TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4266, 21 November 1874, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[Press Telegraph Agency.] Auckland, Friday. The Waitangi has arrived from London, with 400 Government immigrants; all well, after a protracted voyage of 111 days from London, and ninety-two from land to landEleven deaths of children occurred from various infantile complaints. The police proceeded to the Quarantine Station to-day, in consequence of the reported disturbance there. They found all quiet. The immigrants were orderly, although dissatisfied with the release of the saloon passengers. The luggage of the latter was brought up. The Plorticultural Flower Show took place place to-day. The exhibits were meagre. At a meeting of the citizens, convened by the Mayor, it was resolved to hold a ball in honor of the Marquis of Normanby’s arrival, and Sir James Fergusson’s departure. Alexandra, Friday. Messrs. T. Russell, Whittaker, and Murdoch arrived here on a visit, and left by steamer this morning. Napier, Friday, An adjourned meeting of Stuart and Co.’s creditors was held to-day. Many expressed willingness to accept 15s. in the £. The Bank of New Zealand, and some other large creditors, are unwilling. The alternative of nonacceptance of the offer is bankruptcy, and it ■will probably be accepted in the end. The Luna will probably sail this evening for Wellington. The Southern Cross, from Auckland, has brought a railway engine and plant. A ship with immigrants is coming in. She is supposed to be the Bebington. Dunedin, Friday. Several stacks of barley, wheat, and oats, the property of Mr. Malaghan, were destroyed by fire at Queenstown yesterday. They were insured in the New Zealand Company for £4OO. Christchurch, Friday. A meeting of the unemployed was called and held in the Cathedral Square this afternoon. Only about forty laboring men attended. Nothing at all was done. The meeting originateU Irom tne Ulty uouucil having recently discharged, a large gang of men employed on street improvements, subsisted by the Provincial Government. Plenty of work is said to be available up-country. THE VOLUNTEERS. The firing was continued by the North Dunedin Rifles. Freere made 91, Richardson 85, Hutchinson 85, Pollock 84, Allan 82, Douglas 80. Bruce Rifles—Capstick 82, Grant 74. The Waikouaiti Volunteers have fired, with the following result :—Sutherland 85, Nelmes 81. Orbell 78. Only three men of the D.N.B. fired, Dobbie being the highest with 74. The Waikari Rangers have fired for. the choice of district representatives : —Marshall 95, McKenzie 85, Jones 81, Frazer 80. Port Chalmers Naval—Wilson 94, Goldie 90, Lean 82. SIR GEORGE GREY AND SIB JAMES FERGUSSON. Auckland, Friday. This morning’s Herald contains a letter addressed by Sir George Grey to Sir James Fergusson, in reply to the letter from the latter’s private secretary. Sir George maintains that the General Assembly cannot lawfully give effect to the resolutions passed last session. Upon that point he is confident, having had sound legal advice. He cannot believe that the General Assembly will attempt by force to complete next session an act so unlawful as that which it has began. It seems incredible to him that it would do so without an appeal to the country by a general election, and ■without the consent of the provinces being previously obtained. He again states that he is credibly informed that the Premier of the colony has gone to England, and that one of the objects of his visit is to endeavor to obtain an alteration of the Constitution Act, and he re-asuerts his opinion that the people of the , colony have- a constitutional right to know, without delay, every step taken in the matter. He says that according to every rule, the right information for which he asks ought not to be withheld one single hour. If the General Assembly cannot meet, the papers can be published in the Gazeite. This, he says, is a course often followed at Home. He also regrets that the Governor did not think fit to transmit his petition to England, as in doing so ho would in no way have committed himself by accepting the premise on which it was based. He considers, further, that it is a sorry thing to see that the Ministers of the colony have advised the Governor to break the rule laid down by the Queen on this subject, because it is a rule worthy of so great a Queen, and of so mighty a nation, and in some sort, although of course only faintly, shadows forth what might have been almost a Divine rule. However vain was the “ babblement ’’ of a petition—whatever might be its deficiency either in form or in the organ of transmission—whatever might be the passion or prejudice of the writer—all allowance was to be made. Instead of that an ignorant silliness—a rage against informality and for want of courtesy—had been shown. The petition was a quasi-sacred appeal to a higher power—a humble prayer which, without fail, let, or hindrance was to go on to that power, which, being at a distance, could without prejudice or passion overlook or pardon all errors and shortcomings, and see that they did not interrupt the course of justice, Only two

circumstances could delay the transmission o a petition by the Governor ; if the language was grossly and shamefully improper the Governor could require it to be altered ; or he might delay it for a reasonable time for consideration and inquiry, so that a report upon it might be forwarded and furnish all necessary information;' Fortunately, in this case, the breaking of the rule would direct attention to the rule itself, and secure a compliance in future. Thus Sir James Fergusson’s refusal. would do more good than harm. ENGLISH, FOREIGN, and EASTERN NEWS. ■ LATER ITEMS, VIA SAN FRANCISCO. GERMANY. The Catholic Vicar of Posen has been publicly ejected from the province. ' The Bishop of Cologne has been released, from prison. ITALY. An earthquake shook Mount Vesuvius to its base, and an eruption followed. The border dispute with Switzerland has been settled by a reference to the Washington Government. Italy gains 1800 acres of territory. Mgr. Theodoli, a dignitary of the Vatican, has been seized by brigands, and released on payment of 10,000 dollars. TURKEY. The Sultan has sent a quantity of com to relieve the famine in Asia Minor. Religious intolerance has been revived, and foreigners are again being badly treated. MISCELLANEOUS. The Spanish Minister has presented his credentials to the Emperor of Austria. The Governments represented at the Postal Conference at Berne instructed their delegates to sign the convention except France. The' latter waits the decision of America, and also reserves the light to revise the conditions of the convention. Another revolution has occurred in Mexico, with outrages by the Apache Indians on the Northern frontier. A serious riot has taken place at Aspinwall between the R.M. Company’s employes and the troops. Titles of nobility have been re-established in Cuba. Sixty retired officers arranged the assassination of President Prudo of Peru. The attempt failed, and twenty were arrested. Avenolaia has been proclaimed President of the Argentine Republic. The Chincha guano islands have been closed by order of the Peruvian Government. (VIA TORRES STRAIT.) Townsviile, Nov. 6. The Queen is at Balmoral. The Prince of Wales has visited the Prince of Hesse at Kranichstein. He travelled incog, as the Earl of Chester to Hamburg and Kiel, and embarked for Copenhagen. Dr. Dellinger was president of a conference held at Bonn on the unity of Christendom. Captain John Dent Bird, of the 20th Hussars, has been murdered by Private Smith whilst at ball practice at Aldershott. It is reported that Messrs. Baring have bought for £200,000 the cuirassed steamer Denmark, for which the Chinese Government were in treaty. She proceeds immediately to Singapore. Serious riots have occurred between the Kellog and McHenry factions in New Orleans. Six citizens and thirty policemen were lolled. The American crop of barley is only twothirds of the average. Captain Dicey’s twin ship Castellia, for crossing the Channel, has arrived at Dover from the building-yard. Fifteen millions of the new Turkish 5 per cent, loan have been subscribed at 43foreign securities, and especially Turkish, have im- , JU'OVi/J. The condition of affairs in Alabama is alarming, owing to the conduct of the White League. A regiment has been ordered south. The Italian Parliament is dissolved. Batavia, October 22. At sale Government parcels of coffee averaged 84s. fid. There is little demand. Coal (Australian) less inquiry; price on board, including insurance and charges, 325. Bd. per ton ; freight, 755. CHINA AND JAPAN. There is every prospect of a peaceable settlement of the differences between China and Japan. Japan commands the sea, having two ironclads and several wooden men-of-war. China has only about eighteen gunboats. The Japanese High Commissioner Okeibo reached Pekin on the 9th September. One of the pirates concerned in the Spark tragedy was tried at Hongkong on the 29th September, and hanged on the 10th October. The Governor of Hongkong goes home next mail owing to the illness of Lady Kennedy. Major-General Colbome or the Colonial Secretary will act as Governor during his absence. Mr. Forbes’s bills for £40,000 have been retoned.