LATEST TELEGRAMS. PRESS AGENCY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2045, 26 February 1875, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

PRESS AGENCY.

[fbom ottb own correspondent.] Auckland, Feb. 25. The Waikato, steamer, is raised, damage L6OOA Native, named Uta, was caught on the main shaft of the Mercury Bay Sawmill, and killed instantaneously. The smaller of the steamers to be constructed at home for the Government will be designed as a tender for lighthouses. A deputation to Sir George Grey returned last night. The deputation pointed, out that- tM requisition included all classes, and -numbered 2000 names more than ever polled by any candidate in Auckland. Sir G. Grey briefly replied, accepting the nomination and promising a written reply. The deputation then said a large number of electors were of opinion that Sir George Grey should be Superintendent. If he refused, Mr O'JJorke would be nominated, but the latter had declined in favor of Sir George Grey, and Dargaville .would doubtless retire. The deputation were quite sensible of the sacrifice Sir George Grey would make, but they hoped he would accept on public grounds. Sir George Grey .said he was taken by surprise ; he was grieved at Mr Williamson's death, and would consider the offer, and reply next morning. Sir George Grey informed the deputation he had decided to accept the nomination. He considered the country in the midst of great changes, owing to the Immigration and Public Works policy, and that on the eve of the large constitutional changes announced by Mr "Yogel, every man should come forward if called upon. All the reasons which had been urged by the Press and his friends for declining to interfere were, to his mind, the weightiest reasous why he should come forward. The fact that he possessed ample means enabled him to give up a portion of his time to the Colony in which he had made his home, and wher probably he should die. He did not con sider any circumstance in his past life rendered his present step derogatory. He felt it his duty to place his experience at the disposal of the people; he had no right, as a settler and colonist, to hide his light under a bushel. The deputation would form an idea of the sacrifice he would make and the comfort he would abandon. He had lived long enough to despise the promptings of personal vanity or ambition, and considered the position of Superintendent and member of the Assembly more important than that of a. member of the House of Commons. The latter played a small part, the former was: engaged in building up a great nation. He had noticed men who had acquired wealth in the Colony leave it to spend their time and means in the old country, and had remonstrated with them in England, they replied — " Show us any position of usefulness we may fill, and we will ivturn." He would now show au example, and would advocate such measures in the Council and General Assembly as would rouse these men to a proper sense of duty. He was prepared for opposition and abuse, and at the same time was prepared to make way for O'Rorke if that gentleman desired, i He admired his straightforward conductjlast session. The deputation said O'Rorke - would only be too glad to see Sir George' come forward. „'"'.',

VfEJiixiiiQTON, Feb. 25. A deputation of merchants waited upon the Commissioner of Customs to point the ill effects likely to arise from the enforce* ment of the new regulation regarding transhipment of duitiable goods. The Commissioner of Customs saii the regulation was not intended to be so stringent as was supposed, aa it would apply only to such packages of dutiable goods as had been opened on the voyage. A circular to this effect will be issued shortly. : ' At the Provincial land sale of town sections in the township of Bunny thorpe, at the junction of the Wellington and Napier railway with the Palmerston branch, a rather limited quantity was sold, but the prices realised for town sections was unprecedently. high ; quarter acre town sections, with an upset price of L 6 to ElO, realised from LlO to L5O each. Striking the average of town sections, they fetched double . the upset price, and in many instances five or six times the- upset price. Nearly all 'the smaller town sections in good positions were sold. The larger town sections were' not so ready of sale, and most of the suburban sections are still unsold. It is expected a large will be selected to-morrow at the upset prices. Five sections of the Te Aropa reserve sold at the upset price, L 3 to L 6 per foot frontage. Pastoral land on the East Coast sold at 6a per acre. A block of a hundred acres at Rangitikei fetched LBO. Sections in Manawatu sold at high prices. Total result of sale, L 4691 63. The General Governmenthave chartered^ the steamer Napier to take twenty-five or thirty troopers to Opunaki, where a ' Native disturbance has been reported.' She is to leave to-morrow morning. The ''Times'- Bays that important telegramu vyere received by the Government fro ut the early this week, bui no news of the Premier. ■■" ■ Dunedik, Feb. 25. Judgment 1 has been reversed in the aae of Oarriok v, Pike. During the

hearing of the case a sharp passage at arras occurred between the bar and the Bench. Mr ETaggitt said Mr Barton was no gentleman, and declined to speak to him except in Court. Barton accused Haggitt of calling him a "damnable scoundrel." In an . underbreath tone Haggitt denied the accusation. "Mr Bathgate interfered, and tried to stop the argument by reminding the counsel they? were addressing a jury who might be influenced by their quarrels. Barton replied that it was an easy matter to get as intelligent men as Mr Bathgate. Wbstpobt, Feb. 25. Mr Thomas Ward, of the Survey Office, has been unanimously elected Town . Clerk. . . " Sapieb, Feb. 25. • Charles Barnes was fined LlO at the Resident , Magistrate's Court, this morning, for assaulting Julius Matthews by. horsewhipping him in the public street yesterday. The r par ties are commercial men, r and Barnes wes paying addresses to a young lady in Auckland. Matthews told her parents that Barnes had got no money, and was not an eligible suitor, and the match was knocked off. Barnes heard what had been said, and came to Napier on purpose to thrash Matthews, bought a whip, and waited for him at the corner of a street, and thrashed him, leaving several marks on his arm and shoulders. WANGAinn,.Feb. 25. ,- ( Wanganui Rifle Association. -—Third Match, 2(30 yards, eight-inch buirs-ey^l^ ten Bhots. — G. Cummins, 35 ; Boss, 35 ,^ Roche, 34. Fourth Match, 500 , yards, ten shotsReid, 38 ; G. Cummins, 35 ; Strachan, 33. Cavalry Match, over hurdles— Wbn by Wairoa^ with 281; Wanganui second, 273. ...... Grahamstotot, Feb. 25. The Thames citizens, through Mayor Davies, invited Sir Donald M'Lean to a dinner, but Sir Donald' declined the invitation, owing to the pressing demands for his presence for settling Native' ? mtftters at Poverty Bay and other p ce3on the - East Coast. Auckland, Feb. 25. The charge against Dugald M'Naughton for an indecnt assault on a child, is dismissed. The Thames Gas Company have declared a dividend of four per cent for the half-year. ,;^ ;; ; i^ .; ; i?CHEWiTOHTmoH, Feb. 25. , The Canterbury~Rifle Association decided last night, that the Annual! Prize Firing should only, extend over one day .instead of two, as hitherto.' There will be seven matches. At a- meeting re the peal of ,bell 3, last night, it was decided to make an energetic canvass for subscriptions, only five -bells being required to complete the peal to eight. Another minister for. the Presbyterian Extension: Association has arrived; from Scotland. K . ... % The Canterbury Rowing Club has imported four additional boats, and a, large quantity of oars, &c. ;...,- , , j ', The Christchurch Pigeon Flying Club* was finally established last night, and the rules of the London club have KeTen sent for. Several who became members have already imported birds from Melbourne. The District Court, of Foresters 1 have offered a scholarship to be competed for by sons of Foresters at. the usual exami* nations for Provincial scholarships. . i ' i The flon; S. D. Hastings obtained per* '. mission to preach in the Wesleyan;church '' on Sunday, but read a temperance-lecture, and many members; of the church are -■ greatly irate at him doing so. J! ' ';