TELEGRAMS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3863, 12 June 1873, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

[Feb New Zealand Fbess Association,] Geahamsxown, June 11.

It is rumoured that a building used as a store on the Hope creek was burned down. The share market is much improved. The Middle Star Company has struck a reef which they had been driving for for upwards of two years.

Auckland, June 11,

A meeting at Otahuhu passed resolutions in favour of an extension of the railway to the confiscated boundary. Captain Hazard, of the Thames, won Mr Vogel’s prize with a score of 70. There is no Waikato news.

Wellington, June 11,

, The Government have received a telegram from the Governor that he was to leave Melbourne in the Claud Hamilton, for Hokitika, on June 7.

The following Cabinet minute, by Mr Vogel, was forwarded to Earl Kimberley by the last mail:—

Ministers have the honour to report to his Excellency that they have given careful consideration to a cablegram from the Secretary of State for the colonies, dated April 28, and also to a copy of a cablegram from the Secretary of State, dated May 16, forwarded by the Acting Governor of South Australia upon the subject of the mail service. It is not necessary to reply by cable to either of the two cablegrams. A cable reply would have been necessary to the first, but that the proposal it makes is recalled by the second cablegram. In explanation of ministers not having moved his Excellency to reply to the first cablegram before a second was received, they have to state that having acted in concert with other colonies at the request of the Secretary of State, they deemed it thei duty before replying to a new proposition to ascertain what course those colonies intended to take in consequence of the Secretary of State’s cablegram. But now that the proposal in the first cablegram was withdrawn it would answer no purpose to comment upon it, or to indicate what answer Ministers would have advised his Excellency to make to it, but since it superseded the proposal previously made, and which at the Secretary of State’s request was considered by all the Australasian colonies in Conference, it seems necessary that Ministers should express their opinion on the proceedings of the New Zealand representatives at the Conference, in order that by their silence there would not be reason to suppose that they acquiesced in the necessity of the offer which was under the consideration of the Conference before it was withdrawn. It is to be regretted that the several Governments were not made aware that the offer of the Lords’ Commissioners of the Treasury depended upon the colonies unanimously agreeing to the conditions of the mail service. The decision at which the Conference had arrived was much nearer an approach to unanimity than might have been anticipated. The great point of dispute was, whether the terminus of the Suez service was to be at Sydney or Melbourne. The representatives of Victoria and New South Wales were so anxious to have the terminus as to determine that without it they would not respectively for their colonies support the service. The representatives of New Zealand in coming to a decision as to which terminus they would support were mainly guided by two considerations: — Ist. That if Victoria withdrew from the service the cost to the other colonies would be largely increased. The subjoined statement of the number of letters passing between the various colonies and Great Britain (which is believed to be approximately correct) shows how large an interest Victoria has in the mail question, and how comparatively small is that of New South. Wales. Even the New Zealand correspondence although the colony has little over half the population largely exceeds that of New South Wales. The Government of New South Wales were very anxious for the terminus, but they were not prepared to offer an indemnity to the other colonies in case of Victoria withdrawing from the service ; the representatives of New Zealand therefore had no o(flier course open but to agree to the service to which Victoria was willing to be a party. Any other course might have entailed very heavy pecuniary responsibilities upon New Zealand, which, next to Victoria, has the largest correspondence with the United Kingdom. As to whether or not Victoria acted in an arbitrary manner, is perhaps not of much moment, still it is but justice to that colony to say that it asserted the control to which its large pecuniary contribution seemed to entitle it. The mails would be delivered in Melbourne or Sydney equally under either plan. The residents of the two cities respectively wanted the large expenditure and convenience to passengers, and freight incidental to a terminus, and it was natural that the largest contributor should gain in the contest. As long as Great Britain carried on the control of the service, she did so in virtue of her large contribution, and it is a significant proof of the preponderating interest Victoria has in the matter that, under the latest proposals of the Secretary of State, that each colony should receive its own outward postages, Victoria alone is in a position to contract for the service. The second consideration which had weight with the New Zealand representatives was, that in the absence of a spare steamer, the service was more reliable with Melbourne than with Sydney, as a terminus. Formerly the Peninsular and Oriental Company docked their vessels at Sydney, and the in-coming steamer was not required to leave for more than a month. For some reason not explained, the Company discontinued this practice, and the steamer arriving in Sydney has to leave in so few days, that in case of repairs being required, the time is exceedingly short to make them. The from Bombay, where the vessels are docked to Australia is such that the longer the time the vessels have in port on their arrival in the colonies, the better is their chance of effecting repairs, and obviously the twelve hundred additional miles of stormy navigation between Melbourne and Sydney and back, materially increases the chances of irregularity. In respect to the latest proposal of the Secretary of State, Ministers have to express their satisfaction with it. It substantially yields whatj New Zealand has asked before with reference to the San Francisco service. It is to be regretted that only by reason of the quarrels of other colonies can New Zealand obtain assent to its modest request. Ministers respectfully urge the claim of the colony to payment during last throe and a half years for the San Francisco service on the principle now conceded.

Julius Vogel. Wellington, June 8,1873. Statement shewing the total number of letters received from, and despatched to, the United Kingdom by the undermentioned colonies from 1863 to 1872 Victoria... ... ... 10,801,043 Now South Wales ... 4,263,783 South Australia 1)618,882

New Zealand ue ® nßl “ d 1.405,965 Western Australia ... 244.666 Geetmouth, June 11 The first sod of the Brunner Railway was turned to-day by Mr Harrison, M.H.R. nZ was a procession of about 3COO, including all the schools, friendly societies, volunteers fire, men, &c. * ura *

njr.Ti Dunedin, Juno n Mr M Demid, for Port Chalmers, and Mr M lean, for Oamaru, were returned unon. posed. For Tokomariro, Mr Gillies was returned, by a majority of 15. 8 The Council is summoned to meet mr . 30. They will vote supplies, and adjournffll after the meeting of the General Assembly The first scrutiny resulted in a tie between Messrs Turnbull and Davie-907 each Sailed-Luttcrworth, for London, with , full cargo, and five passengers.

AUSTRALIA. rrv .... , Blew, June 11. The Albion has arrived. Passengers foLyttelton—Messrs Shand, Lane, Mrs Brest* nard, Misses Lane (2). For Wellington-. Mrs Burt.

Melbourne, June 5. Governor and Lady Ferguson arrived by the mail on Saturday night. They are stay, ing with Governor Bowen, and leave oa Saturday in the Claud Hamilton, Govemoi Ferguson was present in the Assembly jester* day. He proceeds to the coursing at Sunbury to-morrow.

The Government of Victoria has entered into a contract with the P.A; 0. Co.to convey mails between Melbourne and Galle. It will be a four-weekly service for £90,00Q. The company is bound to accept no other service from Australia.

The Governor met with an enthusiastic reception at Ballarat and dunes.

The overland line was interrupted for three days. Communication was resumed on Sun, day morning. There are ninety entries for the Melbourne Cup; all the colonies are represented. There are'four from New Zealand,

The postage on inland newspapers has been reduced to a halfpenny. Madame Arabella Goddard’s concert was a great success. Both Governors were prosent. She proceeded next day to Sydney. The Argiis has obtained an injunction against the Geelong Evening Times, to provent that journal from publishing the Argui European telegrams. The first coursing matches were very sue* cessful. The principal stake was won by a Victorian bred dog, against the imported animals.

Harrison’s meat preserving process is very successful.

The small-pox patients from the Baroda are convalescent.

There is a prospect of a visit from another English eleven next season, Goodwin, ledger-keeper of the Colonial Bank, has been arrested, and charged with defrauding the bank of £SOO. The tug steamer Titan has been purchased by the Westland Steam Tug Company for £6100; Captain Hugh M'Meckan takes the command. Sydney. A large meeting of the mercantile com* munity urged upon the Government the continuance of the Galle mail service. There are forty-eight entries for the Metropolitan Stakes. Erauss, steward of the Eifleman, is sentenced to death for the murder of Captain Langmuir. The other condemned criminals’ sentences are commuted to imprisonment for life.

The Supreme Court of Queensland has condemned the Agnes Christina as a lawful prize under the Polynesian Labour Act.

June 5. The Government has called for tenders for a 4 per cent, inscribed stock loan. There has been a hard easterly gale and heavy rain all night. The Agricultural Society’s accounts show a small deficit, though the last exhibition was a success.

Shipping—Melbourne, May 30—Arrived: Dauntless, from Auckland. • May 30—Sailed: Zephyr, for Hokitika. Sydney, June 2 Arrived: Hercules, from Auckland. New* castle, May 29—Arrived: Briton, from New Zealand; June I—William Ackers, from Auckland; June 3—Jane, from Auckland, Sailed, June I—Cyrus, for Wellington.

Commercial —In markets, wheat is scarce at 6s 4d. Oats are in great demand; 5s lOd is paid readily. Hum has advanced 3d per gallon. A rise is expected in deals; largo speculative purchases have been made at a heavy advance. Sugars are firm and unchanged.