INTERCOLONIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 11, 13 January 1879, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

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Wellington-, Saturday night. The Customs revenue for the week was £7143 being nearly double the average return, owing to merchants and shippers holding back to the end of the year, so as to obtain the advantage of the reduction in the duties on tea and BUgar.— Nine months ago the Secretary of the Star Boatiug Club levanted, having appropriated £123 of the Clubs money. To-day the Club received a draft for the amount.— The Treasury abstract to be issued in a few days will be in a much simpler form than ev»r used before. The improvement is due to the Colonial Treasurer.— Captain Johnston has found a suitable site for a lighthouse on the S.W. end of Kapiti Island. The only available spot on Steven's Island was over 500 feet high, which would necessitate the use of special lenses. — A number of the Fernglen's immigrants destined for the West Coast have been prevailed upon to remain in this district —The crops in the Wairarapa near Greytown are unusually heavy this year, those at Waihoke being estimated to yield 50 bushels per acre.— The projected second expedition to New Guinea has assumed shape, a number having guaranteed certain amounts and many others are coming forward offering to take a share in the enterprise. A schooner of 80 tons will be purchased and thoroughly equipped, an interpreter will be retained and every precaution taken to prevent failure. The promoters were all in the Courier expedition and when that veseel was there two of them pleaded hard to be left behind for twelve mouths, iv order to open up a trade with the natives. They will prospect for gold.

Monday. Slight shocks of earthquake occurred last night a few minutes before seven.

Eight steamers arrived in harbor yesterday, bringing an aggregate of about 300 passengers.

Amongst the suggestions adopted al a meeting of members of the School Committees were the following:— Female pupils to be taught sewing. No teacher to be removed without the Committee being consuited. No teacher to strike a child on the head.

Blenheim, Monday. A fatal accident has occurred at Karelock. Two Natives were going to the Pelorus in a cart which capsized in the river through the horse thying. One of them named Job was killed on the spot, and Mrs Byrams is not expected to recover.

Mr J. Chaytor met with a serious accieent at Tua Marina on Saturday. His horse set its foot in an old well and threw its rider on his head, producing concussion of the brain.

Dunedin, Saturday. Mr Stout addressed the eiectors last night, and reviewed the past acts of the Govern* ment. He denied that the Government had advanced the interests of Otago at the expense of the rest of the colony. He defended the Tapanui district, saying that not a member of the Ministry had any interest in the Tapanui district It was simply a test of the system of selling land, the value of which was increased by railway construction, instead of allowing it to fail into the hands of speculators. It was ntterly nntrne that the work was let before the time for sending in tenders had lapsed. The lowest tender was accepted. Had the Tapanui contract been a job the House would never have sanctioned it. He denied that the late session was barren of results. Why, they had made almost revolutionary strides in social legislation. Look at the Trades Union Bill which allowed workmen to unite for their mutual protection. They had amended the Friendly Societies Bill and made important alterations in the Juries Bill by which a person to be tried by a special jury would not know the names of his jnrora till he stepped into Court. There was the Licensing Bill dealing with the Natives, enabling them to say whether drink should be sold in their districts or not. The administration of this when it was sanctioned by her Majesty would be a very useful measure. He defended the Land Tax Act at considerable length, and said that nothing could be more fair than a tax on Companies He defended the Maori franchise in the Electoral Bill on the ground that it was not advisable to trample on the weak or set up a slave caste. It was owing to the hard work Ministers had to do that the Government were unable to bring forward the Redistribution of Seats Bill. With regard to the Electoral Bill this was lost in consequence of the Opposition endeavoring to restrict the Maori franchise, but it would do no good to trample on the weak, which would be done unless the Maoris were given equal rights with the Europeans. When the Redistribution of Seats Bill was passed the Maoris would return more members. However, after the hard work of the session, Ministers found it impossible to go on with the latter Bill, and therefore had a clauae inserted giving Maoris the franchise, which the Council subsequently rejected, and it was then determined to drop the Bill altogether. He then spoke on Native affairs, saying that the Maoris had been sullen and isolated, and would not trade with us, but he hoped we were now on the eve of a better state of things. With regard to the Beer Duty Bill he considered that beer was a legitimate object for taxation, and referred to Mr Fox's opposition on the ground that it would bind the Government more closely with the drink traffic. He then spoke on the Education question, strongly advocating secularism. He was sorry to see that a movement bad been set on foot for the introduction of denominational schools, but the State could not afford it, and it would not be done. Under Mr Curtis' Bill the profession of a teacher would be degraded, and he would soon degenerate into a sort of assistant clergyman, and if not " sound in faith" would soon be told he was not wanted. He was in favor of triennial parliaments, manhood suffrage, and representation accotding to population. H« would favor a law being passed restricting Chinese immigration. He said they must take care that property and money were somewhat equally distributed. He suggested the French system of the sub-division of seats in the Legislative Council, which should only be held for seven or ten years, but Councillors to be still nominated by the Government. He thought the time had come for eteps being taken to elect our own Governor. A vote of thanks and confidence was passed.

Lyttelton, Saturday. The Lyttelton Herald, a tri-weekly paper, Bize twenty inches by thirty, was born this morning.

_. Nafieb, Saturday. Ibe ship Adamant with immigrants, 96 days from London, is now coming up the

*■!?!"* """i* of earthquake was felt at $.30 this evening.

„, „ . Patea, Saturday. Ihe Natives acting under instruction? from I-nrikaka, having refuse- il to allow grave! to b.-^aken from the Waimaic Plains aide of the Vvaingongora river to repair the roads, Wihiam WiiJiarus and Katene went to talk the matter over, and though the opposition of the Natives was strong and violent language was used, gravel pits were opened and carting commenced. The opposition Natives look upon this as literally taking away the land, and offer stronger opposition thau they did to the commencement of the survey. As, however, their prophet, Te Whetu has promised that everything shall be restored to them in March they have concluded to let the gravci be taken in the meantime.