TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 308, 8 June 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(Press Telegraph Agency.}

Wellington, June 7

Eegarding the measure the Government will be prepared to lay before the House of Representatives, with the view to the abolition of provinces, the Tribune, though pro fessing to be not inspired, says the following sketch of what is not an unlikely programme, may bn'hazarded. "The clauses will be so drawn as very easily to permit, without any rude dislocation of the several parts of the measure, the inclusion of the provinces of the Middle Island at well, and if the majority of the House of Representatives are in favor of total abolition the Government will not, upon grounds of public policy, oppose such amendment to the Bill. It is well known that it is was only because there was reason to doubt the existence of any sufficient strong feeling in the Middle Island upon this subject, the Premier's resolution of last session did not at once propose to go the whole length. Total abolition, it may readily be believed, is quite in accordance with the views of the Government. It was, and is, simply a ques tion of 'xpediencyor time. In dealing with local Government the measure will be tentative where details are so numerous and opinions so conflicting. It is impossible at a single heat to frame a Bill to meet the varied exigencies of the case. It is presumed that tho measure will extend generally UKpowers of existing Road Boards, beside? chalking out a plan for the amalgamation of every two, three, or half-dozen of them into County Boards, to which will be given the license fees and other miscellaneous receipts in the county. It is not clear whether the endowments from the Central Government will be paid to the Road Boards or to the County Boards, but the Government will no< take up any hard or fast position at the outset." The great recommendation of the Bill, the Tribune sajs, is its simplicity, I

and the elastic basis upon which it is framed, so as to permit the introduction of any change, circumstances may require. The butchers threaten to raise the price of meat another penny per pound, or to eightpence for roasting beef. The Governor will lay the foundation stone of the new Presbyterian Church on Saturday.

Mr It. Pharazyn, member of the Provincial Executive, is spoken of as probable candidate for the representation of Wanganui in the General Assembly.

Nelson, June 7.

A meeting of several leading gentlemen of the town was held to-day, to arrange for entertaining the Governor. They will give him a dinner, and probably a ball. He will be met at the wharf by the Volunteers. {From a correspondent of the Press.) AKAROA, June 7. A dismasted vessel was seen off the Peninsula on Sunday afternoon. There are five vessels here out of the nine which left Timaru on Saturday. Three others are supposed to be on the Ninetv-mile Beach. THIS DAY'S TJELEGMAMS. Auckland, June 8. Mr J. 0. Sextie, mining agent and sharebroker, died this morning, under circumstances leading his friends to fear that he had taken strychnine. He had latterly been in straitened circumstances. He leaves "a wife and four children unprovided for. Wellington, June 8. Arrived—The Tararua, from Lyttelton. Dunedin,' June 8. Mr Reeves' motion in the Provincial Council, " That it is desirable that all toll bars adjacent to the city should be moved to a distance of two miles from the town belt," was lost. Mr Ireland moved an amendment, which was affirmed, while Mr Reeves was talking to another member. The surprise made him vexed, and he attacked Messrs Bastings and Reid, and it was rather warm, while it lasted, between these three.

The second reading of the Peninsula Ocean Beach Railway Bill was negatived last evening by a majority of one.

(FROM OUR AUCKLAND CORRESPONDENT.) Auckland, June 7.

There was a singular case at the Police Court to-day. A man was accused of stealing £4 10s from the pocket of a lodger's clothes in a boarding house. Witnesses deposed that they saw him gliding softly about the sleeping room with a candle and searching the different pockets; he sat down abstractedly and looked as if he was walking in his sleep. One witness said he watched the prisoner for some time pursuing this singular course of conduct; he then felt frightened and popped his head under the clothes, as he (the prisoner) looked like a ghost. The Bench considered the case very suspicious, but dismissed it. A race came off on Saturday between Maori Weed and Daybreak on which a good deal of money changed hands. Many pronounced the race to be a complete sell, and say that Maori Weed could have won easily if she had not been hard held. The racing clnb have determined to investigate the matter, and if it is found to be proved, they will probably disqualify the jockeys or the horses. Considerable warmth of feeling is expressed on the subject. A cutter has gone ashore at Mitakani. She is supposed to have missed stays in tacking, but particulars are not yet to hand, but probably no lives are lost.