LATEST INTER-PROVINCAL.

West Coast Times, Issue 917, 31 August 1868, Page 3

LATEST INTER-PROVINCAL.

[BY InTEK-PBOVIXCIAL Tfc.LEGUAV3t.] (fboji m ltttexton times.) Dunedin, Aug. 27, 11.56. a.m. The Eifleman arrived this morning —at Port Chalmers from the Chatham Islands. On August 15, the islands were visited by three earthquake waves. The settlement of Tupanga is entirely destroyed, and is covered with sand and seaweed. The inhabitants, who were awoke by j^ie first wave coming into their houses, Tied to higher ground, and escaped before the second wave came. Captain Anderson's house was washed away. " A Maori was swept out to sea and drowned. . Mr Thomas Hay, sheep farmer, lost his ; house and all he had. At the Waitangi settlement, Beamish's accommodation, house was wrenched off the' piles. The Government stores, fencing, and boats were carried away. At Tupanga, a stone weighing seven cwt. was carried a considerable distance. The exact time of Iho visitation was not noted. s — [by submarine telegraph.] Wellington, Aug. 25, 7.40 p.m. Mr Stafford has succeeded in inducing the Committee of the club to refuse the use of the whist room for Mr Fox's meeting ; it is consequently postponed, to be held elsewhere to-morrow. The proposition of the . country party is understood to be an adjustment of provincial loans, according to population, the deficiency in amount per head borrowed by some to be made up by new loans for public works purposes. The principal and interest is to be payable by the General Government, who take the whole of the consolidated revenue, and also the management of gaols. The Provincial Councils are to beconie mere Administrative Boards for public works, the counties receiving their share of the territorial revenue. Only one of the number which lately voted for Mr Fox's " policy resolution," has openly joined the country party. The Government is said to be considering how much of this policy it can adopt A petition from Y^angauui to be made a county has been received. Colonel Haultain stated that from personal inspection, he could give a most unqualified denial to the reported disorganisation of the West Coast forces. He everywhere found the discipline and regularity in the camp to be such as would be creditable to any portion of Her Majesty's troop. Agricultural statistics are to be taken as usual. In the Distillation Bill, eight shillings duty on Colonial spirits was negatived by thirty to twenty. Mr Richmond proposed, as a compromise to take eight shillings from sugar, and six shillings from grain. No decision was arrived at, and the question was postponed till Tuesday.

Aug. 26, 10.30 a.m. Mr Fox's meeting was held to-day, Mr Bell, chairman. A resolution was passed, which in substance is as follows : — That this meeting having heard from Mr Fox an exposition of his views believe there is common ground of agreement in reference to the constitutional relations between the General and Provincial Governments. That the Finance and Native questions are sufficient to require them to form themselves into an organised party, and requests Mr Fox to take the office and responsibility of their leader. This resolution was unanimously adopted by the twenty-five present, and was shortly afterwards signed by several others. Mr Stafford announced this evening that the Budget would be introduced on Friday. The Diocer an Synod met yesterday. Tenders for raising the Taranaki, on the "no cure no pay" principle are invited for Saturday next. Dr Hector's paper, read at the Philosophical Institute last night, stated that a convulsion of unusual magnitude " must have produced the late earthquake waves — very much greater than that in Japan in 1854.

Aug. 27, 7.30 p.m. Last night Mr Haughton's motion for the reduction of the gold duty was negatived by 25 to 21. There was a long^ debate on the second of the Dunedin Waterworks Guarantee Bill. It will finally adjourned by 31 to 18. The Lowry Bay estate is to be sold. This afternoon"Mr Reynolds moved the introduction of the Ballot Bill, which was carrid by 28 to 23. Mr Hall being ill, the Budget is postponed from Friday to Tuesday. There is a soiree at the Scotch Church to-night, to welcome the Rev. Mr Patterson, and to present one hundred guineas to the Eev. Mr Hall, who has been supplying the ministry for the last twelve months, and who is now going to Hokitika.

Aug. 28, 7.15 p.m. The Inquiry Board have acquitted the officers and men of the Taranaki from blame, and find the loss of the steamer to be attributable to an unusually strong eddy. ' ■ / : Mr Harry Boston has been drowned in the Warehama river. ' The escaped prisoners, joined by other Natives, are building a pah close to the scene of the late engagement on the East Coast. Captain Frazer's force remains in the districtin consequence. There, was /nothing .particular in the Assembly last night. To-day, an interesting debate took place on Mr Bell's motion recommending £1500 a year to be devoted to six English University scholarships for. three years, two being competed for annually. Mr Macandrew moved an amendment for fifteen scholarships, of £100 each, for five years, to a New Zealand University, three being competed for annually. The matter Mas adjourned, on Mr Fox's motion, until after the delivery of the Budget.