PER PRESS AGENCY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1927, 8 March 1875, Page 2

PER PRESS AGENCY.

Auckland, This day.

During the interview with the deputation Sir George Grey said —" The whole question of constitutional reform has new been opened up, and many larger points than the abolition question would be raised. He doubted very much whether in the colonies possessing a Responsible Government the office of a Resident Governor was either useful or necessary. He believed it would be infinitely better if each Colony had the power of electing one of their foremost citizens to reside in London as Secretary of State for the Colony, with the privilege of advising Her Majesty on. all questions affecting the Colony. In that way the avenue to great political distinctions would be opened to* colonial statesmen, and the home authorities would be far more .correctly advised on colonial questions, and the ties connecting the colonies with the mother country would be made permanent and secure. He had always put forth this view, and was very much pleased to see that it had been favorably entertained by ; the Colonial Jnstitute at home, only one member opposing it. There were also many other large questions to be considered, and, he thought, if they were to have a change, it ought to be well considered, so that the new order of the Colony should be capable of lasting for a long time, No plan of constitutional reform would be complete which did not grapple with the question of constitution of the Upper House. The system of nomination now in force was indefensible, and it must be changed if they were to have a good satisfactory system of government. H.M.s s. Dido, which arrived yesterday, left Levuka about a month ago, with 100 returned laborers. She called at Apia, Mallicollo, Ambryru, and the South East Coast of i pia, where natives were returned to their respective homes. It was ascertained that a great many of them had been kidnapped by small vessels flying the British flag. The barque Ada, from London, was sighted by the Dido off Kawau; all well.

Mr Dargaville has issued an address stating, that in consequence of the new and. favorable light thrown on Sir George Grey's views by his published address, and the fact that his views coincided so closely with his (Mr Dargaville's) own, he has decided to withdraw from the candidature of the Superintendency. The schooner Tawera caught fire lying in Mechanics' Bay early this morning. The fire brigade at first refused to go, being just bey«nd the city boundaries, but the cost of horses being guaranteed, they proceeded after the lapse of over an hour, and succeeded in extinguishing the fire, after the inside^of the vessel at fore part was nearly burned out. A hole was bored to scuttle the vessel, but there was not sufficient water where she was lying. The Tawera is owned by Archard, and is believed to be insured for £700.

The barque Ada had a pleasant passage of one hundred days. She brings a few saloon passengers; no immigrants. The mail steamer Cyphrenes is sig-nalled—-to be up in an hour and a half. Wellington, This day. A supplement to the Gazette of Thursday contains a proclamation revoking that dated 27th February, 1873, prohibiting importation into New Zealand of all cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, and carcases, skins, horns, hoofs, and every other part thereof. Another proclamation assigns the Northern district to Justice Gillies, Canterbury district to Justice Johnston, and Otago and Southland district to Justice Williams-

A shock of earthquake, lasting several seconds, was felt at 5.30 on Sunday morning by many people, who described it as sharp. f The native title to an islet near Cape Maria Van Diemen has been extinguished, and the islet reserved as a site for a lighthouse. The Otago yesterday brought a number of diggers from the South, eh route for Ohinemuri.

Dunedin, This day. The arbitrators in the Bruce Herald Libel case—Turnbull (Provincial Treasurer) t. J. L. Gillies and J. Mackay— have made their award for direct publication of an apology, and payment of £50 to the Benevolent Asylum and £20 to the JRefuge, all costs to be paid by defendants; failing compliance within thirty days judgment to be extended up to £300 damages, with costs. Messrs Watt (R.M.), Driver and J. Reed were the arbitrators.

There is greater speculation over the Dunedin Races this year than ever before. The second Derby sweep (one thousand pounds) on the Dunedin Cup was filled up aud drawn in three days. The third sweep (of the same money) has been opened, and there is a rush for tickets. The latest Cup odds are—s to 2 against Traitor, 4 to 1 against Pertobe, 6 to 1 against Spritsail, 7 to 1 against Castaway, Flying Dutchman, or Atlas, 8 to 1 against Ngai-o or Hercules, 10 to 1 against Tern-, pleton or* Right Bower; others, from 15 to 100 to 1.