COLONIAL TELEGRAMS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume V, Issue 13814, 14 February 1872, Page 2

COLONIAL TELEGRAMS.

PEK GBEVILLE'S TELEGBAM COMPACT. (Reuters Agents). BLENHEIM. Wairau nomination—Seymour, 27 ; Ward, 14. Poll demanded. PATEA. (From our own correspondent). Feb. 14, 2872. The natives say that McLean told them that Major Noake is to be removed. The settlers are highly indignant, and are holding meetings to protest.

Wangantji v. Marton.—The cricket match between Wanganui and Marton came off this day. Wanganui, Ist innings, 114,- Fleetwood scoring 45 and MuttitSO. Marton, first innings, 28. A full report of the match will be published to-morrow.

Col. Haultain,—The Auckland correspondent of the Lyttelton Times says: —" It is not known who is to succeed the Imperial Deputy Commissary-General, but rumour points to Colonel Haultain as the coining man, and murmurs are already heard, the gentleman referred to being not generally popular."

Ti-ie Chief Commercial Entrepot. In an Independent leader we fine! the following reference to the forthcoming l aiK j sale:—"The town sections in Wanganui are sure to be briskly competed for by persons thoroughly acquainted with the rising value of sites in a township which is the chief commercial entrepot of a large and prosperous country district extended from Patea on the North to the Eangitikei River on the south ; while the vicinity of the Campbell Town Sections to the recently constructed Wanganui bridge largely enhances their value." We detect here the "fine Roman hand" of of a gentleman whose experience of this district is great. It is quite delightful to have our place praised in other parts of the Colony, but it would be more satisfactory if justice were done to its merits when there is no purpose to be served. The writer miaiit have pointed out that in justice to the " chief commercial entrepot" the sale of the sections in the town and in Campbelltown ought to have been held in Wanganui, where the Government would have found as appreciative bidders as they will probably find in Wellington. This commercial centre does not care about bavin oits business transacted in Wellington, and after all the years these sections have been nursed, surely the people here ought to have the first opportunity of purchasing-. But chief commercial entrepot or not, provincialism will keep us subordinate to an<? dependent on the centre, even after this has been outstripped in the race of material progress. Mr E. J. Wakefield Describing His Plans. :—Twenty-two persons assembled on Saturday evening at the invitation of Mr E. J. Wakefield to listen to his lecture on reform, and his reasons for desdesiring to establish a new penny morning paper, " conducted on thorough reform principles, " for all New Zealand. Of the twenty, many were reporters and compositors on the staffs of the existing local printing offices, who had evidently been attracted by the hope of hearing something new. After waiting for three quarters of an hour— presumably in he j hopes of obtaining a more numerous au- ; dience—The lecturer commenced to argue |

that the protection and provincialist doctrines now gaining ground required vigorous opposition, such as it was his intention his paper should furnish. He implied that because the Wellington and Masterton railway was to be ■■ constructed along a line between here and the Waivarapa Plans, which Mr Rochforthad recommended instead of along a route which he (the lecturer), without engineering skill, thought best, therefore it was a job for the" purpose of enhancing the value of some property belonging to his Honor the Superintendent, who had already, on the strength of the railway, sold some of his land at the rate of £140 an acre. He then went through the prospectus put forth, and dilated a little on the necessity for retrenchment, for the amalgamation of General and Provincial Government offices, for economy in the expenditure of public money, and for a liberal remodelling of the land laws of ike colony, lie said that the paper lie wished to start would advocate these, and exclude police, City Council, and shipping reports, and local matters. The audience having been invited to discuss the matter, a gentleman present asked how Mr Wakefield proposed to make the paper return a dividend to shareholders, but hie reply was apparently unsatisfactory to the meeting. He was reminded that the proprietors of .he Auckland Daily Southern Cross had endeavoured to establish a cololouial paper, and had lost £14,000 in the attempt; and it was suggested that the capital he proposed to raise, namely, £2000, would be utterly inadequate for the undertaking. The sanguine projector expressed a different opinion, and regretted that returns from Nelson and Canterbury as to the probable number of persons willing to become subscribers had not reached him. The lecture, which was really little more than a recital of the prospectus, came to an end, and the audience dispersed without a single remark being made by any present (Mr Wakefield excepted) other than condemnatory of the scheme.—Post.

Arrival of Immigrants.—-The H. B. Herald of the 9th says :—The immigrants, whose arrival we announced as expected by the Rangatira, arrived in due course on Wednesday.' The single women among them, of whom there were about eight or nine, have all, we believe, been engaged, as servants already.

Awahubi Racks.—Tliese races were run on the 10th instant at Awahuri, Rangitikei. Everything went off well, and strange to say there was plenty of grog and no fighting. There were about 150 Maoriea and 20 Europeans-present. The Superintendent, Provincial Secretary and other Government officials passed within a quarter of a mile of the course as the races were being mU) } mt did not j ionour fche aboriginals with the light of their countenance. It is questionable whether the natives would have considered it an honor, as the purei hoiho and the rat rama were all they thought of for the day. The first race was a hurdle, welter weight. Pacha first, the rest nowhere. Second Ptace— Awahuri Stakes— W. Simpson's Deerfoot first. " Barrett" won with his hands down. Third Ptace—Awahuri Maiden Plate—Seymour's Touch me Not, first, Smith ; Clouts Zipper, second, Owner. Fourth EaceGrand Zealand Plate—J. Stevena's Pacha, first; W. Simpson's Potatoes and Pork, second, Barnttt. Fith—Pony Race—Liilapee, first- Seymour's Rahapoka, second, Smith. Sixth Race — Consolation—Seymour's Buck, first; Simpson's Potatoes and Pork, second, Barnett, Some of the races were very fast, and the day's sport gave general satisfaction. The sale of Mr Strachan's effects will take place on Monday the 19th, at one o'clock. Grkymoutii Jockey Club Handicap. —Mr Hustler, the handicapper for the Canterbury Club, has made the Handicap for Greymouth, which we append :— _ st. lbs. Peeress, 6 yrs. , . , 10 7 Yattarina, 6 yrs . .90 Slander, aged . . . . 810 Misfortune, G yrs . . .83 Lacenfeed, 6 yrs . . .80 Economy, 5 yrs . . .70 XXX, aged . . . .72 Hatred, 4 yrs . . . .72 Black Eagle, .aged . . .78 Why Not, aged .. .6 10 Stockman, (5 yrs . . .67 The weight put on Peeress is a real crusher. Mr Redwood's mare has llibs given her beyond her racing weight while Yattarina, the next highest weight, has lOlbs off, making a difference of 211bs in two animals of the same age. We will just enumerate the weight which Peeress is asked to give to the horses entered against her :—Yattarina 211bs : Slander, 2olbs 5 Misfortune, 321bs^ Lacenfeed, Oolbs; Economy, 401bs ; XXX, 41-lbs; Hatred, 371b»; Black Eagle, 491bs ; , Why Not, 681bj; Stockman, 561bs. It S3cni3 a forlorn ho;,e ;o and the mare to j t he coast to meet such a disparity of weights j -

—it simply amounts to an exclusion.—kelson Examiner. . Clash Tiring.— A squad of the Wanganui. Rifles fired this- morning. Oondiditions—five shots each at 400, 500, 550 and GOO yards. Score — Band-Sergeant Baker 28, Bandsman T. Perry 41, Private J. North-over 41, Bandsman H. Eoss 41.