NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2478, 16 March 1882, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

f PER PBBSS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, March 15. Church BazaarThe bazaar in aid of the building fund of the new Wesleyan Church, St. John’s, Ponsonby, realised £SOO. Musical. The Choral Society, under the conductorship of Herr Schmidt, gave Haydn’s Imperial Mass and Mendelssohn’s “ Athalie ” to a large audience. The Burglar Bloomfield. James Broomfield, Plummer’s friend, was committed for trial for burglary. The University Question. At the University Senate sittings a resolution was carried in favour of the establishment of a University at Auckland, and affirming that, as £ISOO was voted by Parliament, steps should be taken to appoint, at least, two professors. The resolution was moved by the Vice-Chancellor. New SteamerThe Waikato Steam Navigation Company have ordered a| steel paddle steamer from home, for the trade from Manukau to Waikato via the Waikato Heads. NEW PLYMOUTH, March 15. A Wonld-be SuicideDaniel O’Kane, charged with attempting to commit suicide at Hawera a short time since, was brought up this morning and bound over to keep the peace for six months. DUNEDIN, March 15. A Sensible Resolution. At to-day’s meeting of the Land Board the following resolution was passed : —“ That the Board are impressed with the desirability of some of their number visiting without delay the runs and portions of runs which have been reserved for settlement with the view of recommending the Government as to the beet mode of dealing with the same, but before doing so would wish to be informed whether any expenses which may be incurred in connection with such inspection will be defrayed by tho Government, without the very inoon - venient delay which has been experienced on previous occasions.” libelMr R. Quin, secretary of the Benevolent Institution, has laid a criminal information for libel against Hitchcock, who made himself so prominent some time ago in making charges against that institution. Mr Proudfoot’s Public Company. Mr Proudfoot has now definitely arranged to put his city and suburban tramways into a public company. A Substantial AmountThree hundred and fifteen pounds have been raised for the widow Woodcock, whose son was killed by the Kaihiku railway accident about Now Year. [from the correspondent of thb “ PRESS.] WELLINGTON, March IS. A statement is published by tho Rangitika Advocate ” to the effect that the Premier, when recently passing up the West Coast of this Wand, met Sir William Fox, and offered him a seat in the Legislative Oouncil, which offer was declined by Sir William. I understand the actual facts to be that in the course of a conversation some remarks were made by the Premier as to the possibility of Sir William Fox some day occupying a seat in tho Legislative Council but that Sir William expressed hie total disinclination to enter the Upper House. This, I believe, is all that in reality passed on the subject. An explanation has been received relative to the alleged message from Mr Bryce to Tawhaio, asking whether the latter desired his presence at the approaching meeting. It will bo remembered that Tawhaio was reported to have said that if Mr Bryce wished to go he oould attend like any other European, this being understood to mean he would not bo recognised as the Minister of Tawbaio’s superior and -sovereign. It now turns out that this is another trumped up yarn, like so many others that have been circulated regarding Native matters. The sole foundation seems to be that some officious Native called on Mr Bryce and asked him for permission to convey to Tawhaio an inquiry a* to whether Mr Bryce would be received, to which Mr Bryce promptly replied, flatly refusing to authorise any such mission. What this fussy aboriginal may have taken upon himself to do or say nobody knows, but it is important that the facts should be generally understood, especially among the Natives, that Mr Bryce not only did not send the alleged message, but

distinctly refused to sanction any proceeding cf the kind

It ha* been stated that Ministers have been making ready for the session, and that several measures are advanced a stage in preparation. This I believe to be an exaggeration. So far as I can learn, the only measure yet in the printer’s hands is the Consolidation Bill, left over from last session, but which had been practically adopted by a joint select committee of both Houses, and therefore could very well be reproduced practically unaltered. As to the chief measures of policy, nothing is nettled at present, but this will be taken in hand as soon as Ministers assemble. Of these the ones most debatable and involved are those dealing with local government reform.

I hear that Government still remain firm in the belief that the plan proposed last session is in the main principle the best that can hj devised, but recognise that it needs numerous modifications in detail, in order to adapt it to the various requirements of different parts of the colony. I believe this question is now under the careful consideration of the Colonial Treasurer, and I fancy he has picked up several “ wrinkles ” during his late Southern tour.

It is rumored that among further Civil Service reforms in contemplation is an extensive remodelling of the Public Works Department and an amalgamation of its branches, concentrating it more under a single head, and materially reducing the expense.