BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 3881, 2 August 1875, Page 3

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Wellington, August 2. The * New Zealand Times ’ this morning says it is in a position to state that a maj irity of the members of the House of Representatives have pledged themselves to carry the Government Bill through during the present session, and that Ministers entertain no doubt whatever as to the power of the General Assembly to abolish the Provinces.

A cancas of Opposition members mot in the Provincial Buildings to-day. loir George Grey was elected leader of the party, but little else was decided upon. About thirty members were present.

Auckland, July 31, The Gas Company has declared a dividend of 15 per cent., and promised a reduction in the price of gas. 'lhey intend increasing their capital to cany on new works.

~ , August 2, Mr Thomas Beckham, District Judge, is dead. He was sent over to the ( lolony from New South Wales by Sir George Gipps to join the staff of Governor Hobson in 1839, and has continued Resident Magistrate ever since. He was seventy-one years of age.

Grahamstown, July 31. The gold returns for the wen- amount to 2,378 ozs. The Long Drive contributed 580ezs. a:- the result of a month’s work. The Bank of New Zealand shipped 4,2500z5. this week, making a total of about 28,0000z5. shipped during the last four months.

> New Plymouth, July 31. One of the bodies of the crew of the cutter Hero was washed, ashore at Mokau. It has not been identified yet. The Mamies buried it high upon the beach. A survey of the Hero has been held, to base a claim for salvage on. The report of salvage and value direct is L 330 ; timber, &c., L 149. A number of Natives have come in to see Mr Parris respecting his retiring from office. Mr Simms, late captain of the Julius Vogel, has been appointed harbor-master.

, pAKGITIKEr, July 31. All the railway bridges are expected to be finished by the end of August, and the line opened for passenger traffic by the end of September.

,n, . ~ Invercargill, July 31. Ihe nomination of candidates for the vacant seat in the Assembly tor Wallace took place to-day. Ihe following were pioposed:Messrs Christopher Basstian, Francis Alexander Monckton, and BobeA, Cameron.

T *, Christchurch, July 31. In the Supreme ( ourt the case of Passmore v. the Bank of New South Wales, which'was a suit for the specific performance of a contract in respect of a sale by defendants to phaintin of two stations held by them as security for advances made to Major Hornbrook, was tried yesterday before Mr Justice Williams and a special jury. On the close of plaintiff’s case, Mr Garrick, for the defendant, contended that the learned Judge should direct the jury to find a verdict lor tho defendant, ou the ground of variance with the terms of his contract as set forth in the declaration of plaintiff, Jn this

his Honor concurred, and Mr Travers refusing to take a nonsuit, the Judge directed the jury to return a verdict for the defendant on the first issue, the second issue not being able to be found by them. This was done, Mr Travers obtaining leave to move that a verdict be entered for the plaintiff, or for a new trial, on the ground of misdirection. August 2.

At the Oust, an outlying district, on Thursday a petition was adopted and numerously signed asking the General Government to defer the Abolition Bill until after the next general election.

The 4 Lyttelton Times ’ this morning briefly reviews the financial statement, and concludes as follows 44 In conclusion, we must compliment the Treasurer on the excellence of his financial statement. Though new to finance, he has handled the subject well, and placed it before the public in a clear, intelligible form. In the concluding paragraphs he has made the most of the case placed by the Government in his hands, but at the same time he has given the country ample food for discussion and reflection. Without the information he has so ably drawn up It would have been difficult to understand the constitutional changes proposed by the Government.” Tno 4 Press ’ this morning has a leader on the Abolition Bill. It congratulates the Government on their resolution to do the work thoroughly and treat both Islands alike, and reviews the Bill favorably, except two points in connection with the land fund. Respecting this it says:— 44 We dislike the provision for meeting the liabilities in excess of the amount of land revenue, and we are altogether opposed to the charging of any part of the cost of immigration upon the land. We shall also have to ask how these arrangements are to apply to a Province like Nelson, which has no land fund and no prospect of any. These points, however, we must reserve for discussion in a separate article. At present we are only concerned with the question whether the Bill admits of the land revenue being taken by the Government for Colonial purposes, and on this score it is unimpeachable. However open to objection the Bill may be on other grounds, it effectually redeems the promise of Ministers that the compact of 185G should be respected, aud is a triumphant refutation of the cry that has been so dinned into our ears of late—that the abolition of the Provinces is incompatible with the maintenance of the land fund-

(From our own Correspondent.)

Lawrence, July 31. At a meeting of the Hospital Committee last evening complaints wore received from workmen on the railway contract, that they had paid money out of their wages to Messrs M'Kenzie Bros., as subscriptions to the Hospital, thatihad never been accounted for. It was resolved that Messrs M‘Kenzie be written to, asking them to furnish particulars of the amounts paid to them. It was rumored at the meeting that similar deductions had been made on Messrs Hunter and Strachan’s contract to a large amount, and only a very few pounds had found their way into the Hospital treasury. Investigation will take place at once. A troupe, calling themselves the “ Starlight Minstrels,” are performing here in the Town Hall to poor houses. Rain has been falling heavily for some Jrours. The Local Government Bill, published in this morning’s ‘Times,’ is being freely discussed pro aud con. At the land sale to-day the bidding for rural sections in Tnapeka West District was very slack, and most of the allotments were knocked down at the unpset price. For a> section at Greenvale there was a good deal of competition. and Mr J. lu Herbert payed as high as L 3 13s per acre. Snow is falling heavily, with every appearance of its continuance.

Queenstown, July 31. Two days’ warm weather has flooded the

rivers. The Blind Stab Company on the Shotover have lost everything. The Horace Greely Company is a failure. It is anticipated that a heavy escort is not now likely. The weather is almost summer, and quartz crushing operations will therefore be started. Perry’s jjolcl claim, the British aad American, will prove a success. Southberg’s party, who have got a lease of it, have struck the old lead of gold in the lower level.

The new newspaper company is powerfully backed up by official and squatting circles, but does not take well with the general public. I am sorry to have to report failures and impending ones. The causes are too large investments in real estate and property not realisable,

Three hundred acres of leasehold land has been sold for L 4 14s an acre.

_ The Government Post Office is being considerably improved.