENCY.] WELLING*i(*N, August 17. There will be no otStward San Francisco mail this month. Auckland, Aug. 17. Ths Cyphrenes proceeds to Sydney tomorrow. Sailed.— Victoria, for Sydney. Watt's mare Calumny proceeded by her to Melbourne. Donedin, Aug. 17. The " Daily Times," in a leader on Mr . Vogel's resolutions in re. the North Island Provinces, says if there are no Ulterior designs on the Middle Island, no objection can can be taken by the Otago on their own account. The question must be answered why the form of government is to take the place of the present Provincial institutions. Nothing will suit the Middle Island but that arrangements be maintained by which local expenditure will be met by revenue locally made. Christchurch, Aug. 37. The " Lyttelton Times " leader this morning agrees with Mr Vogel's speech in re the abolition of the Northern Provinces. It says it is firm and moderate, but contains evidence that the proposal is the result of pique at the opposition to one of his pet schemes. It concludes as follows : — " Yogel will find he can moat effectually abolish Provinces by an active and careful prosecution of his policy of Public Works." The "Press" argues in favor of the abolition of the Provinces of the North Island, and also favors the abolition of the Middle Island. It says that Canterbury and Otago are the only Provinces not virtually defunct. In a letter to the " Press," Mr Thomas Russell states that he must exonerate T)r Featherstone from all blame or responsibility in accepting Mr Forbes as contractor, as he had nothing whatever to , do with it. The cause of the difficulty was undoubtedly a hasty and premature contract made by the New South Wales Government with Mr H. H. Hall. His (Russell's) and Samuel's hands were tied, and they only accepted Forbes's name;: after most careful inquiry of Baring Bros, The fact that two of the most eminent shipbuilders accepted Forbes's order for L 400.000 worth of property was the strongest evidence in his favor. Forbes entered into the contract without any knowledge of his partners, Russell and Co. Russell still thinks Forbes quite able to carry out the contract, but, .being an old man, he thinks others have compelled him to take the steps he has done. The temporary service was a mistake, but New South Wales had quarrelled with Victoria about the Suez terminus, so, necessarily, the San Francisco service was urgent. He attributes all the disasters to this haste, and still believes the San Francisco service will be a success.