SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5948, 4 March 1881, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

(PKOM OUB OWN COBBESPONDENTS.)

.. Auckland, March 3rd. At a meeting of the Land Board, Mr Firth inquiredl in what state the negotiations with Messrs Grant and Foßter were at presentwhether or not they had accepted the conditions submitted to them. The Chairman replied that the Minister for Lands had transmitted copies of the correspondence which had passed between the Government and Messrs Grant and Foster. The first letter was signed by the Minister for Lands, and stated that the Government was prepared to make the following concessions to the Lincolnshire delegates • —■(1) A Crown grant shonld issue without any reservation as to minerals. (2) Native reserves .should be included. (3) The Government would propose to Parliament the voting of a snm for the construction of & drain, not to exceed 650 chains in length, and not to cost

more than 20s per chain. The Minister expressed surprise that Messrs Grant and Fosteir Bhould appoint an agent and then refuse to endorse hw acts^on their behalf. The second letter from the Hon. Mr Whitaker, wasin reference to^certain "gross inaccuracies"' which Messrs Grant aiad Foster had put in currency regarding statements made by him. Captain Steele telegraphed bis acceptance of MriCollestons terms, provided the drains were gone on with at once. Mr RoUeston repliedl that the Government would do so provided, in case Parliament disallowed the expenditure. Messrs Grant and Poster would bear it. Capt Steele gave this promise. In answer to Mr lonks, the Chairman said that as the agents Captain Steele, had concladedthe bargain, and that though Messrs Grant and Foster might question it, they would hardly repudiate hisaction in the matter. Messrs Firth and Tonks cx Pr?Bsed the opinion that nothing further should, be done in th 9 way of encouraging these special settlements. People in England should receive no greater advantages in the way of taking up land than peoiile who were already nere.- If they were indisposed to avail themselves of normal-facilities for settling, they could remain at Home.

. Christchurch, March 3rd. Harvesting operations have been well nigh completed around Timaru, Christchurch, andother parts of Canterbury, and the threshing,' which is being proceeded witb, is showine satisfactory results. The weather has continued favourable for gathering in the crops inexcellenfr condition, and the result is that the wheat is o£ exceptionally high, quality, while oats-and barley are also fairly good. Tbe extraordinary, yield per acre of last yeai; will scarcely be reached, but a general average of from 24 to 26 .bushels-of--wheat maybe erpected, and owinjr to the increase of area, tie total quantity of grain in the Provincial District will be larger' than ever... ' •

.. , __.-. Mastekton, March 3rdt _At the Masterton Horticultural Society's Hhow yesterday, there was a grand display of fruit and vegetables. Mr M'Cardle, an old Danedinite, took 50 prizes for fruit aad nowere.