"MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR THE ENGLISH MAIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 1763, 25 June 1877, Page 4

"MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR THE ENGLISH MAIL.

The past month was unmarked by any event of striking political importance. The Rev. Mr Andrew M.H.R. for Wairarap* has resigned bis seat ; Mr G. Beetham is announced as a candidate for the vacancy, and two other gentlemen it ia expected will oome forward. Mr Richardson, the member for Christchurch, addressed his constituents on the 15th ins I. He dealt with the financial state of -the colony, which he considered satisfactory ; with the Counties Bill, m which he condemned the. Permissive clauses ; and with the land question, m which he favored the deferred payment system. Mr Lusk, the member for Franklin likewise met (his electors on the 20th inst. . He advocated a scheme of colonial compulsory education, and thought the Native Lauds Bill was good, although, it placed too much power m the handji of the judges.. Mr Stout, one of the members fox Dunedin, and the author of the Local Option Bill, which is simply the Permissive Bill under another name, has been lecturing m support of the measure m Dunedin, Timaru, and Christchurch. At the conclusion cf his lectures, which were principally attended by Good Templars and other advocates of the temperance, cause, resolutions were passed m favor of the Bill. Someresentraeutwasfeltatthitbeingdone, as it gave the resolutions an appearance of being the expression of public opinion. Parliament is to meet on the 19th July, but no definite programme for the coming session has been announced, and' the

country is almost m perfect ignorance of the prominent measures to be brought forward. The Governor arrived at Christchurch on the 7th inst., for the purpose of formally opening the Canterbury College. His Excellency received a hearty welcome), :md his speech at the College was well received. At the present time there are attached to the institution four professors and three lecturers, and it is proposed to establish technological schools m connection with it. A conversazione m the Museum, which was opened on the Bth, was very numerously attended, and ou the public being admitted free on Saturday and Sunday evening, the 9th and 10th, the crowd was enormous, The Government has received permission from the Imperial authorities for Sir W. Jervois and Colonel Scratchley to visit the colony and report on the best means to bo adopted for its defence. The natives at Mnriomutu, have turned back a party of Government surveyors, and after depriving them of their tents and instruments, compelled them to return to Wanganui. A very serious fire broke out m the wharf office at Lyttelton on the morning of the 17th, and, speedily communicating with the export shed, destroyed that building and all that it contained, the damage amounting to about £10,000. Floods and storms ha\e visited us, but, although considerable loss of property is reported.no life has, as far as has been ascertained , been sacrificed. Traffic on the Canterbury lines was suspended for a short time, but tho damage to the road was comparatively trifling. A severe gale, amounting almost to a hurricane, was experienced on the West Coast, and one vessel was driven ashore at Greymouth, while another met with a similar fate near Hokitika ; quantities of wreckage have likewise been washed ashore. The brig Star of the Mersey, bound from Lyttelton to Newcastle, was abandoned by her crew m a sinking condition, but was afterwards picked up by the steamer Luna and safely towed into Wellington. Fortunately we have but few accidents to report as compared with last month. The most melancholy event that has happened was the death of Mr Fred. Pilling, a step-son of Mr De Quincey, who received injuries m a football match at Auckland, which shortly afterwards caused his death. The Otago Daily Times and Witness Co. have disposed of their two journals for a sum of £22,000, being a premium of nearly 100 per cent, on the original cost. The purchaser is said to be the Hou. W. H. Reynolds.