TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 392, 14 September 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

LATEST FROM EUROPE AND AMERICA. ♦ THIS DAY’S TELEGRAMS. [Per Press Agency.l Port Chalmers, Sept. 14. The result of the examination of the Taupo in the graving dock, yesterday evening, shows that she must have touched lightly on her keel, as the only damage she has sustained is a crack in her keel under the aperture of the fan, and one at her rudder-post; they are not serious, and can be easily repaired. She is being scraped and coated with Peacock’s composition, and is announced to sail for the North on Friday. Greymouth, September 14. The steamer Kennedy, with the Westland portion of the ’Frisco mails went ashore on the south spit this morning while attempting to enter the port from Nelson. A strong N.W. gale was blowing and a heavy sea was on the bar and breaking for miles off the shore. The Kennedy’s position is not dangerous, and it is expected she will get afloat again this evening. The passengers and mails are safely landed, Wellington, September 14, At a meeting held this morning of supporters of the Government, it was agreed that the Abolition Bill should pass this session, but not come into operation until after the meeting of next Parliament. It is left with Ministers to arrange for what day, hut not later than the last day of next session. It is understood that the above conditions will be accepted by the Opposition. A proposal by the Opposition that the Act should only come into operation after the proclamation by the Governor at the request of the Legislature was rejected. The Government party are desirous to have an agreement with the Opposition members, so that there shall he no further meetings of Provincial Councils, and that all provincial expenditure shall only he with the sanction of the General Government. The brig Neptune brings the following cable telegrams from Newcastle, which port she left on the sth. The Evening Post supplied an advanced slip. Sydney, September 4, A movement has been commenced for the purpose of raising funds towards the erection of a memorial statue over the remains of Commodore Goodenough and two seamen who were murdered by the natives at Santa Cruz. The London cable is interrupted near Singapore. Petitions to the Governor are in course of signature praying for a remission of the sentence inflicted on the prisoner White, who was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for attempting to bribe Mr Schooley, M.L.A. It is probable that a petition will be pre sented before the Full Court in order to give the latter an opportunity of deciding the case. The Melbourne Exhibition opened on Thursday, and is attracting large crowds to the city. The Government intend to propose a loan of four hundred thousand pounds for public works. Judge Dunn’s resignation has been accepted by the Government. Great floods have occurred at Beechworth. A quarter of a mile of the railway line has been washed away. The Ovens river rose nine feet in a very few hours. Damages for £2O was given against the Bank of New South Wales for dishonoring a cheque. A reward of £2OO has been offered for the recovery of the notes stolen from the Bank of Victoria, and a further sum of £2OO for such information as will lead to the conviction of the thief. The Rev Chas, Clarke has given up his congregation to devote himself entirely to lecturing. Queensland. A motion for a grant of mouey to Dr Lang from the public funds, has been withdrawn . An English company proposes to open up the coal measures of the Endeavour River. Samples have been taken by Augustus Gregory, near Bingra, which prove that a valuable coal-field has been discovered in the colony of Queensland. London, August 30. The panic in America consequent upon the Bank failures, is subsiding. The English mail via Suez left Galle for Adelaide on the 28th inst. H.M.S. Valorous has returned to Plymouth. August 31. Three thousand Servians have crossed the Southern frontier into Turkey, and bands of Servian inhabitants are endeavoring to create a rising in Bulgaria. The Alert and Discovery left Disco, an island belonging to Denmark, on the south part of Baffin’s Bay, in the middle of July. The Easby was loading coal at Newcastle on the 4th inst, and was advertised to leave for New Zealand on the Bth. THE ABOLITION QUESTION. (From a correspondent of the Press.) Wellington, September 13. No decision has yet been arrived at. The final meeting between the Government and

(ho leaders of the Opposition takes place at nine to-night. The point now in dispute seems to be whether the Bill shall be brought into force by the positive or negative action of the new parliament. The Opposition have conceded the point urged by Ministers themselves, that the Act shall come into operation on a certain date after the meeting of the next Parliament, unless a resolution to (he contrary intervenes, and that unless such resolution be carried during the session the Act shall come into operation at end of session. The Ministerialists require that the Act should bear on its face that it shall come into operation on a certain number of days after the new Parliament meets. The Opposition want it only brought into operation on a resolution of both Houses. The Opposition have agreed to the Government pro; osals, in the event of the point above mentioned being settled, that the Provincial Councils shall not be again called together, and no new works are to be undertaken without the sanction of the General Government, who will first satisfy themselves that the province has the necessary means. Sir G. Grey is supposed to be standing out, but the general belief is that an amicable settlement will be arrived at to-night. {From a correspondent of the Press.) “ It is only necessary to telegraph briefly what occurred at the Government caucus on Saturday:—Firstly, there were forty-eight members present, and there would have been fifty-one had Messrs Pybe, Jackson, and Richmond been in town. It should be mentioned that many of the Government supporters were taken aback by reason of the action of the Government, for it was not supposed that any project of the kind would have been entertained, as fight it out on the abolition principle was the mot d'ordre, and the whips had madefull arrangements to continuethecontesttill yesterday, and throughout the day, if necessary, as was done in Auckland on one celebrated occasion. There was therefore some diversity of opinion as to the position of affairs, but specially as it had been industriously circulated by Messrs Wood, Sheehan, and Sir G. Grey, that the proposals for compromise had come from the Government side—a statement which some were disposed to believe, and which caused no little distrust until it was very distinctly contradicted. Dr Pollen stated to the meeting that on Friday, while the. House was sitting, certain irregular overtures towards affecting a compromise were made to the Government from the Opposition. These were not entertained, and in order to have something definite to lay before their supporters, Government suggested that the proposals should be reduced to writing. This was done. These were not favorably received. The chief point, Dr Pollen further stated, was as to the date on which the Act should come into operation ; but it was clearly understood by both parties that none of these proposals were to be considered as binding, but were merely received for discussion, and for that purpose the present meeting was called. Mr O’Neill said that he had been told by Messrs Wood and Sheehan that the first advances had been made by the Government, and they crowed over this as a victory for their minority, and evincing Government weakness, and that Mr McQlashan had made the first overtures. Mr McGlashan denied this in toto. The overtures were made by Sir G. Grey to him, and the proposals Sir G. Grey made were considered by him to be so absurd that he refused even to convey them to Ministers. He had been told that Sir G. Grey himself had stated that he (Mr McGlashan) had made such proposals to him (Sir G. Grey) ou behalf of the Government. The thing was totally incorrect. The boot was on the other leg. Major Atkinson said that Sir G. Grey made proposals to him to which he declined to listen. The Ministry never authorised Mr McGlashan to make any compromise, and he did not believe Mr McGlashan had ever made any. Mr McGlashan said he had had a conversation with Mr Rolleston, and some of the less rabid provincialists, who had spoken to him as to the possibility of a compromise, for many of them seeing their chances of success so small were very desirous of retreating from the obstructive position they had assumed. No doubt the report of the Government advance was circulated by the Opposition from a natural desire to make the best of it. [Laughter.] He thought Government were wrong in consenting to adjourn the House until the first clause of the Bill was passed. Messrs Stewart, Kelly, and Harrington testified to the conversations of the Opposition members in favor of the compromise. Sir Donald McLean admitted that the first clause should have been passed before consenting to adjourn, but the Government had rejected the first proposals, and were not in any way bound by the others. The Government made no advances, and never thought of doing so ; but they thought that when there was presented something sufficiently tangible, consideration of which might lead to the stoppage of an unseemly contest, damaging to the credit and dignity of Parliament, they would have been charged with obstinacy had Government refused to consider it. Mr J. C. Brown said that the reception of the proposals showed the falsity of the accusation that the majority was endeavoring to coerce the minority by mere force of numbers. The facts were all the other way. The pro • posals had given the Opposition an unfair advantage. He said pass Abolition, and then have the details arranged. Mr Stafford said the question of who made the first advance was of small importance. [A Member —Yes, except as to who is speaking the truth.] He thought the date of the Bill coming into operation was not so important as getting it passed. If not passed soon, the Bill would be attacked in detail ou local grounds on small points, which might affect certain localities ; and skilful talkers, regardless of the character of the measure as a whole, might make adverse comments to different points in different localities. As the great point was to get the Bill through, the proposals as they stand now were objectionable, but they would be satisfied with some amendments. He would say pass the Bill, and make its repeal dependable on the action of both Houses of Parliament. The present proposal of depending on one House was an insult to the Legislative Council. Mr Luckie counselled caution in dealing with such a wondrously astute political party. To refer the operation of an Act to one House only, was au unconstitutional practice. Mr Buckland considered the proposals objectionable, as their acceptance would involve the abandonment of the principles of the Bill. Abolition must take place this session. [Cries of “ Hear, hear.”] Mr Ballance said, if possible, the minority

should be compelled to give way. He thought Provincial Councils might be permitted to sit until the Act came into operation, care being taken to limit the sphere of their action. A good deal of conversation followed, all to the effect that abolition ought to be secured this session, and that the obstructive nature of the Opposition tactics was doing themselves no small amount of damage, while impeding the business of the country. Mr Wakefield, who is again clothed and in his right mind, declared that the Opposition were “ funking," and he mentioned two dramatic situations, which proved it. When Mr Stafford, in the House on Friday, said there were almost a hundred different ways for a majority to stop the obstructive pioceedings of a reckless minority, and that these should immediately be resorted to, he saw Sir G. Grey go creeping about some of his supporters, and shortly afterwards further propositions were made to the Government. Then when Sir Donald McLean notified that the House was to adjourn in order to consider certain overtures made by the Opposition for a cessation of the hostility now enacted, he saw several members of the Opposition, especially Mr Reader Wood, assume a degree of gladness, so boisterous as to show that they were glad to see some chance of getting out of an awkward scrape. He thought Government should be cautious but conciliatory in any further negotiations. Sir J. C. Wilson amused the meeting by saying that the Government must be very careful in their dealings with the other side. It was said that it was very well known that when Sir George Grey was Governor here, his Ministers would neverenter into conversation on business affairs with him unless a clerk was present to testify to what took place, or unless it was down in writing. He could see very clearly that the devil’s hoof: was visible in their proposed arrangement, and if they do not take care the devil’s claws would be seen in it next. The resolution as proposed by Mr Stafford, who said he had made it in general terms, so as to leave Government such latitude as was desirable, was as follows —“ That this party does not approve of the proposals submitted to it. but will be prepared to consider any other proposals which may be submitted.” Hon Dr Pollen, as Premier, remarked that the Government had gained a knowledge of the opinions of their party, and would be in a position to treat further with the Opposition if they desired it, and report to a future meeting. There is an Opposition caucus at the Hutt to-day. Sir G. Grey is not there nor Mr Macandrew, and it is doubtful it Sir G. Grey will, consent to the operation of the Act being made dependent on the action of both Houses.