SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2038, 7 May 1875, Page 3

SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

(FSB PBEBS AGENCY.)

Wellington, Thursday, 6.40 p.m.

The Provincial [Council meets at 7.30 to-night. Mr Pearce will move an address for a vote of £4,000 for the erection of a new wing and other additions to the Wellington College.-J. H. Wallace sold attheHutt, useful hack*, £3 to £12; draught Jhorsrs, £14 to £25: cows,'£2 108 to £5 10.—It is understood that Mr Bobert Pharazyn will be the new member of the Provincial Council vice Mr Watt, resigned.—A deputation from tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce Waited upon the Hon E. Bichardson, Minister of Public Works, at his office this morning, to urge on the Government the more rapid prosecution of the Wellington and Masterton railway, and if necessary to offer bonuses to the contractors. The question was one.of the utmost importance to the trading community, and it was therefore that the Chamber moved in the matter. They utterly disclaimed all political motives, and any desire to embarrass the Government. Mr Richardson, in replying as to the railway progress, is- - them to what the Government had already done on the Wellington and Masterton line'. He found that the first contracts, both for Wellington and Napier, were let on the 10th August, 1873, to Brogdens. No more contracts in Hawke's Boy were let till- March, 1874, but the second Hutt contract was let in February, 1874; third, fourth, and fifth Wellington contracts being let, respectively, in April,. June, and September, 1874, He was prepared without the slightest hesitation, that greater exertions had been made and more engineering skill brought to bear on this lino to Wairarapa than on double that length of railway in any other part of the colony. It was the heaviest undertaking-in New Zealand. He was satisfied that no bonus could enable the contractor to finish the line in less than contract "time. If, however, it became apparent, as the works went on, that it would be advantageous to offer bonuses, the Government would do it. It was scarcity of labour that delayed tho contractors. Men would not do. Government work when abkto get lighter work. But he thought it likely the line would be finished within the contract time. He would inform them that £265,000 had been spent already on railways in this province, and contracts taken to amount to £200,000 more, or nearly half a million. The. expenditure in Hawke's Bay was £176,000, and liabilities £33,000, or £212,000, as compared with half a million nearly in Wellington province. The outlay on roads in Hawke's Bay was £69,000, as against £162,d00 in Wellington. A' re'mark was here made that the respective populations were 12,000 to 37,000. —In the Provincial Council last, night Mr Hutchison's motion requesting the' Council to assist in carrying. out the resolution of the Government for abolishing the provinces in the North Island, Was defeated by 19 to 4, Mr Bunny having moved the previous question. Wanganui, Thursday, 5.5 p.m. The insurance agents are considering the advisability of raising the premium's for insurance. The matter has been held over, to refer to some of the head officials. There is dissatisfaction among the insurers. . Napiee, Thursday, 5 p.m. The Government', have purchased Maney's lease from the natives, and have commenced negotiations for the purchase of the lease of the upper Wairoa country. It is all open country from tho upper Wairoa to the Waikaremona, and thence by the inland road to Poverty Bay, to join the Patutahi block. The Ureweras have overlapping claims. Negotiations have been initiated, and Sir D. McLean left Mr J. P. Hamlin to complete them. Nelson, Thursday. The Hon, ,N. Edwards was elected a Provincial Councillor for the city. He said he thought it but fair to state that in the Assembly he meant to support the abolition of the provinces throughout the colony. iThe statement was reoeived with loud cheers.

Bi/bnheim, Thursday, 5.30 p,m, A requisition is being very influentially and numerously signed asking Mr Seymour not to resign his seat in the Assembly, on the ground that next session will bo important; It is undorstood Mr Seymour will, not likely accede to the request. Mr Joseph Ward, M.P.C., is likely to become a candidate for the seat resigned by Mr Seymour if he does so. Mr Moorhouse is not expected to have much chance. . •

Chbisichtjbch, Thursday, 5.5 p.m. Frederick Pavitt, late steward of the Chnrch Property Trust Estate, was brought up at the Magistrate's Court this morning, charged with embezzlement of £797 from the funds of the estate. The prisoner had. Hied the position of steward

for nine years. His. salary of late was £400 per annum. The defalcations were found out while prisoner was absent from his duties, owing to illness. When spoken to about the matter, he expressed great regret that the Church funds should suffer through his sin. He said the defalcations were due to losses, in'flaxspeculations, and offered to surrender all his furniture andeffecta to the trustees. Two other informations having been laid against prisoner this morning, ho was remanded until May 13. prisoner appeared to feel his position very acutely. Prior to this he was held in high respect by all who knew him. lie has several brothers in Canterbury, all of whom are greatly respected — The salmon ova continues to go bad daily; only a few now left in the boxes. —Few of the birds received per 'Tintern Abbey' died; the remainder look very healthy,—The Government have givon formal notice to the contractors for the additions to the museum to suspend the work until after the Appropriation Ordinance has been passed. 8 p.m. The Provincial Secretary made the financial statement to-day.. He claimed the indulgence of the Council because he had recently assumed •office, and because it was the misfortune of the Government that they could not submit so cheering a picture as their predecessors for years past. They had a diminishing land revenue and oash-balance. They were saddled with liabilities and greatlyjincreased 'requirements while many classes of expenditure returned little or no equivalent in money. On the whole year's estimates there was a debit balance of £261,031, but op. the expenditure side there were several large works on which nothing, or only small instalments,, would have to be paid during the ensuing year, and the actual estimated deficit thus was £74,581. The receipts from land revenue for the last nine months were £43,000 short of the estimate. The estimated receipts from this source for the ensuing 12 months were £110,000. While explaining the receipts from the reserves for superior education, he touched upon the question of a new college, and indicated that as one means of retrenchment the Government had .considered the question of saving a large sum. of money by diverting the newlyerected Normal Schools from the original object and using them for colleges, but it was not yet definitely decided. The estimated expenditure for ed-ucation was £103,449. This was a very large amount, and the Board of Education, recognising the necessity of great efforts being made by the public, recommended the imposition of a property tax instead of a household tax, but the Government opposed this, and would propose that, the household tax, the school fees, and the district contributions towards additions to school buildings should be doubled. The estimated receipts for the railways were £161,064 : expenditure, £148,450, leaving a profit of £12,613. The comparative smallness of the latter amount was due to the fact that several branch lines were being made, and would continue to be worked at a loss. Certain additional charges and increased rates on railways would be proposed to increase the revenue from that source. • The estimated expenditure on charitable aid was £7,687. Expenditure in this direction has been rapidly increasing, and the Government thought it should be met more directly by the people of the province themselves, and thus would propose a plan for gradually withdrawing from the sole control of it, and in time merely subsidising the charitable efforts of the general public. Many complaints had been made respecting surveys. The fullest investigation mould be made at the earliest date. Summarising the results of the Government inquiry into the financial position, he said the ordinary revenue would not be sufficient to meet the. ordinary expenditure, especially when the latter was increased by thedebtfr'om the last financial period. The available funds for public works was reduced by the heavy liabilities from last year. The public institutions were increasing, while the public works must go on; road boards and municipalities must be assisted, aud railways and harbour works must, bo pushed on, Thus the public burden must be increased. ■ He, then said': — " Tho real fact is that in past years, when we have had a. plethora of money, wo have become almost intoxicated with good fortune, and voted most liberal sums for largo works, trusting that'the revenues of succeeding yearS would help them to finish them. Now we have come to the time when our riches are less, and with requirements almost by the fact - of our former liberality we find ourselves not only weighted with legacies of the past and unable to count with any certainfy*on improvements in future, but are also hard pressed to provide for the wauts of the present." The debate on estimates was postponed till Tuesday. The Lyttelton Times adversely criticises the financial statement, especially that part referring to Government proposals re education. The Press says :->lt is now plainly seen why the late Government •went out of office. Thefact was their hearts failed them at the prospect before them.— The immigrants per ' Tintern Abbey' were open for engagement to-day, and a great portion, including all the single girls, were engaged. Eate of wages: Married couples, £55 to £60, all found; singlemen,£4oto£so; domesfcicservants, £20 to £25 ; nurse girls £12 to £15.-To-day the Provincial Secretary gavo in. structions to have all the gates of 'the domain closed and padlocked in order that the contractor for the'additions to the.museum could not place any materials on the museum grounds. The contractor's carters brought a quantity of stone, but not being able to get into the domain, deposited the stone on the public thoroughfare in the vicinity of the gates. Tbiabtj, Thursday, 5.5 p.m. The Governor only stayed here one night. Dissatisfaction was expressed.— Bishop Kedwood was received with great demonstrations. The Catholic Church was illuminated, and there was a grand service, with much enthusiasm.—Thomas Davis has been committed f<sr attempting to poison his wife; bail was refused.— Efteen vessels were in the roadstead yesterday. Tho shipping accommodation is quite inadequate to the trade of the port. Large quantities of grain are stored, under tarpaulins. The farmers are holding for a rise iu price.

Oamabp, Thursday, 5.5 p.m. The Governor, accompanied by Dr Pollen, Mr Bolleston, Mr Maca'ndrew, Lady JS T ormanby, and Sir F. Dillon Bell, arrived at the Town Belt at 10 o'clock. He was met by the Mayor and Councillors, and proceeded to the Council Chambers, where the Volunteers were drawn up and presented arms,', and a salute was fired. Au address was presented and replied to. The party then proceeded by train to the breakwater, where an address was presented by the

Harbour Board. The Governor christened the wharf Macandrew Wharf. Mr Macandrew then declared the wharf open to traffic. The party was shown over the wharL A block of 20 tons of concrete was lifted, and laid, and generally the wharf works were inspected. The ' llderslie,'.of 450 ions burden, waathe first vessel' alongside tho wharf. The party returned by train to town.

Dunedin, Thursday. 'Bo the Governor's visit a grand citizens ball is to be given.-In the address in reply to the Superintendent's opening speech is the following:—With regard to the abolition of the provinces in the North Island, we concur in the opinion that any organic change of Constitution ought to be made in a carefully guarded manner, and only aftor due deliberations, and that we should be better informed as to what organisation is to be proposed to supersedo the existing institutions before agreeing to any change.