The Globe. FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1875. TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 288, 14 May 1875, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1875. TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

{Press Telegraph Agency.') Auckland, May 13, The City of Melbourne proceeds to San Francisco at noon to-morrow. Among the passengers are Sir George Arney, Mr Seymour, Superintendent of Marlborough; Captain Petherbridge, and several old Auckland settlers. The steamer was compelled to crowd out a number of Sydney passengers, and new berths are being constructed here for the accommodation of the New Zealand passengers. ' A large meeting was held last night to promote a revival. A mid-day prayer meetingjwas held to-day, in which ministers of all denominations took part. The opening of the Mercer line is fixed for the 20th, Carruthers being satisfied by a recent inspection that the line is in a sufficiently forward state. In reply to a question in the Provincial Council to-day, the Executive stated that Sir George Grey considered that the police should be handed over to the Provincial Government, but if the Council was still favorable to their being retained by the General Government, he would reconsider the matter, Grahamstown, May 13. A new rush is reported in the Tairua district. The prospect is good. A few ounces of gold were obtained from some creek washing and 60 lbs stone. The dense bush much impedes operations, A new track is being cut, but the work proceeds slowly owing to the bad weather. Dunedin, May 13. The Governor was entertained at luncheon to-day by the members of the Provincial Council. On the right of the chairman was his Excellency and Dr Pollen, and on the left the Superintendent. The vice-chair was occupied by Mr McGlashan, chairman of committees. Only three toasts were given—- “ The Queen,” “The Prince of Wales and the Royal Family,” and “His Excellency the Governor,” which was proposed by the Superintendent. His Excellency, in responding to the toast, thanked the Council and the public of the province for the hearty welcome given him. He was favourably impressed with the climate, the scenery, and resources of the colony, and although he had long looked on British North America as his second home, he thought that if he had now to choose a permanent residence among any of the colonies he would determine to spend the remainder of his days in New Zealand. He much admired the enterprise of the colonists in initiating a great scheme of public works. Although the experiment of trying to force the country into prosperity and advancement by means of a Government great system of public works and immigration had sometimes been doubted in other countries, he had no doubt it would ultimately prove a success in this colony; but at the same time he would counsel the utmost prudence in working out that scheme. The Council does not sit till seven. Mr Turnbull made his financial statement last evening, stating that it did not require a lengthy explanation. He considered the province had made steady progress, and that the finances were in a healthy condition. At the commencement of the last financial year there was a balance in favour of the province on the general account of £83,446 Us Id, and a further sum in the treasury of £20,174 17s 4d, to be applied in payment of special works outside the votes. Towards the provincial revenue they had received as general provincial revenue £455,275 7s 6d ; . also from the Colonial Government £2540 4s 3d, which was a balance in favour of the provinces, after making up the accounts in connection with the capitation grant, and the interest, &c., on the consolidated loans. Adding all amounts together, the grand total on the debtor side of the balance sheet, and for which the treasury has to account, is £664,389 Is, of which £89,748 4s lOd has to be applied to specific purposes, and the balance of £574,640 16s 2d was available towards Totea of last aeaiion. The receipti

have exceeded the estimates by £66,516 13s 4d; the excess arising mainly from Crown lands. The Road Board subsidy has slightly increased, on account of the estimated alteration in the number of the population, by which the distribution of the General Assembly grant of £50,000 for the whole colony is regulated. Crown lands has exceeded expectations by £55,696 7s lid ; and assessment on stock has come short nearly £12,000. The gold export duty has fallen off, but the goldfields revenue has increased. Harbor jetty dues have been very considerably in excess Of their anticipations, and tolls on roads have also yielded nearly £9OO more than estimated. Government lands and buildings were stated at £25,000, and the actual receipts have been £10,854 8s lOd. The sales have, however, exceeded that by about £12,000, but being payable by instalments, the whole sum has not yet reached the Treasury in cash. Education receipts show a large difference, Licenses show a considerable reduction, and it is difficult to account for this except on the assumption that the alterations in the Licensing Act [have had the effect of closing a considerable number of places licensed for sale of liquor. Railways show a very satisfactory excess on theestimated amount. Turning to the expenditure on the credit side of the balance sheet it would be seen that there had been spent in the general service of the province, including Road Board subsidies, £423,248 13s 4d. A sum of £43,207 4s 9d on account of special works has been expended, and, after deducting that from the total revenue, there remains a credit balance of £76,385 9s, of which £11,408 10s 2d is in separate accounts for special worksi, and £64,976 Is lOd is available for appropriation for the current year. Summing up all the items, they amount to £565,236 14s 6d, which, added to the balance in hand at the commencement of the year of £64,976 18s lOd, will give a total available amount of £630,403 13s 4d to be dealt with, IJhe proposed expenditure amounts to £741,593. This, however, includes sufficient to cover all railways under contract, but on this later account it will be impossible to spend during the present year anything like the whole sum ; probably there will remain unpaid on these and other works in progress, which cannot be completed and passed in thecurrent|financial period, a sum of fully £IO,OOO. , Stamp duties amount to £66,384. It is estimated that the revenue will amount, from all sources, to £565,326, It is expected that sales of Crown lands will realise £150,000. The receipts from railways will probably be £IOO,OOO. £IOOO has been put down as coming from the sales of the Invercargill broad-guage railway plant, which it has become necessary to dispose of in consequence of the alteration of the gauge. The Sydney Government has [agreed to purchase it. He concluded by saying, “ If thi? province is to maintain its position as the leading one in the colony, it will be better to leave railways unmade, however much we may value them as aids to progress and prosperity, than make them at the sacrifice of our public estate. The Provincial Council which guides the destinies of the province should, in my opinion, strain every nerve to tide over without selling pastoral lands; for the few years till the present pastoral leases expire, and then those in power would be free and unfettered to make such arrangements, When' not only a- most valuable system of settlement would take place, but a large and certain source of revenue would be secured to the public treasury for all time coming.” The first item on the estimates was agreed to, and progress reported NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE. [PROM A CORRESPONDENT.] Timaru, May 13. The following are the acceptances:— NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP. Mr P. Campbell’s Tommy Dodd, 12st Mr Hedge’s Ivanhoe, list 41b Mr Ray’s Medora, 12st 71b , MAIDEN PLATE. Mr M. Studholrae’s Spider, 12st 31b Mr P. Campbell’s Dan O’Connell, 4 yrs, list Mr Hoskins’ John Halifax, 12st 31b Mr A. Potter’s Val Vose, 5 yrs, list 121 b R. Ravenshill’s Sam Slick, 12st 31b CUP. Mr Smith’s Annatrig, 12st 31b Mr Hoskin’s John Halifax, I2st 31b Mr P, Campbell’s Tommy Dodd, 12st 31b Mr Hedge’s Ivanhoe, 12st 31b Mr Ray’s Medora, 12st 31b. THIS BAY’S TELEGRAMS. Wellington, May 14, Sailed—The Mary Bannatyne, for-Lyttel-ton, with 22 bales of skins, 31 bales of wool, and 31, casks of tallow. The Court of Appeal is now occupied with the case of Paterson v Mandeville and Rangiora Road Board, Auckland, May 14, To the Provincial Council last night, the Superintendent transmitted a message recommending the appropriation of a £IOOO for the late Superintendent’s widow. An address in reply was adopted during the course of the debate. Mr Reader Wood stated that the Superintendent would not accept responsible Government, The following information has been supplied by one of the missionaries to the Fiji and Society groups;—We had passed a hurricane season with comparatively quiet weather and no storms of any consequence, when suddenly, on the night of the 28th of March last, at a quart 3r to 11, we were all aroused and alarmed by a very sharp shock of earthquake. Such a one was never felt before here ; it lasted some time. We had several slighter ones during.the night. Next day we had occasional shocks, some ’of which were rather sharp. The next night we had only one slight one, so we hoped they were over, but on Tuesday evening, March 30th, we were visited by a frightful earthquake, which frightened us all, It did not last so long as the others, but was much more severe. Part of the walls in the nursery (lath and plaster) came down with a crash, and many parts of the wall cracked. To-day, April Ist, we had sad news from the Rev Mr Sleight’s side of the island. After the earthquake on Saturday night a great tidal wave swept away three villages. A trader from there tells us that 24 persons werekilled, and others so much injured by bruises, &c., that they may die. Our church at Wide Bay, which was well built by the French, was badly crushed at one end. We have counted 32 earthquakes since Sunday, 28th of March. Numbers of those drowned were children ; their fathers were absent from home at the plantation. The sudden inrush of the sea cleared out (he stone walls, and all the fires

were put out. It was pitch dark, and the mothers groped about in vain for their babes. There was great distress, and men and women were drowned, although the natives are such excellent swimmers. The poor people on the Bev Mr Sleight’s side of the island lost everything.

Oamaru, May 14, There was a public inquiry yesterday in the Magistrate’s Court into the wreck of the Elderslie. It lasted five hours. The evidence of the captain, mate, one seaman, and the harbormaster was taken. The result was that the certificates of the captain and mate were returned to them.

[FROM OUR DUNEDIN CORRESPONDENT,] Dunedin, May 13. The financial statement last night is considered satisfactory. This year commences with a credit balance of £76,385. The Star summarising the results, says that it is veryseldom the case that the Treasurer, in the face of so severe a blow to his schemes, as the refusal of a large loan, could meet the Council with so creditable a balance. Making every allowance for the revenue derived from the sales of Crown. lands, which cannot be expected to again occur on so large a scale, the present financial position of the province is extremely satisfactory. The Treasury had to meet large payments for branch railways, contracts for which had been let for cash payments against the will of the Council, and £35,828 was actually paid on contracts during the past year, leaving a liability to be partially or wholly met during the present year of £118,174. The sum expended shows a very creditable amount of public works have been initiated. The ordinary revenue, including railway receipts, is over £200,000. The great swelling of the receipts has arisen from the sale of land in Southland, which reached the high figure of £143,218, and, taken together with similar sales in Otago proper, make up the big total of £235,696. It is anticipated that the receipts this year from this source will be £150,000, which appears reasonable enough, considering the large area set apart yesterday as hundreds. The appropriations asked for amount to £741,593, against estimated receipts £565,326. It was, however, pointed out that it is anticipated to balance the receipts and expenditure, as the large sum which is put down for railways cannot be all expended during the financial year. Although liabilities to the amount stated exist, it is again intended to apply for an Otago loan, and the Provincial Secretary appears sanguine hs to to the result. Unless this is obtained it is wisely determined to forego the large works otl\er than those now in hand.

Great interest is excited by Goldsmith’s letter re the visit of an Australian team pf cricketers. The prevailing opinion here is if the men named come, and the New South Wales men send their best six players, it would be useless to compete unless with twenty-two.

A Chinaman was frozen to death at Nevis during the late snowstorm.

The body of a man who died from the effects of hard drinking at Garrick has just been discovered. He with two companions drank three gallons of grog. The body was not discovered till some time after his decease.

Referring to the four million loan, the Times says—“ As a matter of fact Mr Vogel quietly got rid of the sinking fund. None was provided in connection with the loans of 1873. The loan seems to have realised a price at which the colony will have to pay a little over 5 per cent. Now by law tie interest and sinking fund must not together exceed 6 per cent, hence the surplus is not quite sufficient to allow 1 per cent, to be reserved for sinking fund. Mischief has been done without the public having been able to remonstrate against it.” The pier accommodation at Port Chalmers is so small, that the harbor master, recommends an immediate extension of 900 feet. A second pier was only opened a few months ago.

The Governor, Dr Pollen, and Mr Macaudrew attended the Provincial Council lunch to-day. The Governor, in replying to the toast of his health, said that while firmly believing the public works scheme would prove eminently successful, he thought the colony should exercise the utmost prudence, and that for the .present they had gone far enough in carrying out a project which had daunted many other countries.