ARRIVAL OF THE 'ST. KILDA' AND 'JOHN PENN.'

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 186, 13 August 1870, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE 'ST. KILDA' AND 'JOHN PENN.'

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH".]

NEW MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS

TO BE APPOINTED

FITZHERBERT CRITIC:SES THE

GOVERNMENT POLICY.

VOGEL AND FOX DISCLAIM THE ACTION OF THE TELEGRAPH CLERKS IN STOPPING THE PRESS TELEGRAMS.

Wednesday, August 10. On the motion for going into commit!ee on the Bills for Public Works and immigration, Mr. Fitzherberfc at some length complained that he failed to find in those measures, any fulfilment of the promise of tho Government, that their financial scheme was of a really colonial character. He thought that under the scheme, there would be a general scvavnble for Ihe money. He further urged the necessity of appointing a Eesponsible Minister for Public Works and Immigration, who could act with the advice and sanction of such Boards as mightbe created. Messrs Stafford, Richmond, Carleton, Cracroft. Wilson, and Driver, followed in speeches to the same effect. Mr. Vogel in reply said that the Government would not accept indiscriminate amendments. '1 he Act, if found imperfect, could be amended next session. It 3 imperfections would require to be found out by practical experience. The Government would assent to the appointment of a Responsible Minister of Public Works, with a Board to advise him. The North Island Roads; would be placed under the charge of such a Minister. Mr Vogel could not say who the gentlemen might be who would be appointed to the office. Nothing of importance has been done in Committee of Supply. In referring to the paragraph in the Chronicle headed" Fox Gagging the TeleGKAPJi," which appeared iv a recent issue, and which complained that the telegraph otlicials had refused to transmit a message, which stated " that the Evening I'ost had convicted Mr. Fox of falsehood, " the Hon. Mr. Vogel, Post-master General asserted to the House that he had nothing to do with stopping the transmission of the mrssage to the Chronicle, and that the telegraph clerk had acted on his own responsibility, possibly with the best intentions. He (Mr. Vogel) however thought that the clerk in question had exceeded his authority, in refusing to take the message, as the words offered for transmission were not libellous in point of law. He further explained that tho telegraph regulations had been altered, so that in future no " press telegrams," should be refused without the express order of the General Manager. Mr. Fox declared that he knew nothing of the refusal of the telegraph authorities to transmit the telegram to the Chronicle. Miss Rose Evans is now " starring it," in Wellington. She will go to Wangunui in the first trip of the s.s. Wunganui.