BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 3844, 19 June 1875, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Auckland, June 1 k Ine floods m the Northern Wiuroa River, caused by the recent heavy rains, ware higher than for years. 900 logs were washed from le Kapura mill alone, and many from higher up the river. Induced by a reward of 20s tor every square spar and 2s 6d for every mg, a considerable number of Natives and Europeans are engaged in the work of recovering the lost property, which is woitli thousands of pounds. The hoods at Kaipara inundated a large extent of country and drowned cattle.

1 aipara, of Hokianga, a chief who has been drinking heavily lately, was sitting on an hotel counter, and fell off, injuring his spine. Ho died shortly afterwards.

~ Chrjstchi bch, June 19. At a meeting of the members of the Rifle Association last night the question of winding up its affairs in consequence of the limited support given to it bytne general public was. discussed. Ultimately it was decided to try and cony on for another yen*. v In the Provincial Council, this afternoon, was read thei message from the Superintend >« e <pu following is an extract:— I he Council having now, on reconsideration, affirmed the .alterations of the original Ordinance in a decisive manner, the Superintendent will not interpose any further obstacle to the passing of the Bill.’’-(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Its provisions will impose heavy responsibility on the Executive Government m the work of the Education Dopartment. The Superintendent, so far as is in his power, will endeavor to make the administration of the Ordinance successful” Great disappointment ig expressed at this m the City, as it was fully expected the " bupeimtendent would have, taken a final ; stand and vetoed a Bill which, though : proved of by a good majority of the C&hcil. was known to be obnoxious outside. ; ■ Another ! message was read from the Superintendent* ■

asking the Council to reconsider the vote for additions tt> the Museum, as he was advised the action hitherto taken had committed the Government to ratify the contract entered into by the Board of Governors. Sir Cracroft Wilson, President of the Executive, said he intended to move that the matter be left for the Government to arrange during the recess, and that the Council should indemnify them for any expenditure they might consider it advisable to incur. The matter then dropped. The Council was prorogued this evening. There was no motion submitted respecting the Museum.

Napier, June 18. Robert Vane, a pensioner, formerly of Auckland, was found dead in an unfurnished house in Tennyson street this morning. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict that deceased died from starvation and neglect, accelerated by intemperance. Mr M‘Kirdy, the contractor, is ready to hand over to the Government two miles of the line above Pakipaki on the 7th July. In August, the entire length of Brogden’s contract to Wai pawa will be nearly completed. The works thence to Takapau are in a forward state.

{From our own Correspondent. ) Lawrence, June 18. A miner named O’Leary, working in Morrison’s claim at Blue Spur, was buried by a fall of earth in the claim this morning. Little hopes of his recovery are entertained.

Mosghel, June 19. A case of horse stealing occurred here this morning. It appears that Mr Paisley, carrier, Moagiel, had sent his lad over on horseback to Mr Williamson’s, North Taieri, to fetch another horse, and when the lad was returning near to the Duke’s road, a man dressed in a sleeved vest sprang from the side of the road and pulled the boy from the horse be was riding, jumped on its back, and set off at a full gallop in the direction of Dunedin, via the Half -way Bush. The occurrence was shortly afterwards reported to Constable Clarke, at Outram, who immediately went in quest of the thief. Auckland, June 18, The ‘ Star’s ’ correspondent, who has just returned from the King country, says it is the Government’s fault that the country is not now open to Europeans, as the King is quite willing to lease land to Europeans if the Government first give them a Crown grant for all land south of the Puriri diver. The land is very productive, The average grain crop is about forty' bushels per acre. In cases where new ground :has been broken up the first year yields a much higher average. . Measles has been very fatal The Te Kuiti Natives are extending the area of cultivation, and are fencing and buying agricultural implements,'and will have a large amount of produce next year. . Two men for a wager to-day dragged a cart, with a twenty hundred-weight load, down Durham street, into Queen street, and back again up hill.

The papers publish the reply of the Secretary of State for the Colonies to Sir George petitions, re the appropriation of the fund arising from the sale of Crown lands in the Colony, and the abolition of Provinces. The Earl of Carnarvon, in a despatch to the Governor dated .March 22, says:—“ You will have the .goodness to cause Sir George Grey to be informed that I have read both his petitions with the attention which is dueto any communication from him ; that while I differ very widely from many of his views and opinions to which he has given expression, I do not think it desirable to enter into any detailed examination of his representations, for the simple reason that they relate to matters in respect of which X do not think there should be any pretence for saying that Her Majesty’s Government _ have influenced or interfered’ with the decision of the Colonial Legislature. I have, as at present advised, no intention of applying to Parliament for any legislation on the subject of the Provincial institutions or the Crown Lands of New Zealand, and no suggestion that such legislation is necessary or desirable has been made tome by or on behalf of the Government of the Colony, or from any other quarter. These are subjects which the General Assembly of New Zealand is, in my opinion, quite competent to discuss, as indeed has already been very fully and ably done in the debate in the House of Representatives which terminated in August last, and which I have perused with much interest.” TokomaißlßO, June 19. The first sod of the Kaitangata Railway was turned yesterday by Sir John Eiciiardson. The scene of the operation was at the rear of Murphy’s Hotel, where, by noon, close on 200 people assembled. The ceremony took place at two in the afternoon, the chairman of the Company requesting Sir John Richardson to turn the first sod Sir John stripped off his coat, and in a workmanlike manner filled a barrow with earth and wheeled it down a plank, where Mts A. J. Smyth bro'ce a bottle of champagne, and christened the line amidst loud cheers. Sir John, then, in a spirited address, advised those present to take shares in the company, as it was sure to be a profitable undertaking. At the luncheon in Murphy’s Motel which followed, Mr J. Davidson occu-’ pied the chair, and Mr A. J. Smyth was vicechairman. The former was supported on his right by Sir John Richardson, and ’on his left by. Mr Maitland. All the principal settlers at the Clutha were present, also a few Dunedin and Tokomairiro people. The toast of the * Qu3en and Royal Family,” was given by the chairman, and the “ Superintendent" and Executive,” proposed by Sir John Richardson, Who, in his remarks, give a brief remmi of the history of the district, and stated that the present occasion was auspicious for many reasons —the date was the anniversaiy of the battle of Waterloo, and when coming from BalcluUia to Kaitangata a rainbow hung over the coalfield as if to point out to the visitors the spot under which the wealth of the district lies hidden. Sir Jo on sat down amidst prolonged applause He was presented by Mi Maitland, on behalf of the Oompany, with a silver spade. In responding to the toast, “ Success to the works,’ proposed by Sir John I‘ichardson, Mr A. J. Smyth said that it was well known that he was not a vocalist and he shouh I not attempt to make a speech, but he would assure the people that the Kaitangata railway would be completed in a few months. That was the programme, and it would be carried through. The plant was ordered, and would be on the ground in four months, and he intended having a train running in seven months. Several other toasts were duly honored, and proceedings closed at dusk.