BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 3689, 19 July 1875, Page 3

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Auckland, July 17. The ‘ Cross ’ states that we shall soon have a double steamer service for the line between San Francisco and New Zealand and New South Wales. From a private letter by the City of Melbourne it learns that the Pacific Mail Company has decided to commence a trade between San Francisco and the Colonies some little time before they are compelled to do so by the terns of their contract with the Colonial Governments. The letter states that the Pacific Mail Cempany have determined to open up the service with the screw steamship Granada, a first-class and wellappointed !vessel of 1,700 tons. Hitherto she has been employed on the route between San Francisco, Panama, and the South American ports. She has accommodation for sixty or seventy saloon passengers, and her saloon is built on a principle similar to that of the Nebraska. Henderson and Macfarlano are appointed the Auckland agents of the Pacific Company, MrVesey Stewart write i privatelyrelative to the departure of the Carisbrook Castle on June 3, with special settlers from Belfast for Kati Kati. He says he had a long but success ful fight with the Agent-General, and finally got all he wanted except some remuneration for his own trouble. Ho believes he would not have come to terms had Sir Julius Vogel not arrived. The Dover Castle, a supplementary ship, left also with a splendid lot of immigrants. He says it is a great pity the Government do not encourage North of Ireland emigration more. Dr Featherson refused to give him a third ship r sn September, to bring out the balance of the party. The City of Melbourne has sailed for Sydney, crowded with passengers. The Wellington, with the Southern mail, left last night at nine. On Friday, Mr Macintosh, an old civil servant, died suddenly He was in good health last nfcht.

July 19. The Luna sailed yesterday with the Auckland members.

Greymouth, July 17. The Alhambra, from Melbourne, was tendered to-day, but the steamer could not return to port ti'l nine at night. The Alhambra left Hobson’s Bay on the 10th, aud experienced light westerly, southerly, and S.E. winds, and fine weather during the voyage. She brings 104 passengers and 334 tons c irgo for all ports. Passengers for Dunedin--Miss Pool, Messrs Hugh Kirkpatrick, James Heaton, and Cargill.

IPICTON, July 17. Captain Kennedy, M.H.R., addressed his constituents last night. He said he would support the abolition of the Provinces of noth Islands ; also the Pacific Islands and Estate Trust Bills. A unanimous vote of confidence was passed. Bluff, July 19. The Otago left Melbourne at 2.30 p.is, on the 14th, and arrived her* at 2 p.m. today. She brings 407 tons of cargo, twenty-six saloon, and forty-four steerage passengers for all ports. She sails at 4 p.m. to-morrow for Dunedin. Passengers for Dunedin:—Miss Kearny, Mrs Burt, Mrs Hamilton, Mr and Mrs Butter worth, Mr and Mrs Daley, Messrs Inglis, Kearny, Hearman, Farmer, Heymanson, Muir, Courtiss, Falconer, Hamilton, 30 in the steerage, and 208 tens of cargo. Chiustchukch, July 17. Mr A. C. Knight, Minister of Education, and Mr J. N. Tosswill, one of the strongest opponents of the new Education Bill, and both members for Lincoln district in the Provincial Council, met their constituents at Prebbleton last night. Mr Knight’s conduct in supporting the Education Bill was severely condemned, and a resolution was proposed asking him to resign, but at the request of Mr Tosswill it was withdrawn. Mr loss will’a action in opposing the Education Bill was merely eulogised, and a vote of confidence in him unanimously carried. A requisition is to be got up in the district asking Mr Knight to resign. The feeling against the New Education Bill is getting stronger every day. At a meeting of the Funeral Reform Aiftoelation it was resolved not to prescribe any set form of mourning, but to get all members to promise to discourage the wearing of expensive mourning, and especially crape by females; also to encourage the wearing of nothing more than a band of crape or cloth on. the left arm as mourning by males. It was also resolved to purchase a horse and trap to let on hire for funerals at a cheap rate, Timaru, Jnlyl7. At a public meeting held last night re the abolition question about 600 people were present, and great enthusiasm was shown. The following resolution was carried unanimously : —“ That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is desirable that the system of Provincial Governments be forthwith abolished throughout New Zealand, and that a system of local government be established which will endow a district, whether town or rural, with a fair proportion of the revenue contributed by its inhabitants ; that a petition embodying this resolution be drawn up and circulated for signature, to be forwarded to the Hon. E. W. Stafford for presentation to the General Assembly.” Discussion was invited, but no one spoke against the resolution, the meeting being quite unanimous.