TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 681, 7 May 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

—o— May 6th, 5.5 p m. The Session of the Provincial Council opened on Tuesday, thirty members being present. The Superintendent’s Address was a very long one. He (Superintendent) congratulated members on improved prorpccts of the Province, and progress of settlement. The amount of land occupied during past year—agricultural leases, 17,405) acres; deferred payments, 37,276 ; sold out right, 164,157 ; land surveyed ready for settlement during year, 220,000 ; in course of survey, 290,000.' The Council’s concurrence w 111 be asked to proclaim several new Hundreds, and further blocks for sale on deferred payments. He recommended the setting aside, this year, 50,000 acres for Public purposes under Act. The Goldfields duty shows a deficiency of L6OOO for the year. He did not attribute this to exodus of population from the Province, hut to people engaging in agriculture and on railway works. The General Government had intimated to Miners’ Associations that they saw no objection to the gold duty being reduced. He had written to General Government notifying that Provincial Government is prepared to relinquish either all or part of duty if former will indicate modus operavdt, which will meet its concurrence. 12,311 emigrants had arrived in the Province during the year. He considered the progress of railways satisfactory. A flying survey of lines via Tuap ka and 'Waihemoto tie Dnnstau had been made, The particulars would be placed before the Council. Estimates for the year had been framed with a view to an equitable apportioning of the revenue to tie various districts of the Province. A Bill will be submitted during Session to enable districts desiring it to tax themselves for purpose of supplementing Government allowances to schools ; ho believed a general Education rafo must become imperative. Attendance of pupils at school during the year had increased 2,230. teachers 47 extra. He congratulated Council on the interest Mr Hlrioh’s visit had awakened in gold mining. He believed it would he a great boon to the Province if Mr Ulrich could ho induced to settle here. A measure will he submitted to secure the establishment of a School of Mines. He opposed the abolition of Provinces very strongly and at great length. From first to last the General Government has abstracted fri.m Provinces ten millions of money without a farthing return.

The Speaker .1. L. Gillies, Esq., tendered his resignation on the ground that his position as Secretary to the Harbor Board was incompatible with the Speakership. He was re-elected on Wednesday, by 18 votes against 4.

His Excellency the Governor is expected in Dunedin on Friday afternoon. The Mayor proclaimed a half-holiday, and a Civic Procession to meet the Governor at Water of Leith.

The sentence of death passed on Mercer the Lyttelton murderer, will he given effect

Gold-bearing quartz has been struck in Prince Patrick Mine, Stawell, at the depth of 1110 feet.

Mr M'Lean is elected for Waikouaiti, for the House of Assembly, A letter in Tuesday’s Bruce Herald from Carrickton. assorts that M ‘Kcllar is the only member on whom a veto of want of confidence has been passed. It is generally considered to he malicious and void of truth. Mr M'Kellar stands well in Dunedin,

A Conger eol'captured in Lower Harbor is 5 feet fl inches long, J and is 16 inches round the girth. The state of society in Queenstown is the subject of much comment. Nobody bolieves Mr Beetham (according to telegram in Wednesday’s Evening Star) went out of his way to insult Manders, or that, instead of being drunk, ho (Manders) was wearied by struggles and nights’ watchings. Such telegrams created much surprise. It is generally considered that Mande;s sent tho telegram himself. Tho Magistrate’s decision is considered satisfactory. Warden Beetham’s annual report is very meagre, and shows the Wakatip district to bo the reverse of being prosperous.