By Electric Telegraph

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 234, 29 August 1873, Page 5

By Electric Telegraph

(From our own correspondent.) Dunedin, Thursday Evening. GENERAL ASSEMBLY. ■ The Provincial Councils Borrowing Bill empowers Provinces to pass Loan Ordinances, for.loans.to.be raised by Municipalities and Road and Highway Boards. The interest and principal of such loans not to be payable beyond the Australian Colonies. The Colony is not to be liable for those 'loans; and no such. Loan Ordinance can give security over ordinary revenue. , '

Mr. O'JNeiil's attempt to reject the Education Bill was defeated by 29 to 11. In Committee, all the formal clauses were passed without alteration. Part 6, respecting the disposal of the funds, and containing the aided clauses, caused some discussion. It was proposed to strike out clause 54, enabling; Superintendents'to open public schools when the Boards refuse to do so, but, on a division, the clause was retained by the casting vote of the Chairman. Clause .53, making the attendance at religious instruction optional, brought up the question as to whether the Scriptures should be read in schools. The point was discussed for some hours. At length Mr. Bunny suggested that, as the Bill was a permissive one, a clause should be inserted allowing- Provinces to use the clause: or none of part 7. This would relievethe House of the question, and leave it to Provincial Councils. The Premier said that he would propose a clause, leaving the adoption of certain clauses to the Provinces, and that the sub-section then under discussion should be included. An amendment to strike out the sub-section was negatived. Mr. Macandrew's motion, that the House go into Committee to consider the advisability of placing £2,500 on the Estimates, as a subsidy for steam communication between the East, and West Coasts, was carried, on a division, by 40 to 16. Mr. Macandrew explained that it. was intended that the steamer should take the circuit of the island, and that the Provinces intended to supplement the Colonial vote, which was insufficient. The Nelson members opposed the grant, as the service would divert their trade. Mr. Vogel, however, agreed to place the amount on the Estimates.

The ' iStar's ' special correspondent says that considerable dissatisfaction has been expressed by both the .Northern and-Southern members, with the Provincial Borrowing Bill. The North objects to the Bill in toto; and the Southern members say that, if works of a Provincial character are absolutely necessary, it is unfair that money raised for such purposes must be borrowed in the Colonies only. They consider that the Government should take security for special works, obtain money at the lowest possible rate of interest, and then, hand it over to the Provinces for expenditure. There is every probability that the young members will combine and initiate a new party. It is understood that the Government intend to press the Borrowing Bill, and a close right is expected. INTEEPROVINCIAL. . At the Waste Lands Board to-day it was intimated.'that the Government -'would not allow any further land to be sold at less than 20s. per acre. ; The new insurance company i 3 a great success. There is a large demand for shares. Mr.' Hill Jack, secretary to the Victoria Company, has been appointed general manager. A Queenstown telegram says that, since the frost has broken up, the returns from the Shotover Company's claim have proved highly

succsssf ill. One washing-up yielded thirty(three pounds weight. Gregg, Kirk, and • others have also struck rich "ground. The weather on the coast last, night was very stormy. At Timaru, the brig Fairy Queen, and the ketches Duke of Edinburgh and-Wanderer, went ashore. The. crews saved. At Oamaru, the brig Emile and the barque Scotsman were totally wrecked. The crews were'saved by the Rocket Brigade! - WELLINGTON. Ladies, it has been, decided, will be admitted in the Telegraph Department under the following conditions : —The candidates "will require to be conversant' with the elementary branches of an ordinary English education, and will be exam'ned in orthography and writing, from dictation, English grammer and composition, and the first four rules of arithmetic. A good legible hand writing will alsobe indispensible. They will enter the service on probation and will not have their appoint-, ments confirmed, uuless after a reasonableperiod of tuition they prove themselves, on examination, capable of becoming good opera-\, tors. The rates of pay will be as follows : —- At date of entry £6O per annum ; at expiration of six months, if favorably reported on, £7O per annum ; after twelve months' service, if reported competent as operators, £75. per annum ; with a subsequent annual increase of\ £5 per annum up to a maximum of £IOO.