INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 119, 19 May 1880, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

SIR GEORGE GREY AT CHRISTCHURCH. Christchuech, Wednesday. Sir G. Grey addressed a large meeting at Christchurch last night and was enthusiastically received. He said he was still their representative although another person had been pat in his place by a method which was deadly to the state and liberties of the people of New Zealand. He had been ousted as the representative of Cfaristchurcb contrary to all precedent, and contrary to law aud the decision of the judges, aad he pledged himself that every session he would rnoye that the votes which deprived the electors of Chriatchurch of their just rights should be expunged from the Journals of the House. It was his duty to do this in order to defend the rights of the electors of New Zealand,

which had been outraged in the persons of the electors of Christchurch. He denied being a stump orator, and defended his conduct in addressing large meetings for the purpose of instructing them on great subjects and teaching them how to rule, and he contrasted this with the conduct of the members of the Hall Government, "who went to small villages to speak. He strongly condemned the Auckland four's compact, saying that the Auckland people rejected with scorn the bribe offered. He had given up office rather than be a party to disgraceful jobs. He advocated the discontinuance of the Legislative Council's honorarium, and objected to the increase of Customs duties, advocating a land and income tax. He asked the people to stamp out any attempt to stop free education. The cardinal points of the policy of those now in power were to take the taxes from the land and to tax the necessaries of life, and he further said that they wornd stunt the tree of knowledge, but the people would not allow of that. Then, too, they talked of stopping the subsidies instead of getting the substantial endowments promised by the Treasurer when he advocated doing away with the provinces. He was willing to abolish the Education Boards, allowiug the, committees to communicate with the Minister. He denounced the present jobbery in native lands at which trie Government connived. It was their bounden duty to see that the public lands were not tampered with by speculators, and also that every individual had his vote preserved so that the right of these single individuals might, as the rights of the whole, be sacredly preserved. H« finally cone' aded by avowing his determination to persevere in the course he had taken until his iife's end. ;A resolution was proposed by Mr Andrews, ' M.HR., expressing regret at the cirpum^ stances which has deprived them of the services of Sir George Grey, their -thanks for his address, and their renewed confidence, and that they still regarded him as their representative. This was carried unanimously. . Wellington, Wednesday. At the Divorce Court this morning decrees absolute were made in the following cases:— Cooper v. Cooper, Reynolds v. Reynolds and Wilson, and Joynt v. Joynt. In the Divorce Court in the case of Knight" v Knight, of Nelson, the Chief Justice in giving judgment said that Mrs Knight had established her case by proving iucestuous adultery, although her own conduct had not altogether redounded to her credit. The Court granted a decree nisi. Bluff, Wednesday. The Tararua arrived at 7 a.m., and will sail at 3 p.m. for Dunedin. Passenger for Nelson: Mr Raine. Napier, Wednesday. Superstition is on the increase amoDgst the natives owing to the teaching of the new prophet Parora Eta from the Wairarapa, who prophecies great floods in two months, when all the Europeans will be drowned, and the natives will get their own again. He has christened the river "the Jordan," and men and women perfectly naked bathe together in the water every morning, believing that ! they will be cured of all diseases. The teachings and prophecies are great rubbish, but the local chiefs fear the spread of superj atition, and say that all the troubles with the pakeha have originated from the teachings of such lunatics. Tareha calls a meeting of Maoris for next Friday to fix the boundaries within which the prophet and his disciplea shall not enter. Thompson Brothers have discovered a gold bearing reef in the Tarawera country 70 miles north-west of Napier. They have secured a protection order from tbe Government over a claim of 400 by 200 yards. Dunedin, Wednesday. It ia stated on reliable authority that the Permanent Building Society will suffer no loss through the sudden departure of Mr J. S. Webb, the manager. Mr McLean addressed the electors of Waikouaiti in the Mechanics Institute, the Mayor ia the chair. He dealt principally with. Sir Geerge Grey's speeches and with his finance, and eaid that, comparing our loan with that of South Australia, we were £650,000 to the bad. He commended tbe Government for endeavoring to economise, and thought that the constituents should extract a pledge from their representatives that they must support any Government that honestly endeavored to bring our expenditure within our income. He defended the property tax as fairer to all than the land tax, whilst the latter was actually doubled. He was afraid to think, if any attempt was made to meddle with Education Act, where it would lead to, but if it came to a vote on the imposition of school fees he should certainly support such a proposition. Mr Mallock moved a vote of thanks for the address and of confidence, and Mr John Duncan, of Cherry Farm, moved a special vote of thanks for Mr McLean's action m ol - taining the restitution of the impounded land fund. Both motions were earned unanimously Auckland, Wednesday. The " gem puzzle " mania is spreading in Auckland, where a large number have been sold. The Bishop of Melanesia leaves on Friday for Norfolk Island. The Harbor Board resolved yesterday to communfcite with the Hon Mr Brassey, the President of the Board of Trade, with a view to urging the facilities afforded by Auckland as a coaling station and deposit for the South Pacific, also to forward Dr Hector's report on th cdil deposits of the Noith.