BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 127, 25 July 1868, Page 3

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

“EXPRESS ”_TELEGRAMS. WELLINGTON. (From our Own Correspondent.) Proceedings in the General Assembly. Tbs Escaped Native Convicts. Great Fire in Dunedin. Friday, 4 p.m. In tbe General Assembly yesterday, Mr. Stafford moved tbe second reading of the Roads Boards Bill, in a speech of three quarter’s of an hour’s duration. ■ Mr. Fox, in reply, suggested a postponement of the debate, in consequence of the importance of the Bill, which was ultimately postponed to Wednesday next. The Provincial party held their first meeting this morning to concert proceedings. , Mr. Travers gave notice yesterday of his intention to bring the Native policy under the consideration of the House on Wednesday next. Thursday, 2 p.m. 4 The Provincialists consider themselves that they gained a triumph on Tuesday by limiting the Bridges and Ferries Bill to districts outside Provinces. The Disqualification Bill was introduced without debate ; it debars all Government officers, General and Provincial, from holding seats in either house, except the Colonial Executive and Superintendents. The English mails via Panama arrived yesterday morning, a day before time. The Marlborough portion left by steamer for Picton this morning.

The 18 th Regiment is ordered to relieve troops in Australia. The Duke of Buckingham writes that a transport steamer coming out will convey them to Australia in September, none are to be left in New Zealand.

£900,000 of debentures are Consolidated, £521,000 of -which are Provincial. A large fire occurred in Dunedin on Friday night last, doing immense damage. The following are a few of the principal places burnt down ;—Duncan’s flour store, Webb’s, .Russell's spirit store, Paton’s jewellers shop, McLaren tailors, Levy, pawn-broker, Hatch, bootmaker, and several other buildings partly burnt. The mate of three-masted schooner Rifleman tells the following story :—“ They reached the Chathams on the 2nd, on 3rd prisoners were unloading the ship. On the 4th it was raining, and the Sergeant’s guard came off, saying nothing would be done that day. On reaching shore he was seen to be overpowered by natives, who boarded the Rifleman, armed, and secured the crew from interfering ; all day natives were coming off. In the evening, when all on board, the mate was directed to .sail to Poverty Bay. Wind foul, but sailed on Sunday, sth instant. An old mari being thrown overboard to propitiate

the Gods, secured fair weather. Mate, knows nothing of what happened on shore heard shots, but natives say no injury was done to any one, only the guard was bound. The captain was ashore when the Rifleman was seized, and was seen through the class on a hill looking at the vessel as it' was leaving. / The schooner Florence had her came cut, and drifted ashore to avoid pursuit. 1 Mr. Stafford has intimated his intention to send a steamer to the Chathams. \ The escaped natives are entrenched in a strong position at Whareongaonga, fire miles from Poverty Bay. The Wairoa natives have been ordered up. Much alarm exists up-country. The steamer Waipara is said to be chartered by the Government to convey troops from Napier to Poverty Bay, or any portion of the coast where the escaped prisoners from the Chatham Islands are likely to be found.