TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4260, 14 November 1874, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

* [Press Telegraph Agency.] Auckland, Friday. It is rumored to-day that Mr. G. M. Reid, the Provincial Treasurer, has resigned. No offer has been received for the cargo of barley ex Chicolas. It is stated to-night that the Superintendent', has abandoned his projected trip home. Grahamstown, Friday. The brigantine Endeavor arrived to-day with the targets, stores, tents, and other appurtenances for the colonial prize-firing. The Star's Ohinemuri correspondent states that Mr. Mackay's present work is easy unless he is: thwarted by the ill-timed interference and malice of disappointed land speculators. About' Wednesday or Thursday next will be the decisive time for the settlement of the matter-

At the meeting of the Borough Council of the Thames a letter was read from the Registrar of Births, Deaths, &c, referring to the number of deaths from diphtheria previously reported. It appears that all the cases occurred outside the boundary of the borough. The share market is quiet, with scarcely anything doing. Napier, Friday. A meeting of the creditors of Stuart and Co., merchants,. has been held. Liabilities, £41,000 ; assets, £42,000. ••-'A proposal has been made by "Messrs. A. P. Stuart and Stevenson, and D. T. Stuart, of Wellington, that in consideration of creditors handing over the entire assets of the estate they would "offer a composition of 15s. in the £. ; one-fourth cash, balance at three, six, and nine months) with interest at six per cent. Before accepting this offer the creditors desired to have the accounts and papers gone through to see if the full amount could not be realised. ..Messrs. T. K. Newton, J. G. Kinross, E. Sutton, R. D. M»ney, and 11. C. Robjohn, were appointed a committee to report to an adjourned meeting on Monday. There is a strong feeling that the estate will pay 20s. in the £. A public meeting is convened for the 20th inst., to take into consideration the present position of the Jockey Club in this province, with a view to make the annual races more satisfactory to the owners of horses and the public than lately. . • : '• D'JNEDIN, Friday. No nominations have been received from Melbourne for the Dunedin Cup. The Acclimatisation Society will liberate two thousand trout immediately. \ Port Chalmers, Friday. A half-caste, named Peacock, was sailing from the Heads to Waikouaiti in a whaleboat yesterday, when the boat was capsized in a squall. The wind was off the land. Peacock was on the boat's bottom three hours, and was rescued by the Geelong, which went in search of him. Oamaru, Friday. Mr. Steward met his constituents last night in the Volunteer Hall. About 250 were present. He spoke for two hours, and reviewed the legislation of the session and the proposed political changes. He said the members of the Assembly, with the exception of a few connected with provincial institutions, were convinced that the abolition of provincialism in the North Island was necessary to the progress of the colony, and he believed if satisfac-. tory machinery for local .government were substituted, the time would soon arrive when Canterbury and Otago would ask for its extension to the Middle Island. Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland, were already ripe for change. A resolution of thanks and entire confidence was passed unanimously, as also the following resolution :—" That this meeting is of opinion that the time lias arrived for the abolition of provincialism in the North Island, and the substitution therefor of a less costly system of government, securing the expenditure of the local revenue (after deducting colonial charges) in the district in which it is raised; and is further of opinion that the abolition of the provinces and the substitution of local government, with local expenditure of local revenues, should be. extended to the Middle Island as soon as practicable.