Latest Telegrams.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 707, 29 August 1870, Page 2

Latest Telegrams.

"Wellington, Aug. 27, 4.10 p.m. H.S.M. Clio, Commodore Sterling, arrived at 1.30 p.m., from the Cape, after a favourable passage ; sighted one iceberg, and lost a man overboard on August 15 ; parted company with the Galatea shortly after leaving the Cape; rejoined her at the Snares, and came up m company. On the Clio entering the harbour, tbe Galatea hauled off from the land, owing, it is supposed, to some derangement m her machinery. 7.10 p.m. Mr Haughton protested against tbe third reading of the Bill, as the redistribution of seats waa especially unfair to the goldfields of Otago and Auckland. The Bill passed by 41 to 13. In Committee of Ways arid Means, Mr Yogel gave further explanations regarding the proposed railways, and moved for leave to introduce a Eailway Bill. He said that two deputations bad waited upon him, one consisting of Otago members, tbe other of Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and Taranaki members. They strongly urged that power should be taken this session for certain lines of railway, which they indicated. The Otago deputation urged the construction of three lines : — Ist. From Winton to Wakatipu ; 2nd. From Invercargill to Mataura ; 3rd. From Waitaki to Moeraki. The Wellington deputation urged — first, that no railways at all be made during the recess, or if any were made, then tbat a line from Wellington to the 70-mile Bush, thence diverging east and west to Napier and Taranaki, via Wanganui, should be included, and provision made for the cost by payments m land. The various advantages of these lines had been strongly urged, and the Government, after mature consideration, bad returned the following answer: — To the Otago deputation, that it was very desirable to bridge the Waitaki with a bridge suitable for ordinary as well as railway traffic, that authority to make the bridge at a cost not exceeding £35,000 would be taken and the work proceeded with if the Government could find a proper site. .As to tbe railway from the Waitaki to Moeraki, the Government fully recognised its importance, but they "were not m possession of sufficient information to ask authority for its construction. They would, however, promise to make surveys and obtain all necessary information during the recess, and next session they would ask for authority to make the line. With regard to the proposed line from Invercargill to Mataura there was even less information available, but the Government would give the same assurance m this as m the other case. With regard to the line from Winton to Wakatipu, all tbe Government could promise was, that they would make enquiries during the recess, and lay all

the information obtainable before the House next session. To the Wellington deputation, the answer of tha Government was, that they by no means undervalued tbe importance of the proposed line, but sufficient information was not available to justify them m asking for power to construct it. The line would have to be carried out m connection with a plan of settlement along its course, and it could not be done at once. To ask authority for the line now might also prejudice certain negociations pending for the purchase of part of the 70 mile Bush. The Government, would, however, mako the necessary surveys during the recess, would open negociations with a contractor likely to undertake the work, and would bring down proposals on the subject next session. In order to avoid delay m the works which, the proposed Bill would authorise, he would ask for a vote of £25,000 for the purchase of railway materials. Auckland had offered money for a railway from Waitemata to Kaipara, but it had been thought better to leave the construction of this line to the Provincial Government. The Bill was brought m and read a first time, all discussion being, at Mr Vogel's request, postponed till the second reading was moved. Dunedin, Aug. 27, 3.20 p.m. Owing to heavy and incessant rains for the last two or three days there have been floods at Oamaru, Waikouaiti, Taieri, and Tokomairiro. A shepherd named Mcßride, was drowned m crossing the Shag river. The weather is clear to-day.