WELLINGTON.

Evening Star, Issue 3876, 27 July 1875, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

[By Tsleoraph.]

{From our own Correspondent.) Wellington, July 26. Messrs Murray, Thomson, and Brown waited upon Mr Richardson t'-day, to urge upon him the desirability of immediately opening the Clutha Railway. Mr Murray intimated that Messrs Brogden, who by the terms of their contract must run the lino for three months after completion, were willing to open the line at once. _Mr Richardson threw obstacles in the way, saying it was inadvisable to take the lines off the contractors’ hands too soon, but promised that it should be opened punctually on September I. Mr Brown then pointed out that one section only of the Tuapeka line required the rails to be put down. Mr Richardson undertook to give immediate instructions to complete this section and open it simultaneously with the Clutha line. This will at once bring Tuapeka five miles nearer town.

« ~ #o!y 27. Government will bring down the Abolition Bill on Thursday, and it will go to a second reading on the Tuesday following. Correspondence between the Hon. Mr Richardson and the Agent-General shows that there has been the grossest neglect in the execution of orders for railway plant, and that imperfect and unuseable material has been shipped to all parts of the Colony. To-day Mr Donald Reid presented a petition from Peter Dey and William Wedderspoon, builders, Mosgiel, praying for redress in consequence of the railway station there having been destroyed by fire caused by sparks from a Government engine when passing the building, which was all but finished. The evidence at the inquest showed that the fire was caused as stated, but the contractors had no redress, and had to re-ereot the building at a cost of nearly LSOO,

' The increase in Customs and Stamp duties this year is L 150,000. The Government will circulate their Local Government Bill throughout the length and breadth of the Country, and allow a month’s delay between the moving of the second reading and going into committee for the public voice to express its opinion. Thu Opposition, if defeated in Parliament, will appeal to the law courts. (From a Correspondent.) July 27. Some of tha Otago members waited on the Commissioner of Telegraphs yesterday re telegraphic extension in that Province. Mr Reynolds said the claims of some of the Northern districts were strongly pressed upon him, but he invariably opposed them because he was convinced from the remoteness of the stations that they would never pay ; yet some cases had been overruled by his colleagues. Prom a remark that fell from Mr Reynolds it appears he resigns at the end of the present session, and the inference is that he makes room for Mr Stafford. An additional reason for bo believing] is that there are already seven members of the Executive—the limit allowed by law; but on the other baud it must be recollected that the Dunedin Stab last year gave currency to a report that after the dissolution Mr Reynolds would obtain the repose of the Upper House. Mr Fish’s announced candidature for one of tho Dunedin seats supports the idea that Mr Reynolds is about to retire from active political life. The Constitutional Bills are ready for circulation immediately. They are two iu number. The first is said to make abolition iu the Middle Island permissive; the second provides machinery for establishing the new order of things. The Nelson members waited on the Treasurer this _ morning with their Loan Bill. Major Atkinson gave them no hope of the Government assisting them, and stated that the Colonial Government themselves were hard pushed, all the means they possessed being required to meet the Colony’s engagements.