CHRISTCHURCH.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2018, 23 June 1875, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

! ■■ . / i ' - - This day. The Lyltelton Times of. this morning .says it is rumored the Hon Mr Stafford is in active communication,, by letter and otherwise, with the old Centralist' ,par.ty, and intends to press the question of the : Abolition' of all Provinces to a division during the coming Session. ,Also, that at the next general election he will, if necessary, leave Timaru, which is considered certain to return an Abolitionist, 'and contest a seat .with one of the leading members of ..the Provincialist party. At a meeting of the Intercolonial Cricket Committee held last, night, it was resolved that, Mr Mears\ estimate . is generally'approved, viz;)-:£750 for the total contributions from all the Provinces, and" that it is" desirable Mr "Hears; of ■Dunedin, be asked to act as secretary, and forthwith^ to obtain the decision of all the •Provinces, and send a final answer to Mr Goldsmith by next Australian steamer. That* as' it seems doubtful jwhether the .Wellington and Nelson contributions will -together reach the sum ,of £225.' Canterbury will raise Mears\estK estimate for' this Province of £155 tip to £200 if Otago will dtf the" same, and that Auckland - bo- requested to,do the same. From a private letter received by E. Fowler r from one of the Victorian promoters, it seems that,Jkhe expenses, etc.; are estimated at a thousand pounds. This amount, however, it i» generally considered will admit of re« duction, and that the chance of an Australian elovan visiting New Zealand is very probablo.