TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4186, 20 August 1874, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

«. [Pbess Telegbaph Agency.] Auckland, Wednesday. In compliance with an influential requisition the Mayor has convened a public meeting for to-morrow night, to consider Mr. Vogel's resolutions. Grahamstown, Wednesday. The tender of Messrs. Price Brothers, for the construction of a large compound engine of 150 horse-power, has been accepted by a new battery company, who are about to erect a hundred head of stampers. It is stated that the engine will be the largest yet made in the Colony. The Mayor of the Borough has received a requisition to call a meeting to consider the proposals regarding the abolition of the Provinces in the North Island. The Advertiser and Star are both in favor of the abolition of Provincialism. The share market is wretchedly dull. The Opera Company has been eminently successful. f Napieb, Wednesday. Mr. Donald Boss, C.E., contractor for the erection of the bridge at Waipawa, met with a serious accident this morning. The piledriving monkey fell and struck him, rendering him unconscious. The result is doubtful. A telegram received at 4 p.m. says that Mr. Koss had slightly improved, and recognised Mr. Todd. Hokitika, Wednesday. An important public meeting, convened by the Mayor, in response to the resolution of the meeting held last night, was held in the Town Hall. The following resolutions were carried unanimously, and ordered to be transmitted to the Premier, and the local members :—"1. That this meeting fully approves of the action taken by the Premier in respect to the abolition of Provincialism in the North Island, and trusts that the Government will extend the same policy to the South Island. 2. That in the event of the Government boing defeated on the resolutions, and appealing to the country, this meeting hereby pledges itself to support the candidature of those only who are favorable to the abolition of Provincialism, and its abundant evils, throughout the Colony." New Pltmodth, Wednesday. The Herald, in an article on the debate on the abolition of Provinces, advocates a " happy despatch" being given to them now. The necessity for their continued existence was no longer apparent. The Herald adds :—" Under the General Government the progress of the Province will be ensured, whilst under Provincial Administration its great resources can never be properly developed." The general feeling abroad has long been in favor of being governed by the Colonial Government. Instructions have been received to commence the survey of the railway from Waitara towards Wanganui at once. Captain Ellis, of Auckland, has bought the hull of the p.s. Paterson. Portions of her deck-house have been picked up by the Natives on Harriet Beach. The Eliza Mary, which was wrecked inside the bar of the Waitara, has been repaired temporarily, and has sailed for Dunedin to be put upon the slip. Donedin, Wednesday. The Daily Times publishes a verbatim report of the speech of Mr. Macandrew on the Provincial question. The Guardian <«says Monday night's debate was vapid ; and remarks that Mr. Reeves's amendment showed a disinclination to face the issue. It adds :—" There were such transparent signs of weakness that we gather an assurance of success for the Government. We strenuously advise the representatives of the Middle Island to withdraw opposition to the Government, and make favorable terms for the landed estate of the Provinces of the South." Wiltshire, through the excessive pressure of creditors, has been compelled to give up his feat of walking a thousand miles in a thousand hours, when ho had almost completed the task- ■. " Invebcabgill, Wednesday. About 150 persons attended the public meeting on Monday night to give expression to an Opinion regarding Mr. Bell's statement before the Waste Lands Committee of the Assembly, that he opposed the sale of laud on deferi-ed payments on behalf of the runholders and public. A resolution was passed that the statement was unauthorised, and that the attitude assumed by the runholders of the district, as shown in; recent opposition to opening land on runs on deferred payments, and in the action of their representative (Bell) in Wellington, was inimical to the best interests of the country, as opposing the progress of settlement on the lands, by a population of bona fide settlers. Thanks were voted to Mr. Donald Eeid, M.H.8., for giving timely warning of Bell's statement. In criticising Mr. Vogel's proposals, the Southland Times says :—" There is no good purpose to be served by the maintenance of Provincial life under conditions such as those which exist in the Northern Provinces ; and those who look with hope to making New Zealand prosperous as a Colony, and every one desirous of seeing her prosperity continue, should hail the proposal for the abolition of the Northern Provinces as the dawn of a healthier state of matters. The desire for the abolition of Provinces had been long growing, and was still growing, and it might not be long before it would form part of the question whether it was not desirable to include the Southern Island." In,the discussion, says the Southland News, the question placed before the country should not alone be the abolition of Provincialism in the North Island, but in the South as well, the General Government superseding both.