SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2436, 5 October 1876, Page 3

SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

(PEE JPBEBS AGENCY.)

Wellington, Wednesday.

In the Supreme Court (o day, after a long deliberation by tko jury, 0. E. Haughton, who had been tried for an unnatural offence, was acquitted. Mr Macandrew has telegraphed to the Governor on behalf of the people of Otago.asking him to withhold the Queen's assent in regard to the Abolition Bill so far as Ofcago is concerned, the great bulk of the people being determined to maintain those privileges of local self government conferred upon them by the Imperial Parliament, and saying that if the action of the Government is persisted in it must result in the dismemberment of the colony. From all quarters the Provincial Government is urgently appealed to to obtain a-plcbis-citum of the people with a view to appeal to the Imperial Parliament, which it is confidently hoped would not turn a deaf ear to the wishes of an overwhelming majority of the people. He says the gravity of the occasion is his excuse for addressing the Governor, The Premier's reply says Mr Macandrew appears to forget that Abolition is now law. If he thinks the action of the Assembly is ultra vires, the courts of law are open to him. Ministers are aware of, and deeply regret the strong feeling against, Abolition apparently held by a portion of the inhabitants of Otago, fomented as it has been by misrepresentations and agitation, for which the Superintendent is in a great measure responsible. They are also aware of a strong feeling in favour of Abolition by another section of the people, but neither party can judge of the effects of legislation nof. yet in force. The temporary effect of local agitation should not outweigh the deliberate decision of two Parliaments. He (the Premier) points out that a plebiscitum is unknown to any constitution based upon representative institutions; that even if the vote of the majority of the province were obtained against an Act of the legislature, such a vote could not weigh against the decisien of the representatives of the whole colony, The Government are also receiving urgent appeals from Otago outlying.districts in a direction contrary to the representations of theSuperintendenfc. In conclusion the Premier says the measure now under consideration will leave the question of local government in the hands of the people, and there is no reason to believe the Otago people "are less desiious than other parts of the colony to localise the administration of local affairs.

Chbistchuboh, Wednesday. Alice Sheehan was arraigned yesterday morning for (he wilful murder of her infant. The evidence disclosed that she drowned the deceased in August last; tbatsbe drowned another of her children in 1875, and smothered, another in 1874. In all cases the infanticide took place a short time after her confinement. The jury retired at 4 o'clock, and returned into Court at a quarter to 7. Verdict -- Not guilty, on the ground of insanity. The Judge ordered her to be kept in strict custody at the lunatic Asylum during the pleasure of the Colonial Secretary.

Dumedik, Wednesday. The following is the reply of Mr Mac-, andrew to the Goyernor :—" I have the honour to acknowledge tho receipt, Jate yesterday, of your telegram in reply to my previous one. I now venture to express my deep regret that your Hxcellency's Government seems to be as completely under a cloud, both as to thb practical effect upon Otago of Abolition, and as to the feelings of the people thereI admit that there is a very small mojorily in favour of Abolition, inasmuch as the interests of many of them arc likely to be served thereby, although at the expense of the rest of the community. I observe that your Government attributes the strong feeling which exists against Abolition to misapprehension and agitatioD, for which they hold mo in a great measure responsible. This is a grave charge against myself and otherswhich is utterly without foundation \ in fact it is moreover a poor compliment to the intelligence of the people who, I would beg to assure your Ifxcollency, are perfectly competent to understand and judge for themselves in this matter, and who cannot but see in Abolition the destr uclion of their provincial entity, and the almost entire abstraction of their local revenues for colonial provinces. Outside the province this they regard

as a grievous wrong which they_ are determined to use evory constitutional endeavour to avert. As it appears evident that no redress need bo looked for at the hands of your Excellency's Government, and it only remains now to "appeal to the Imperial authorities in the hopo that what is understood to be the law of the Empire will be maintained, namely, that constitutional privileges once granted to a people are never taken away without their consent. Your Government deeply regrets that anyone should venture to tell your Excellency that the action of your advisors must, if persisted in, result in the dismemberment of the colony. EnowiDg, however, as I do, the strong determination which animates thousands of those who form the stamina of Otago not to submit to a policy which is detrimental to their interests and being forced upon them by what they believe to be a minority of tho people of the colony, I should be much to blame did I not tell your Excellency what I know and believe to be the truth. Indeed, I might have gone further, and said that but for tho fact that the people of Otago are a law-abiding people, entertaining the utmost loyalty for her Majesty and the Imperial Parliament, this determination now would have evinced itself in more decided action. I thank your Excellency for your permission to publish, which I presume applies to this communication also.—l have, &c, MacANDBEW." .