INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 244, 5 October 1876, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

Wellinoton, Wednesday. After a long deliberation, by the jury, Ilaughton was acquitted. The following is the reply of Mr Macandrcw to the Governor:— "l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, late yesterday, of your telegram in reply to mine of the previous day. I now venture to express my deep regret that your Excellency's Goveru-

raent seems to be completely nnder a cloud, both as to the practical effect upon Otago of abolition, and as to the feelings of the people thereupon. I admit that there is a very small minority in faror .of abolition inasmuch as the interests of many of them are likely to be served thereby, although at the expense of the rest of the community. I observe that your Government attributes the strong feeling which exists against abolition to misrepresentation and agitation, for which they hold me in a great measure responsible. This is a grave charge against myself and others, which is utterly without foundation, in fact it is a poor compliment to the intelligence of the people who I would beg to assure your Excellency are perfectly competent to understand and judge for themselves in this matter, and who cannot but see in abolition the destruction of provincial entity and the almost entire abstraction of their local revenues for Colonial purposes outside the province. This they regard as a grievous wrong which they are determined to use every means to avert, as it appears evident that •no redress may be looked for at the hands of your Excellency's Government, and it only remains now to appeal to the Imperial authorities in the hope that what is understood to be the law of the Empire will be maintained, namely, that constitutional privileges once granted to a people are never taken away without their consent. Your Government deeply regret that a Superintendent should venture to tell your Excellency that the action of your advisers must, if persistedin, result in the dismemberment of the colony. Knowing, however, as I do, the strong determination, which animates thousands of those who are the stealing of Otago not to submit to a policy which is detrimental to their interests, and being forced upon them by what they believe to be a minority of the people of the colony, I should be much to blame did I not tell your Excellency what I know and believe to be the truth. Indeed; I micrht have gone further and said that but lur the fact that the people of Otago are a law abiding people, entertaining the utmost loyalty for her Majesty and the Imperial Parliament, this determination ere now would have evinced itself in more decided action. Thanking your Excellency for your permission to publish, which I presume applies to this communication also.— l have, &c, James Macakdhew.

Westpobt, Wednesday. Effort3 were made by the Luna to haul off the Matau this morning, but were unsuccessful only having moved her ten feet. The Matau is still high and dry at low water.