LAST NIGHT'S NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1354, 5 March 1881, Page 3

LAST NIGHT'S NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Wellington, Last Night. It is said that E. W. Mills',, n on merchant, is about to file his schedule. The assats are stated at £190,000, and the liabilities at £135,000. It is repotted th.it in all probability this course would never have been adopted but for the obstruction of one of the largest creditors. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency report, under date London, Ist March, ISSI : — The wool competition is decreasing, and quotations are averaging OUI to Id lower than at the opening. Up to date, 90, 000 bales have been sold. A telegram from Blenheim states that the little steamer Mohaka, Oapt. Symons, which left here for Blenheim last night with a full cargo, had gone ashore while entering the river this morning at 3.30. It is thought that, as soon as the cargo is taken out, the vessel will be got off with but little damage.

Auckland, Last Night. At the Police Court to-djjy,: Bell was again remanded on a charge of embezzling £86 while station-master at Ohaupo. The Steamer Tararua, 1 Under the command of Captain Garrard, late of the Albion, while coming alongside the wharf carried away one pile and about 14 feet of planl'i i£.

Sir George Grey and Patetere. Correspondence is published between Sir George Grey ami the 1 Government re Patetere. Sir George Grey encloses a memorial fiom the Thames against the removal of the proclamation over Patetete, and after nai rating briefly the history of Patetere, says :—": — " The removal of the pioclamation from the block dining the recess would be a great misfortune to the country, for then vast blocks of laud of great value would probably fall into the hands of private persons, while the rest of the inhabitants, who have obeyed tin law by not attempting to purchase land while the proclamation was over it, would suffer great injustice. The natives would also suder serious wrong from not having had an opportunity of selling their lands in the open market. I would venture to add that the falling of this block of land into the hands of a few private persons -will greatly impedo the settlement of the country on principles which take into .consideration the interests and rights of the whole of the Queen's subjects*" The reply from the Colonial Secretary, through whom Sir George Grey addressed His Excellency says/. — "The Governor had referred (the matter to his responsible advisers."' IJie Colonial Secretary then goes on to say : — "It is the declared policy of the present Ministry to withdraw as far as possible from the purchase by Government of lands owned by aboriginal natives,, and in per uancc' of that policy they consider it inexpedient t"> proceed with the negotiations which have been commenced for the purchp-o of Palefcero and many other blocks, surli mtive land notice accordingly, were published early in November last* in the G((Z(((e an,d in several newspaper 3 that' applications would be made by the Native LamU Court to as'gn to the Crown the are?, of land proportionate to advances of money which have been made by Uovermneut, and on this being done it would be open to dispose of the remainder of the block in the manner authorsed by law to any person whom they may cho^e. This notice was given more than two months ago, and there can be no ground for assuming that the general public is unaware of the period at which thePatejtere block will be free from existing restrtiictions. His Excellency's advisers have no doubjfc that in adopting the course above indicated they have acted in the hue interest of the whale of the Queen's subjects in Now Zealand."

Whangarei Last Night. The Komo Railway was opened officially to-day.

Napier, Last Night. Lottie Wilmott struck at the editor of the Telegraph "with a riding-whip in the street to-day, snyinpr : u That's for the insult last Monday." The insult was contained in a notice of her lecture on " The Devil/ which stated that it was valueless and uninteresting.