MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR THE ENGLISH MAIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 1314, 14 January 1876, Page 3

MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR THE ENGLISH MAIL.

i" The principal subject that has occupied ! general attention since our last summary , was,, issued, has been the election of members, for the Colonial Parliament. Many of the seats- have been keenly con- \ tested, and m some instances excitement ','. over the elections has been great. As wo predicted m previous letters, the general interest which has been exhibited iv the present election has been much more m- . tense than that with which anyprevious election oorf r the sort has been regarded, owing to the strong party feeling with reference . to the abolition of the pro^: \ t vinces, the Act to effect which comes into' . operation on the day after the last day of the next session. Up to the present time about three quarters of the total number of members to constitute the Parliament (eighty-eight) hare been elected, and m about ten days from now the whole election will be over. As regards the membera elected up to this date, the proportion of Abolitionists and Provincialists is about the same, as it was last session. In Otago the Provincialistahave the advantage, but m Canterbury all those who have , secured seats up to the ■present time are supporters of the constitutional changes, with the exception j of one (the Superintendent of Canter- ! bury), ,who is at least doubtful. The late Premier, Sir Julius Yogel, who is expected to arrive here shortly from Eng-. , land, was-nominated for three coristi- 4 tueh cies— -VVanganui, Thames, and Cluthat. '„..' It has been stated that each of these, con- ' ■". atitupncies desired to elect Sir Julius on account of the political advantage which, might be gained for the district by hay- "■< ing him for a representative, but it has also : been said that he was put forward by bia friendß for the'three placeß m order „ to increase the chances of his return.,,; The latter statement is probably the correct, one. Speculations, however, as to ' whether he would be returned or not have now ceased, the, electors of Wanganuihayingreturnedhiinas one of, their two members. As we have referred particularly to the jlate Premier's return, we will also, state that the leader of the provincial par* ty and the Opposition m the late Parliament (Sir G6drge Grey), has 'also' been 'elected.' ''■', With.aj view of excluding ah abolitionist .candidate, from what was considered a doubtful seat at the Thames, Sir George ',' , ; Grey, had, been, already elected for, Auckland City West, was , nominated for ", that constituency, and returned, at the hea/Lof the poll. . Ab there is no speaker until Mi Q New,Parliamenfrmeet3 to accept , resignation' of members, Sir George Grey -will haye to remain m possession of both ■ ■ seats u!n til after the meeting of Parliament. !He will then be called upon to take his choice of the two constituencies'; and a fresh election will have to be held." for the seat which lie vacates. It is r understood that he will sit for the Thames, ' the Prd'vfnci'alist party counting on secur- ' ing the iseat : for Auckland City West, A . protest | has. been entered against Sir. George JGrey's election at the Thames, by one of the unsuccessful candidates, on. the ground j that he was disqualified from ; , candidature by his previous election for . Aackland; Cifcy. West ; but we are of . opinion! that ample precedent exists f or . ; the course adopted by the. honorable ■ gentleman. Other protests have also - been entered m connection with the Thames election, which, if they were all • validated, would throw oat "both ' Sir George .Grey and Mr William Rowo, arid leave Sir Julius Yogel and Mr Mitchell m possession of the two seats for the district. !3ir Jiilius Yogel was third on the ; poll for this district, a*id therefore if Sir George Grey's election were upset on the., ground! of jiis having been previously,,, elected fov another ' constituency,, Sir^r; Julius : Yogel would ,, necessarily bo declared elected Jfor "the J Thamoa, and his ,-.'■. >r ' * * '

Beat for Wanganui would be vacated iv consequence. We do not think, however, that there ia the slightest chance oi a committee of the House upholding the protests. There are no other features ol the present political position to r< >iuire notico here. : Passing from political topics to matters of a general nature, we will first allude to the San : 'Francisco mail service. From news received at the beginning of this month we learn that the line has practically collapsed, the Governments oi New- Zealand and New South Wales being resolved that the service should not continue unless arrangements of a satisfactory nature are entered into. So much disappointment has been caused by this service that its collapse is generally regarded by'the public as a matter to be glad of. ; It' is expected that the subject will be very minutely enquired into next session, and that the late Premier will have a good deal to answer for m connection with; it. It is understood that Sir Julius "Yogel will not return at once to New Zealand after his arrival at Melbourne; but will go to Sydney to confer with the Government there as to tho action to he taken by the colonies of New South Wales and New Zealand as to the San Francisco mail contract. A telegram received hore on December tho 28th stated that a ship had ariived at Adelaide with the shore ends of the New Zealand cable, sp.^hat we may expect: to have daily telegraphic 'communication . with Australia., and .England, before very long. . While on .. the submarine cable subject we may mention that the Cook Strait cabio, -which affords the only means of telegraphic communication between the North Island and the Middle Island, has' been interrupted for aboul a month, causing considerable inconvenience. Tho Government steaniei Luna, has been endeavouring foi some time to grapple' the cable at the injured part, but up to the time of oui writing has not been successful. Sine« the interruption, the news furnished bj the Press Agency has been conveyec across the Strait by special steamer eacl day. The extensive public works whicl were inaugurated under tho Public Worki Policy of the late Government, are .stil proceeding, affording laborforalargenum ber of people. Private enterprises an mostly flourishing, and there is generally plenty of employment for all useful sorts o: labor. The most important item of newi with reference to private enterprises lately, comes to us from Dunedin. This gives an account of the launch at thai port of the largest iron ship yet built m the colony. She is of 100 tons register, will carry 150 tons of cargo, and capabk of attaining a speed ofJLO mile 3 per hour. Her name is the- Matau. She was buili by Messrs Kincaid, McQueen and Co: Smaller iron steamers have been built before at Dunedin, and the success which has attended all the iron vessels buiH there will-probably stimulate those m th< shipbuilding ; trade to undertake mud larger works of the sort m the future. The great advantages that would accrue to the • colony from the industry being carried on here aro obvious. What appeal to be two cases of murder occurred m the district of South Canterbury recently. Ii one case a .man named Hugh Hannal was found dead at Lake Ohou, at tlu Southern extremity of the district, undei circumstances that led to the belief thai he had been killed, and a man, supposed to be Martin Cunningham, who was witli him just before death must have ensued, has been arrested at Wellington, on suspicion of having caused the death. In the other case a man was found drowned m tho Temuka river, about ten miles north of ' Timaru, and from the severity of the bruises on his head, it is thought that Jlie had been murdered. Strange to say, theman found dead m the second case is brother to the one who is supposed to have, been imurdered at 1 Lake Ohou. Three people have; been arrested on suspicion of 'having murdered' the man found m the Temuka ' river. From Australia we learn that another attempt'is to be made to' send a shipment of meat to England by Mr Mort's freezing process. Mr Mof b has signified his willingness to undertake 'the conduct of k shipment at the riskof subscribers to a fund of from £20,000 tp £25,000. He will have nothing to do jyith less than 3pO tons, and recommends'that; a trial be with any quantity between that and 500 tons. If the "'means are forthcoming without dela'yy it' is ' estimated that the shipment \ might' bo ' made : at 1 once. Tho success of the experiment would be of" importance to all the' Australasian colonies, and ;the result of Mr Mort's attempt' will bo regarded with interest. The crops m this colony are generally looking well, some patches being already nearly ripe. ■ Shearing is proceeding actively now. .The wool season will not terminate till lato, owing to the 1 wet weather, which has caused .considerable J delay. In the latter part of last month shearing was stopped for one whole fortnight by the wet, and we have had a good many rainy days since, which have retarded operations. _ Accounts of the important local events of the month will be found m our Supplementary Sheet.