LATE TELEGRAMS.

Evening Star, Issue 3712, 15 January 1875, Page 3

LATE TELEGRAMS.

Wellington, January 15. The Te Ore Ore bridge at Wairarapa was opened yesterday by the Superintendent, over 400 people being present. A lunch was afterwards held in the Town Hall at Masterton. In reply to the toast of his health, the Superintendent said that the erection of the bridge was not to be regarded as a work of local, but of a Colonial character. He felt ho would not be doing his duty as Supeiintendeuk if he did not bring to their notice the connection between such a work and the present position of public H j r o’- , narne, l men, notably Mr O’Korke and Sir George Grey, to prove the statement made on several occasions that only Superindents, Provincial Secretaries, &c., were averse to the abolition of Provinces was incorrect. Ihe proposal to abolish the Provinces lias been brought forward in the barest possible manner, and it was impossible to reply lo the proposition unless some measure of detail of how it was to he done was brought forward ; and yet, because his party did not reply to nothing, to a mere abstract it was said it was clear they had nbtnirfg to iiy in cfofeWfc, It wab a people's

question, and involved rights f r which blood had been freely shed on other countries. The question had bt-eu brought forward in a hurry and without mature consideration, and the present time was not the time to bring it forward. The Col any was not in want of money now, but would want it soon, and it was highly injudicious to disturb the mind of the public creditor with constitutional changes. Something bad been proposed in the shape of local self-govern ent, but he would warn them not to go after an ignis fatv.us, but to ding to the privilege of electing their own executive officers, and the right of expenditure of local revenues, which was the essence of Provincialism.