TELEGRAMS.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 105, 1 October 1874, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(Per Anglo-Australian Press Telegraph Agency .) Auckland, Sepfcmber 30. The Superintendent Ids proclaimed October 7th a holiday, being the one hundred and fifth anniversary of Captain Cook’s arrival in New Zealand. Mr Joseph Bennett, the well-known speculator, proceedf-d to Sydney, in the steamship Victoria, to-day, to arrange for a shipment of horses and stock. He has chartered the steamer Blackbird for the purpose. The barquentine Falcon, 285 tons register, built to the order for Watt Bros, Napier, was successfully launched to-day. She is intended to trade between Napier and Australia. Taurang-a, September 30. Very wet and stormy weather. Heavy floods arc reported inland. Nelson, September 30. There have been constant hut not very heavy rains, with strong breeze from the north-west since Sunday. The Charles ltdward, which sailed on Sunday for the West Coast, lay at • ofarua in company with a barque and three schooners till yesterday, and put back la t night. The weather is now south east and threatening. Hokitika, September 30. It has been raining heavily for four days. No damage is reported. The mails are stopped. Port Chalmers, September 30. The ship Christian WcAusland is at the Heads. The tug has gone out for her. She

is ninety-four days out from London, with 350 immigrants, all well. Dunedin, September 30.

It has been fine to-day, but there are prospects of more rain. Slight damage has been done by the water on the low lying portions of the city. Reports state there have been the heaviest rain and heaviest snow for years in the mining districts, A number of persona left by the Tararua for the Palmer diggings this afternoon. A vessel will probably start direct in a few weeks, when it is expected a large number will go. A meeting was held of the Colonial Bank this afternoon. The chairman stated that the number of shares applied for in each province was—Otago, 106,731 ; Napier, 8200 ; Westland, 5054 ; Marlborough, 2077 ; Taranaki, 1078; Nelson, 5618; Auckland, 8123 ; Wellington, 17,531 ; Canterbury, 15,367. Total, 169,779. This number was represented by 3000 shareholders. 30,000 shares were reserved. The result of the ballot for directors is not yet known. THIS DAY'S TELEGBAMS. Wellington. October 1. The flood in the Hutt river has forced out of position 130 feet long and 14 feet high of the concrete protecting wall of the Hutt Railway. The wall will have to be rebuilt. The other damage is confined to a few culverts. New Plymouth, October 1. The weather here is terrible, the rivers are higher than has been known for years. There is such a fearful surf in the roadstead that not a boat could leave the shore to communicate with the steamer. MAJOR ATKINSON AT NEW PLYMODTH. Major Atkinson addressed his constituents on Saturday. He was greeted with loud cheers. After referring to local subjects, ho said that he had voted for the honorarium to members, because no man could afford to leave his business for a less sum. He thought the colony would get the worth of its money in public works ; notwithstanding the number of immigrants pouring in, the cry was for more. As Mr Reeves had said that the Taranaki members did not represent the feeling of the people of that province, he wished them to pass a resolution expressing their opinion upon the point. [Continued cheering.] He compared the positions of Auckland, Otago, and Canterbury, and pointed out why the latter provinces should not be abolished. He said the public works scheme meant ultimately the extinguishing of the provinces. As long as the provinces had money to take part in the settlement of the land, they would exist, but no longer. In answer to a question. Major Atkinson said that the Ministry’s scheme was a central Government.

The following resolutions were then carried unanimously, only one hand being held up against the first one : “ That this meeting is of opinion that Mr Vogel’s resolution proposing the abolition of the provinces in the North Island, and to substitute in their place a form of Government really local in nature, is a wise and statesmanlike measure, deserving of hearty support.” “ That the land fund of the several provinces should continue to be, as far as practicable, localised,” That this meeting does not desire to see the land fund of the Southern provinces taken for expenditure in the North Island, but on the contrary wishes to see it applied locally to its legitimate purpose of opening up and peopling the country.” Mr Standish, a member of the Provincial Executive, moved an amendment to the first resolution to the effect that—“ That this meeting reserves to itself its expression of opinion as to Major Atkinson’s action in the provincial changes until it was in a better position to judge on the question.”

The amendment did not find a seconder. A vote of confidence in Major Atkinson concluded the proceedings.